Police on Monday evening at Novi Sad returned to the violent mode of action against citizens that was characteristic of the actions of members of the Ministry of Internal Affairs during the protests last summer.
Targeted by police on Monday there were citizens who tried to prevent the bus from leaving Milomir Jaćimović in front of the Banovina building in Novi Sad.
The violence was also documented - with a video that shows that one policeman, s with a mask in the face, although he was not attacked, he brutally punches a woman who was standing in the first row.
Another woman reacted by pulling the victim of police brutality away from the gendarme, but he then pushed her away as well.
MUP: The police acted professionally
Reacting to that event Ministry of Interior practically legalized the violence of the gendarmes by claiming that members of the MUP in front of Banovina "acted exclusively in accordance with the law and authority, with the sole aim of preserving public order, peace and security of all citizens".
It was also stated that "the bus is parked improperly, without license plates and that fuel is leaking from the tank", and that the police "on the order of the competent prosecution took measures to remove it".
The Ministry of Internal Affairs also presented that "some persons obstructed officials in the performance of their duties, threw objects at them, insulted and damaged the vehicle of the removal service."
"Thanks to the professional actions of the police, the bus was safely removed, and for now two people have been brought in for disturbing public order and peace. Members of the MUP are working to identify the persons who damaged the tow vehicle and attacked the police officers," the MUP announced.
Violence against attempts to protect the rule of law
Legal advisor of the Belgrade Center for human rights Sanja Radivojević tells "Vreme" that she interprets the lull in the police brutality that lasted for several months by the behavior of the citizens at the protests.
He points out that the citizens and the police were just observing each other while the citizens were at a distance from the police cordon and police officers, so there was no reason for any police officer to apply coercive measures.
However, an act happened on Monday evening in Novi Sad activism, that is, a direct confrontation, because citizens approached the bus trying to prevent it from being towed away.
"In the event that citizens try to take matters into their own hands, but not in the sense of overthrowing the constitutional order, but in order to protect and preserve of the rule of law, the police is ready, as it showed this summer, to respond with the highest degree repression. I see it as a constantly growing gradation, repression has been presented several times and they do not give up on that idea. The message is clear: the map of repression will remain as a continuum and response States to any kind of civil activism or civil disobedience," says Radivojević.
Repression is carried out by all institutions
He warns that citizens can expect repression, and not only by the police, every time they raise their voice a little.
"We have also seen how the prosecution acts by example Vladimir Štimac. His detention was terminated, and the moment he leaves the courthouse, he is already greeted outside by police officers who, according to the order, meet him the prosecutor arrested for a new crime. Repression is dominant, it appears in all forms and is carried out by all institutions," Radivojević points out.
Speaking about the case of confiscation of Jaćimović's buses, Radivojević indicates that even if a representative of the authorities appears who is ready to listen to complaints or objections, the state shows that it has other henchmen who will implement the authorities' position.
"The government can always find a way and send you a message that they are stronger. In the current constellation, when the government has all the mechanisms within the institutions, such things will happen," says Radivojević.
Jaćimović economically blackmailed
Professor Faculty of Law in Belgrade Vanja Bajović tells "Vreme" that Milomir Jaćimović is being subjected to economic blackmail and repression. He assesses that it is the worst form of repression, because it tells the citizens "to be silent, suffer and go astray, because otherwise the state will take away everything they have."
"Jaćimović's demands are not political, because he is only asking for the state to return what is his. They gave him back one bus, as if on a spoon. It is not necessary to mention in particular how the law is selectively enforced, because we know what kind of buses drive citizens, how many accidents happen on the roads due to defective vehicles, so no one touches them. At the same time, they piled up all possible offenses against Jaćimović with the sole aim of intimidating him and taking away what he has," says Bajović.
In addition, if it is estimated that Jaćimović parked his bus illegally, Bajović indicates that the Traffic Police is responsible for such cases, and not Gendarmerie.
"There is nothing new to say about the behavior of the police. It is clear that this behavior is beyond all rules, regulations and laws. I am afraid that such a situation can lead to a civil war, because citizens on the street are literally protecting their rights, and the police are protecting the existing order. It is obvious that the law does not apply here, that it is applied selectively, and that the regulations protect some and punish others. It is all clear to us. The police are part of that system, it is normal that they will defend the system that feeds them, which must be changed from foundations", says Bajović.
Germany says the obvious
Commenting on the statement German the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Johan Wadeful, who during his visit to Serbia on Monday emphasized that "Fr freedom of speech and gatherings, there is no negotiation", that this also applies to countries that are candidates for membership in to the European Union and that "peaceful gatherings must be made possible", Bajović says that she is not sure how essential these messages are, and how much they are just declaratory.
"The specific message is what she did." Sweden when it suspended part of the aid to Serbia. I don't see Germany sending any other message than a declaratory one, because it is again negotiating with the authorities. "The international factor looks at its interests and sees from whom they will profit more - from this government or from those who will replace it," concludes Bajović.
On the other hand, Sanja Radivojević, speaking about Johan Vadeful's messages, says that it is irrelevant whether they came from Germany or any other country.
"These are norms and practices that Serbia must respect, because they are prescribed by international agreements that we have ratified and by the Constitution Serbia. It is absolutely unnecessary for any member of the European Union to remind us of that of the Council of Europe. Vadeful only reminded the government in Serbia that it should adhere to its obligations and respect human rights. "That the representatives of the authorities do not look back on it is the reality we live and fight against, among other things, in the way that the citizens of Novi showed now on Monday evening," concludes Radivojević.
