An extra-institutional political network began to be created throughout Serbia. From Wednesday, March 19, citizens started organizing assemblies. What it looked like
Under the slogan "Smarter doesn't give in, smarter organizes" students of the Faculty of Organizational Sciences (FON) in the blockade announced a few days ago in which places the first ones will be held citizens' assemblies.
And that in Mladenovac, Vršac, Loznica, Smederevo, Sremska Mitrovica, Čuburski Park. They were announced in Arandjelovac and Stari Grad on Friday, March 21. And, in Nova Pazova, Palilula and New Belgrade on Sunday, March 23.
In addition, they published the "Manual for choir organization" where they clarified - what direct democracy is; what is a civil assembly; why they are important; what the chorus enables; how pressure is exerted on responsible and other issues.
What have some of the citizens' assemblies looked like so far?
Obrenovac
A citizens' meeting was held in Obrenovac on Thursday (March 20) where local issues were discussed.
Luka Novaković told N1 that the topics in Obrenovac are the same as in every other municipality in Serbia. "The ruling structure has put its paw on every branch and every activity. We would like to influence that and ask ourselves about some things as citizens," he said.
And he added that the goal is for the choir to gain legitimacy.
Old Town (Belgrade)
Residents of the municipality of Stari grad gathered on Friday at a meeting of citizens in front of the municipality ahead of the session of the Municipal Assembly, writes FoNet. Those gathered made noise and carried messages with inscriptions: "Educators, you are not alone", "Citizens of the Old Town", "Pump".
A few parents managed to enter the hall, and FoNet's reporter reported that they were not allowed to speak.
The residents of the Old Town have two proposals - to allocate funds from the budget for educators who have been left without salaries, and the second is to start a discussion about the events in Pionirski Park.
Krnjaca (Belgrade)
"Good morning, neighbors, we are waiting for our meeting of the citizens of Krnjača!", with this message the citizens of the Palilula part of the Belgrade municipality invited their fellow citizens to the first meeting, which was held on Wednesday, March 19.
Before the assembly, they stated that the issues that "torture" the citizens of this Belgrade municipality are the issues of sewage, but also the wider current social context.
Vracar (Belgrade)
Residents of Vračar gathered on Wednesday, March 19, in Čuburski Park for the first civic plenum in that Belgrade municipality, writes FoNet.
At the beginning of the meeting, it was agreed that each of those present has the right to present his proposal, and after that, it is decided by a public vote whether it is adopted.
Those present voted, among other things, that the next gathering should be an official assembly of citizens and that the competent authorities should be asked what exactly happened at the peaceful protest in Belgrade on March 15.
Rich man
The assembly of citizens in Bogatić was held on Friday (March 21) in front of the Municipal Assembly building, where the parliamentary session was scheduled.
The gathered citizens demanded the resignation of the municipal leadership, while the opposition in the building interrupted the session of the local parliament.
The building of the Municipal Assembly was "bathed" in eggs, and members of the Gendarmerie were also present.
The opposition occupied the floor of the Bogatić Assembly and the seats of the chairpersons and displayed banners that read "submit your resignation".
Gornji Milanovac
The citizens of Gornji Milanovac gathered in front of the city municipality on Friday, March 21. They demanded the resignation of the mayor of the municipality, Dejan Kovačević. And, at 11 a.m., a citizens' assembly was held.
"Resignations are being asked for staying in Pionirski Park, and it wouldn't be a problem if they weren't people from the public administration, who stayed there during their working hours. The resignation of the mayor of the municipality is being asked because the majority of citizens believe that the man is not worthy of holding the position. In his statement, he uses offensive terms, speaks badly of local businessmen, he had outbursts towards teachers and students in the blockade, towards activists. His discourse in public was enough of a reason and we expect people to vote for it," said the local activist Bojan Savković.
At the beginning of the assembly of citizens in front of the Municipal Assembly, the names of the citizens of Gornji Milanovac, who are known to have been in Pionirski Park in Belgrade and pretended to be students who want to study, were read out.
Each name was accompanied by loud protests and the noise of whistles and vuvuzelas.
Source: FoNet/N1/Nova.rs
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