Students of Belgrade and Novi Sad universities occupied their university buildings. The protesters are demanding the disclosure of the contract for the reconstruction of the station in Novi Sad, where 15 people were killed when the roof collapsed in early November. They also want the release of activists arrested during the protests and an increase in government spending on education.
Some students of the University of Belgrade closed the building of the rectorate and three faculties on Monday. The protest symbolically began at 11:52 a.m. on November 1 when part of the roof of the railway station in Novi Sad collapsed, killing 15 people.
An hour later, students of the Faculty of Philosophy in Novi Sad began to besiege their university. Teachers and colleagues of the faculty supported the demonstrations and announced the suspension of all classes.
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As Serbian media reported on Tuesday night and morning, the siege is still ongoing, and its participants assure that they will not stop until their demands are fulfilled.
Protests in Serbia ANDREJ ČUKIC/PAP/EPA
They want the station repair contract to be revealed
The students are demanding the publication of documents related to the reconstruction of the station, charges against those who attacked protesting students in Belgrade at the end of November, the release of imprisoned activists and a 20 percent increase in funding for public universities. This fact refers to the attack on students during the demonstrations related to the tragedy in Novi Sad.
Last Friday, the students closed the building of the rectorate of the University of Belgrade for 12 hours with the same demand.
Disaster in Novi Sad
On November 1, part of the roof of a railway station in Novi Sad, northern Serbia, collapsed. 15 people were killed and dozens were injured.
Roof collapse services MARKO KAROVIC/EPA/PAP
When the front part of the roof collapsed, many people were sitting on the seats below. Witnesses say that during the accident, students who were returning home from nearby cities were standing under the roof.
Immediately after the tragedy, the opposition at the local and central level of Serbia demanded an immediate investigation and a thorough investigation of the reconstruction work. The groups accused city and state officials of negligence that led to the accident. Following this tragedy, the Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure of Serbia, Goran Vesic, resigned.
Serbia. Protest in Belgrade after tragedy in Novi SadEPA/ANDREJ ČUKIC
Novi Sad railway station was officially opened in July this year after a three-year reconstruction. The Chinese consortium CRIC&CCCC was responsible for the repairs. The prosecutor's office is investigating the reason for the collapse of a part of the roof of the station.
Main photo credit: EPA/ANDREJ CUKIC
