While in Serbia it is debated whether and which one sonic weapon used on protest in Belgrade March 15, and government representatives deny its use, hundreds of professors from around the world supported colleagues and students in Serbia, raising deep concerns about violent incidents during the protests, including "exposure to non-lethal weapons that resulted in injury and pain."
"Peaceful protesters, among them students and professors" were the target of that fund, according to the statement signed by more than 1500 academics from around the world.
Among the signatories are Nobel Prize winners, from the USA through the countries of the European Union and Great Britain, to Brazil and South Africa. Among them are Tom Piketty, Slavoj Žižek, Nancy Fraser, Annie Arnault, Etienne Balibar, Judith Butler.
Violation of fundamental human rights
As they state, "reports of an unexplained, loud disturbance that caused mass panic and stampede-like mass movements raise alarming questions about the tactics used against peaceful citizens expressing their fundamental rights."
"This deliberate, illegal use of means designed to cause fear, confusion and disorder in public gatherings is a serious violation of human rights, such as the right to peaceful assembly, bodily integrity and, above all, the right to life," reads the statement reported by Beta.
It is indicated that the student protests arose "as a response to the tragic demolition canopies (entrance of the Railway Station in Novi Sad) which took 15 lives, to the disaster which is a consequence of systemic corruption, failed institutions and lack of responsibility".
"The (students') demand for the rule of law and functional institutions is not only justified, but essential to prevent future tragedies and ensure a just and responsible system of governance," world academics point out.
Condemnation of intimidation of the rector of the University of Belgrade
In addition to those, as they point out, worrisome events, they stated that they "condemn in the strongest terms intimidation campaign and slandering the rector of the University of Belgrade".
"Targeted attacks on the rector, who stood up for academic integrity and student rights, have escalated into an open campaign led by pro-regime public figures calling for his arrest. This apparent attempt at intimidation represents a broader effort to silence critics in higher education and undermine the autonomy of academic institutions," the statement said.
The signatories of the letter call on "Serbian authorities to conduct an urgent and transparent investigation of the events at the protest, to call those responsible for the use of illegal means against the demonstrators and to ensure the safety of students, faculty and all citizens who peacefully express their views."
"We express solidarity with our colleagues and students in Serbia and call on universities, research institutions and academic networks around the world to join us in condemning this act and reaffirming our common commitment to basic human rights," the statement concludes.
Source: Danas/Beta
