Đilas: We do not want any civil war, let Vučić release the arrested young people

BELGRADE, (Patria) - Representatives of the Alliance for Serbia held a press conference today, where one of the protest participants, Jelena, also spoke. She emphasized that they are seeking freedom for six young men who were detained, and some already sentenced to prison terms.

“Their parents did not come today because they are shaken, scared, and some of them have had health problems. The police are also monitoring other protest participants. Our question is whether they will arrest all of us, and our request is that these young men be released.

Dragan Đilas of the Alliance for Serbia said that a child who is 18 years old and sentenced to 30 days in prison cannot finish high school.

“Some citizens entered, some of us active in politics, with the intention of calming the situation at RTS. I behaved the same way yesterday. A few of us stood to prevent any attempt to break into the Presidency or conflict with the police cordon. None of us have the idea of using any violence. For a hundred days, citizens in 100 cities have been protesting peacefully. We always set the same demand: release RTS, release the media, and let citizens choose who they want to lead them under such free conditions.”

He pointed out that Slobodan Milošević was a serious dictator, but that in 1992 he allowed students to address the public on RTS.

“Today, 27 years later, students have not had the opportunity to present the reasons for their protests on national television. Aleksandar Vučić has the legal possibility to make a decision on amnesty, to stop these criminal proceedings, so that these young people can return to their obligations and so that this can end.

Đilas pointed out that an incident occurred on the first floor of RTS, and that the Gendarmerie used force.

He announced that the Alliance for Serbia will continue to intensify the protests, which will be held tomorrow and on Wednesday, and that this will depend on whether the young people, some of whom have already been convicted, will be released.

“Today, the House of Human Rights also issued a statement stating that force was used against demonstrators and that media inciting hatred must stop, and that dialogue should be opened.”

Đilas said they fear infiltrated individuals among the demonstrators.

“We do not want to lead to a civil war, and when we received information that SNS members were gathering in cities, we asked citizens to disperse in front of the 29th November police station. If these people are not released, we will organize a vigil in front of the Presidency of Serbia.”