Extremists Threaten Violence Against Ganja March in Belgrade
The scenes from 2001, when rightist extremists beat-up the participants of the first, and the only so far, gay parade in Belgrade, could repeat this year. The open call to violence was signed by Serb Patriotic Movement “Obraz”, the “Nacionalni stroj” (National File), Serb congregation “Dveri”, “Blood and Honour”, “Decisive Battle” and “Tzar Lazar’s Guards”. "We believe that it is unacceptable to hold gatherings that promote social evils such as drug-abuse and homosexuality in this year of the decisive battle for the future of Kosovo and Metohija”, states the public statement issued by the extreme right. They also say that, should the authorities fail to ban the gathering that promotes legalization of marihuana and treatment of marihuana as life-style choice, the participants in the counter-march will be forced to “intervene and use force to prevent that those sick people march through our city”. They announce that they will “intercept the protest march of the junkies and show them what the healthy national youth is made of”. According to the public statement, the counter-march is supported by professor Kosta Cavoski, Sinisa Vucinik and Goran Davidovic, a neo-nazi recently sentenced by the Court of Law for his interruption of an anti-fascist debate in Novi Sad. The organizers of the Belgrade’s Ganja March commented that Ganja march has already been organized in Belgrade in 2005, with about 50 participants and that it proceeded peacefully, without any incident whatsoever. The cultivation and use of marihuana in Serbia is prohibited. On the other hand, the Constitution guarantees the right to peaceful gathering and protest and prohibits all calls and incitement to violence. Global Marihuana March For additional information, visit the website of the Global Marihuana March. |
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