OFFICIAL STATEMENT OF SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC UNION ON SITUATION IN SERBIA AFTER PROCLAMATION OF INDEPENDENCE OF KOSOVO
In the week after proclamation of independence of Kosovo, peace and stability in Serbia are seriously endangered. By tackles reactions, the ruling political parties have given a kind of support to citizens who expressed their rage by demolishing of diplomatic missions of USA and some EU states and offices of opposition parties, and oppressing of journalists. On Sunday, February 17, right after proclamation of independence by Kosovo Parliament, citizens who have spontaneously gathered attacked the Embassies of USA and Slovenia. SDU considers that in both cases the police reaction was unprompted and inappropriate and allowed rioters to demolish the Embassies, and even to enter the Embassy of Republic of Slovenia. Also, rioters have demolished central offices of Liberal Democratic Party and two McDonald’s restaurants and have tried to reach the building where Cedomir Jovanovic, the leader of LDP lives. Considering the fact that there were not more to 200 demonstrators, the police reaction had to be more efficient. We are especially concerned by reaction of some Ministers, who have given the support to violent demonstrations. In the following days, violent protests were organized in the north of Kosovo, a part with Serbian majority, where, by direct support of Serbian government, checkpoints Jarinje and Brnjak were blown up and several vehicles of KFOR and Kosovo police were burnt down. On Thursday, February 21st, the Government of Serbia, accompanied by some parliamentary parties, organized the protest named “Kosovo is Serbia”. Based on journalistic and police estimates between 150.000 and 500.000 citizens participated in the protest. Despite serious possibility of riots after the rally, “critical points” weren’t been protected well. After the rally several thousands of protestants went to the street with foreign diplomatic missions. In the riots the embassy of USA was burnt, and rioters have also tried to burn Croatian Embassy, when they had burnt the building next to the embassy building. Germany, Bosnian, Canadian and Belgium embassies were also stoned. The registration house in front of embassy of Great Britain was burnt. The rioters have again attacked McDonald’s restaurants and robbed several shops in the city of Belgrade. Lot of journalists were attacked, and one Dutch journalist was seriously wounded. The police reacted more then 30 minutes after starting of violence. However, the most tragic result of riots is death of 21 year old young man who was burnt in fire in the Embassy of the USA. SDU considers the organizers of the rally as directly responsible for this tragedy. Leaders of some political parties encouraged protestants on violence. They pointed opposition and some media as responsible for violence, because, as some politicians have said, “by their reports and political attitudes media and “pro Albanian” political parties have provoked citizens”. Officials of some parties have even accused LDP that, in cooperation with CIA, have organized violent demonstrations with an aim to send a bad image of Serbia abroad. SDU think that after proclamation of independence of Kosovo, Serbia is seriously destabilized and that it is not possible to predict which direction the political situation would develop. We demand the state officials to immediately stop violence against media and political opposition and to hold back from any activities that could produce riots with, maybe even worse consequences.
In the week after proclamation of independence of Kosovo, peace and stability in Serbia are seriously endangered. By tackles reactions, the ruling political parties have given a kind of support to citizens who expressed their rage by demolishing of diplomatic missions of USA and some EU states and offices of opposition parties, and oppressing of journalists. On Sunday, February 17, right after proclamation of independence by Kosovo Parliament, citizens who have spontaneously gathered attacked the Embassies of USA and Slovenia. SDU considers that in both cases the police reaction was unprompted and inappropriate and allowed rioters to demolish the Embassies, and even to enter the Embassy of Republic of Slovenia. Also, rioters have demolished central offices of Liberal Democratic Party and two McDonald’s restaurants and have tried to reach the building where Cedomir Jovanovic, the leader of LDP lives. Considering the fact that there were not more to 200 demonstrators, the police reaction had to be more efficient. We are especially concerned by reaction of some Ministers, who have given the support to violent demonstrations. In the following days, violent protests were organized in the north of Kosovo, a part with Serbian majority, where, by direct support of Serbian government, checkpoints Jarinje and Brnjak were blown up and several vehicles of KFOR and Kosovo police were burnt down. On Thursday, February 21st, the Government of Serbia, accompanied by some parliamentary parties, organized the protest named “Kosovo is Serbia”. Based on journalistic and police estimates between 150.000 and 500.000 citizens participated in the protest. Despite serious possibility of riots after the rally, “critical points” weren’t been protected well. After the rally several thousands of protestants went to the street with foreign diplomatic missions. In the riots the embassy of USA was burnt, and rioters have also tried to burn Croatian Embassy, when they had burnt the building next to the embassy building. Germany, Bosnian, Canadian and Belgium embassies were also stoned. The registration house in front of embassy of Great Britain was burnt. The rioters have again attacked McDonald’s restaurants and robbed several shops in the city of Belgrade. Lot of journalists were attacked, and one Dutch journalist was seriously wounded. The police reacted more then 30 minutes after starting of violence. However, the most tragic result of riots is death of 21 year old young man who was burnt in fire in the Embassy of the USA. SDU considers the organizers of the rally as directly responsible for this tragedy. Leaders of some political parties encouraged protestants on violence. They pointed opposition and some media as responsible for violence, because, as some politicians have said, “by their reports and political attitudes media and “pro Albanian” political parties have provoked citizens”. Officials of some parties have even accused LDP that, in cooperation with CIA, have organized violent demonstrations with an aim to send a bad image of Serbia abroad. SDU think that after proclamation of independence of Kosovo, Serbia is seriously destabilized and that it is not possible to predict which direction the political situation would develop. We demand the state officials to immediately stop violence against media and political opposition and to hold back from any activities that could produce riots with, maybe even worse consequences.
