Anti-violence march announced in Belgrade

Belgraders have been called to light candles in memory of a French fan who succumbed to his injuries after being attacked earlier this month. Brice Taton died in hospital on Tuesday after football hooligans seriously injured him on September 17 in downtown Belgrade. Anti-violence march announced in Belgrade Belgrade Mayor Dragan Djilas said that the city will observe a day of mourning tomorrow, while an anti-violence march has been called for Thursday afternoon. First Deputy Premier and Interior Minister Ivica Dacic today sent his condolences to the family of the victim. “On behalf of the Serbian Interior Ministry [MUP] and my own, I express my deepest condolences over the death of your son. Until the last moment we hoped that Brice and his youth would win. The news of his death, that the Serbian citizens received with great sorrow, is all the more tragic," he stated. “Although it cannot provide consolation, I assure you that MUP made sure that the perpetrators of this dreadful act were brought to face justice in the shortest time possible,” Dacic said. French Sports Minister Rama Yade said that those who murdered the French football fan must be punished severely. “All of European football is mourning this tragic event, but it cannot remain unpunished: I am calling for extreme seriousness towards those who committed this murder and supported the efforts of the Serbian government to make sure that this act does not go unpunished,” she said. Yade gave her “sincere condolences” to the family of Taton, who was the victim of a “barbaric attack” and died in Belgrade this morning. She said that she will be speaking with UEFA officials with the goal of finding a better way to protect football from the “gangrene eating away at it”. “Nothing, however, will take back what was done,” Yade said, paying respects to Taton as a “young and passionate fan who life was savagely and unjustly” ended. She added that “now is the time to be focused, and tomorrow the fight must begin against violence in sports”. Yade said that she will visit Taton’s family and that she will be with his “sporting family” of Toulouse fans on October 4, at a match. In Belgrade, Human Rights Ministry State Secretary Marko Karadzic called on citizens to gather at Belgrade's central square at 11:30 CET on Wednesday to pay tribute to the victim with flowers and candles. He told B92 that the invitation is for all citizens and that he expects the support of non-governmental organizations. “It is horrible news that a French citizen lost his life this way in Belgrade. I want to call on all people in Belgrade to come to the Trg Republike square as a humane gesture, light candles and leave flowers to show that there are many people in Serbia who are against violence and that Serbia will never forget French citizen Brice Taton, nor will it allow a similar event to happen again,” Karadzic said. Politicians react The Serbian president, state institutions, officials and political parties offered their condolences and said that they would react strongly to this and all other forms of violence. “Serbia will react with the highest level of seriousness, and with very strict principles,” President Boris Tadic said. He added that this is a warning “to all groups that have been promoting violence over the last days.” Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic expressed his condolences to the French ambassador to Serbia Jean Francois Terral and the family of Taton, stating that the state will do everything to make sure that the perpetrators of the ghastly crime are punished rigorously, adding that all of Serbia is sickened by the act. Meanwhile, opposition Serb Progressive Party (SNS) expressed their "grief and bitterness" over the death of the French national, and called on the government bodies to legally penalize all the hooligans responsible for the attack. "The SNS feels bitterness about the tragic event and expresses condolences to the family of the deceased and to the French people," a party statement said on Tuesday, adding that the SNS condemns all attacks on foreign citizens in Belgrade, which have "reached alarming proportions". "We warn the Serbian government that, should it continue to react inadequately to such brutal and violent behavior of hooligans in the Serbian capital, they will be directly to blame for the serious damage that our country's interests will suffer across the world," the statement read. Serb Radical Party deputy leader Dragan Todorovic said that the “state institutions are responsible for the even, because they misused the hooligans on October 5” during the democratic changes. He said that laws are not implemented in Serbia when hooligan groups are in question. “Laws must be implemented. There are double standards in Serbia and the laws are implemented selectively,” Todorovic said, adding that those responsible for the death of Ranko Panic at the SRS rally on July 29, 2008 in Belgrade were never punished. Also in Belgrade today, opposition Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) President Cedomir Jovanovic urged citizens, organizations, parties, institutions and city officials to take part in the march dubbed Stop Violence on October 1. “This is the last chance to show compassion and strength and help ourselves by sending a message that we are ready to do everything in order to make Serbia a place of normal living free of insane and unprovoked violence against the Serbian citizens and all people who come to visit Belgrade,” Jovanovic said in a statement for Tanjug. “When aggression and madness are so extreme in this city and any behavior of a foreigner might be a cause for a murder, we have to unite and show that we are never to retreat before bullies and ideologies that they promote,” said the LDP leader.

