NGOs Demand from Authorities to Protect Rights and Private Property

21 February 2008

The Belgrade Human Rights Centre appeals to the Police, judiciary and executive branch of Government to respect the Constitution and national laws and to secure personal safety and protection of private property for all citizens of Serbia.

- Over the last four days, we have witnessed mass scale violations of rights of those citizens that are seen by the self-styled guardians of national interests as potential victims of rage and lawlessness, says BHRC.

The state authorities, and primarily political and judicial institutions, adds BHRC, can�t allow for destruction of private property and diplomatic representative offices to go unpunished.

As the Centre notes, many politicians and NGOs, including humanitarian organizations that work to assist the Kosovo and Metohija IDPs like the Kraljevo-based Lingua Centre, have been subjected to threats and attack.

- Lamentably, the bodies of the state charged with prevention of lawless rampaging have not reacted and, in fact, certain officials of the state instigate to violence or try to justify it, says BHRC.

The Independent Association of Journalists of Vojvodina (NDNV) appealed to the media in Serbia to refrain from using the Kosovo declaration of independence to attack civil society representatives and those that don�t share their views and opinions.

- A number of reports call for lynch and discrimination of all those who are �not patriotic enough�. One such article was published yesterday in �Vecernje Novosti� daily, under the headline Nata�a, Woman that is Not.

NDNV reminds the media or their responsibility in these difficult times. Adding fuel to fire may only further damage the already weak reputation of Serbia in the world.

The Association calls on proper authorities to sanction public hate-speech and the hooligans that damage property and threaten the citizens of Serbia.