A Group of NGOs, Media Associations Sever Cooperation with Legislative, Executive Branches

Serbian Government (BETAPHOTO/NENAD PETROVIC/)

A group of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and media associations on Feb. 4 said they were suspending cooperation with the legislative and executive branches of the Serbian government, because, they explained, the authorities had derailed from fundamental democratic standards and principles of the rule of law.

“We are withdrawing our membership, both formal and informal, in working groups of the Government and ministries, as well as in other standing or ad hoc bodies we have been engaged in. Despite our sincere desire to use our special knowledge to contribute to establishing a better functioning of the system of institutions, we are aware that by formal inclusion of the civil society the regime has only continued to simulate democratic processes,” it is said in the statement signed by 28 organizations.

In practice, according to the statement, protection of human rights and freedoms has been constantly reducing for a long time now, which has become crystal clear in the situation where the regime is using all means to “hush student protests and evade fulfillment of their demands,” which should not be disputable for anyone whose interest is to see Serbia as a legal state.”

“Owing to students, an increasing number of citizens has been realizing that there can be no prosperity for Serbia before institutions have started functioning in accordance with their respective authorities, and until the concentration of power has reduced in the hands of those who have no relevant authority. We extend unreserved support to all students’ demands,” it is said in the statement.

The signatories include A 11 – Initiative for Economic and Social Rights, Autonomous Women’s Center, the Belgrade Centre for Security, the Belgrade Center for Human Rights, the European Movement Serbia, the Civic Initiative, the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights, the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights YUCOM, Independent Journalists’ Association of Vojvodina, Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia, the Renewables and Environmental Regulatory Institute, and the Slavko Curuvija Foundation.