Anti-violence march announced in Belgrade

Belgrade Mayor Dragan Đilas said that the city will observe a day of mourning tomorrow, while an anti-violence march has been called for Thursday afternoon.

First Deputy Premier and Interior Minister Ivica Dačić today sent his condolences to the family of the victim.

“On behalf of the Serbian Interior Ministry [MUP] and my own, I express my deepest condolences over the death of your son. Until the last moment we hoped that Brice and his youth would win. The news of his death, that the Serbian citizens received with great sorrow, is all the more tragic," he stated.

“Although it cannot provide consolation, I assure you that MUP made sure that the perpetrators of this dreadful act were brought to face justice in the shortest time possible,” Dačić said.

French Sports Minister Rama Yade said that those who murdered the French football fan must be punished severely.

“All of European football is mourning this tragic event, but it cannot remain unpunished: I am calling for extreme seriousness towards those who committed this murder and supported the efforts of the Serbian government to make sure that this act does not go unpunished,” she said.

Yade gave her “sincere condolences” to the family of Taton, who was the victim of a “barbaric attack” and died in Belgrade this morning.

She said that she will be speaking with UEFA officials with the goal of finding a better way to protect football from the “gangrene eating away at it”.

“Nothing, however, will take back what was done,” Yade said, paying respects to Taton as a “young and passionate fan who life was savagely and unjustly” ended.

She added that “now is the time to be focused, and tomorrow the fight must begin against violence in sports”.

Yade said that she will visit Taton’s family and that she will be with his “sporting family” of Toulouse fans on October 4, at a match.

In Belgrade, Human Rights Ministry State Secretary Marko Karadžić called on citizens to gather at Belgrade's central square at 11:30 CET on Wednesday to pay tribute to the victim with flowers and candles.

He told B92 that the invitation is for all citizens and that he expects the support of non-governmental organizations.

“It is horrible news that a French citizen lost his life this way in Belgrade. I want to call on all people in Belgrade to come to the Trg Republike square as a humane gesture, light candles and leave flowers to show that there are many people in Serbia who are against violence and that Serbia will never forget French citizen Brice Taton, nor will it allow a similar event to happen again,” Karadžić said.

Politicians react

The Serbian president, state institutions, officials and political parties offered their condolences and said that they would react strongly to this and all other forms of violence.

“Serbia will react with the highest level of seriousness, and with very strict principles,” President Boris Tadić said.

He added that this is a warning “to all groups that have been promoting violence over the last days.”

Deputy Prime Minister Božidar Đelić expressed his condolences to the French ambassador to Serbia Jean Francois Terral and the family of Taton, stating that the state will do everything to make sure that the perpetrators of the ghastly crime are punished rigorously, adding that all of Serbia is sickened by the act.

Meanwhile, opposition Serb Progressive Party (SNS) expressed their "grief and bitterness" over the death of the French national, and called on the government bodies to legally penalize all the hooligans responsible for the attack.

"The SNS feels bitterness about the tragic event and expresses condolences to the family of the deceased and to the French people," a party statement said on Tuesday, adding that the SNS condemns all attacks on foreign citizens in Belgrade, which have "reached alarming proportions".

"We warn the Serbian government that, should it continue to react inadequately to such brutal and violent behavior of hooligans in the Serbian capital, they will be directly to blame for the serious damage that our country's interests will suffer across the world," the statement read.

Serb Radical Party deputy leader Dragan Todorović said that the “state institutions are responsible for the even, because they misused the hooligans on October 5” during the democratic changes.

He said that laws are not implemented in Serbia when hooligan groups are in question.

“Laws must be implemented. There are double standards in Serbia and the laws are implemented selectively,” Todorović said, adding that those responsible for the death of Ranko Panić at the SRS rally on July 29, 2008 in Belgrade were never punished.

Also in Belgrade today, opposition Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) President Čedomir Jovanović urged citizens, organizations, parties, institutions and city officials to take part in the march dubbed Stop Violence on October 1.

“This is the last chance to show compassion and strength and help ourselves by sending a message that we are ready to do everything in order to make Serbia a place of normal living free of insane and unprovoked violence against the Serbian citizens and all people who come to visit Belgrade,” Jovanović said in a statement for Tanjug.

“When aggression and madness are so extreme in this city and any behavior of a foreigner might be a cause for a murder, we have to unite and show that we are never to retreat before bullies and ideologies that they promote,” said the LDP leader.