BELGRADE: Tens of thousands protested on Sunday in Serbia’s capital Belgrade to demand that leaders take responsibility for the collapse of a train station roof that killed 15 people last month.

For over seven weeks, the Serbian government has been under pressure from nation-wide demonstrations following the deaths in the northern city of Novi Sad, with many protesters accusing authorities of corruption and inadequate oversight.

Sunday’s protest, which was organised by university students, started with 15-minutes of silence as tribute to the 15 victims in the incident, with protesters lighting up the square with their phones in the air.

The silence was followed by “half-hour noise” as demonstrators blew whistles and vuvuzelas to deliver a deafening noise. The demonstration occupied Slavija square, a key roundabout, snarling traffic in the city centre.

According to the Ministry of Interior statement, up to 29,000 people attended the protest.

“The state is children’s property” and “Protests are exams” read some of the banners of the demonstrators who have demanded that the prime minister and the Novi Sad mayor resign, and that those found responsible be prosecuted.

“The government has to fulfill every demand that students have and that is putting all the accountable people for that tragedy on trial”, 24-year-old software engineer Lazar said. Farmers, actors and other citizens from across Serbia have come to support the students.

Students and other citizens in the southern city of Nis also marched on Sunday.

“At this moment, supporting these young people is the most important thing”, Nenad Radovanovic”, a pensioner, said.

Students have also called for legal proceedings to be dropped against demonstrators, and for the prosecution of assailants who have attacked the protesters in previous protests.

In a bid to dilute the anger and calm the protests, the authorities over the past weeks have promised various subsidies for young people. On Friday, the government announced plans to close schools early for winter holidays.

Students continued to protest, saying their demands have only been partially met. Almost all faculties at the state universities across the country are blockades by students.

“I am here because enough is enough. We all took to the streets because this really does not make sense what is being done in this country”, said architect Daria Poljolka, 27.

Fourteen people, aged between six and 74, were killed on November 1 when the roof collapsed after major renovation works on the station. A 15th victim died in hospital weeks later.

Published in Dawn, December 23rd, 2024