Belgrade: Following the tragic collapse of a coach stop ceiling in November, tens of thousands of Russian school kids have taken to the streets across the country in an anti-corruption campaign.
Serbia’s” Generation Z” holds a special spot in the country’s tumultuous recent past.
Most were born after the 1990s ‘ war and sanctions against Slobodan Milosevic’s government and the 2003 death of liberal prime minister Zoran Djindic, or they have no recollection of those events.
Most of Serbia’s youth have grown up during President Aleksandar Vucic’s and his Serbian progressive party’s ( SNS ) party’s decade-long rule.
Critics have accused the opposition of holding onto an authoritarian hand that has resulted in the erosion of the rule of law and corruption.
Students have taken the helm of a protest movement that demands more transparency and fairness following the murders of 15 people at a Novi Sad train depot.
To day, the prime minister, travel and trade officials have all resigned under pressure from the protests. Four kids give an explanation of why they are protesting and what they hope to accomplish in this example.
Why are they protesting?
Vanja Sevic, 22, pupil of performing art:
” Today, our right to speak freely, to safety, our basic right, are in danger. Therefore, it’s up to us as educated people because we must wake up and wake up those who are not because we are the potential of this region.
Aleksa Stefanovic, 20, computer science student:
” I see it when individuals donate to schools and merely reveal the worst details about why they are supporting us,” I recall. The truth is that “people can’t dwell on the minimum income.”
Emilija Sukovic, 23, medical scholar:
” These are no longer even student protests. We have gathered a large number of citizens who stand with us, which just proves that the same problem exists outside at my college, in every establishment, in every career. And that matter is the stupidity of those in certain jobs, which of course, leads to the threatening of citizens ‘ security”.
Jelena Vujanovic, 26, style student:
When Milosevic was overthrown in 2000,” I believe our parents had that same rebel soul.” But since the circumstance did not truly change, they probably felt defeated, as if they had failed. And as a result, this desire for change has persisted, and it has now reached us.”
What future?
Jelena:” Until the corporations are free, we will not back over. That is the unanimous choice of those of us who are in this blockade.
” Some concessions and claims we hear come with problems,” says one author.
0.
risks, also hate conversation. At first, these items affected me I was a little frightened, wondering what may happen next. But as time passes, I understand, and we all understand, that none of that counts. We are along, we are strong, and we will never give up”.
Vanja:” I have just one exam left only one. However, I did put it off as long as it is necessary because this conflict is far more crucial.
” Whether I student immediately, tomorrow, in a year, two, three, or five it really does not matter. What matters much more is that when I student, and when all of us student, we enter a world where we can operate without needing a group membership card, where we can operate based on our experience, knowledge, and competence. Simply put, a good world”.
Emilija:” I have no confidence in the ruling buildings, and I think that is what motivates many students and residents to be where we are now at protests, on the streets, at blockades and on attack”.
