Provincial official wants EU "to protect Vojvodina"

Provincial official wants EU "to protect Vojvodina"

A coalition led by the Democratic Party (DS) is in power in the province, while this party is in opposition at the state level, where the Progressives (SNS) - in opposition at the provincial level - are the ruling party.

Head of the DS in the town of Bela Crkva Zeljko Crnogorac said earlier today that tear gas was thrown at municipal councilors of the DS and the League of Social Democrats of Vojvodina (LSV), and that "private security guards are not allowing them to attend the extraordinary session of the (municipal) assembly convened at the initiative of the Serb Progressive Party (SNS)" - which is in opposition in Bela Crkva.

The ruling local coalition in that town consists of the DS, LSV and United Serbia - whose vice-president recently joined the SNS.

Bugarski told the Beta agency on Friday that it was "unacceptable that legitimately elected councilors have been banned from attending the session, while the police silently stand by."

"The situation is getting more than worrisome, and now it is certain that the international community will have to protect Vojvodina and democracy in Vojvodina," said he.

Bugarski added that the provincial government will "ask international institutions that the EU sends observers to the forthcoming elections in Vojvodina and in Vojvodina local governments."

"Since citizens are not protected by their judicial system and their Ministry of Interior, which should, above all, respect the Constitution of Serbia, then the international community will have to do it," said provincial secretary for local self-government.

He added that "no party in Serbia has the right to suspend democracy."

Meanwhile, the daily Blic is reporting that the SNS rejected the accusations that came from the Democrats today, saying "they are the ones who came under attack." The SNS claim that the DS and the LSV brought about 100 people in front of the municipal building who are protesting in order to prevent the holding of the session.

On Thursday, the DS announced that the SNS was attempting to come to power in Bela Crkva by "abducting a certain number of councilors from the ruling majority."

The SNS yesterday made no statement on this subject.

"No tear gas, only pepper spray"

No serious incidents occurred in Bela Crkva on Friday that would have warranted a police intervention, Interior Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic has said.

He told a news conference that a number of citizens had attempted to enter the municipal building by force, and that they carried DS and LSV party symbols.

The prosecution will investigate this event and everyone who broke the law will be held responsible, regardless of partisan affiliation, he noted.

Stefanovic also played TV Pancevo footage from Bela Crkva that showed people carrying flags and other symbols of the DS pushing to enter the municipal building.

The minister said no tear gas has been fired there today, and that instead "about 70 citizens in front of the building got sprayed with pepper spray."

Stefanovic also noted that only councilor Sandra Ristic filed a complaint with the police saying she was unable to enter the building - "but later attended the session."