CHRIS Network Demands from Authorities to Protect the Citizens

28 September 2007

The CHRIS Network (Human rights committees in six cities in Serbia: Nis, Negotin, Vranje, Novi Sad, Valjevo, Novi Pazar) strongly condemns the latest violent attack � the bombing of the car of Slobodan Pavlovic, a barrister and human rights protector from Vranje, on the night of September 20.

CHRIS demands from Stole Filipovic, the Head of Vranje Police Department to take all necessary measures to find the perpetrators of the attack and to inform the citizens of Vranje of all actions taken by the Police to solve this case.

�We demand from the state to take all the necessary measures to protect the citizens, and above all the human rights protector, from any form of violence, vengeance and other threats against personal security�, says the Network in a statement for the media.

CHRIS emphasizes that this is the second attack and attempt to intimidate lawyers in Vranje in the past three months.

�If the well-being and personal safety of all citizens of Vranje are not the priority of the Police Department, we have to ask where their priorities are?�, asks the network.

The Network adds that this is not an isolated case and that there were several attacks on lawyers, public persons and journalists in Vranje in the last year or so. All those events, according to the network, confirm the suspicions that authorities and bodies charged with public safety and security didn�t take efficient steps to prevent and stop the senseless violence.