Protesters take to the streets to demand greater security and the resignation of senior government officials, whom they accuse of leniency. The attacks left 17 dead and 21 injured in the same week. Thousands of Serbs took part in a silent march on Monday (08/05) to protest the government’s reaction to two bomb attacks which left a total of 17 dead and 21 injured last week .
In the first of the attacks, a teenager grabbed two handguns at an elementary school in the capital Belgrade, killing eight students and a security guard. Less than 48 hours later, a 21-year-old man killed eight people in a rural area south of the capital.
Under the slogan “Serbia against violence”, the march in Belgrade brought together members from across the country’s political spectrum. The protest also brought together demonstrators in the city of Novi Sad, in the north of the country.
Criticism of the authorities’ delay
The demonstrations were called by opposition parties calling for the resignation of senior government officials, including Interior Minister Bratislav Gasic and the director of the state security agency, Aleksandar Vulin. Education Minister Branko Ruzic resigned on Sunday, citing the “catastrophic tragedy” caused by the school shooting.
Protesters are also calling for the government’s Electronic Media Regulatory Committee to be shut down within a week, accusing some TV stations and tabloids of promoting violence and frequently featuring convicted war criminals on their programmes.
“We demand an immediate end to the promotion of violence in the media and public space, as well as recognition of responsibility for the delay of the competent authorities in providing an adequate response [aos ataques]’, the left-wing political organization Let’s Not Let Belgrade Drown said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the populist centre-right Serbian Progressive Party of President Aleksandar Vucic condemned the demonstration, saying the opposition was “using a national tragedy for its own interests”.
Vucic himself, in an interview with the pro-government Happy TV channel, called the protests “shameful” and called the organizers “vultures”.
President vows to “disarm” Serbia
Vucic has promised to “disarm” Serbia with a plan to crack down on gun violence. He has proposed new measures that include a freeze on gun licenses and more psychological testing for gun owners.
Shooting attacks are rare in Serbia and buying a firearm requires a special license in the country. But despite the requirements that make them difficult to access, many weapons are still leftovers from the wars of the 1990s and remain in circulation.
According to the research group Small Arms Survey, around four out of ten people in Serbia own a firearm, placing the country among the highest gun ownership rates in Europe.
ip/lf (AFP, AP, Reuters)
Source: Terra
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