Call for EU pressure over Serbian human rights
Passover Pete | 23.01.2010 15:22 | Analysis | Repression | Social Struggles | World
The continued incarceration of the Belgrade Six and fears over Serbia's willingness to maintain the human rights of its citizens has prompted mutterings both inside and outside the country - particularly as the process for country's EU membership application speeds up.
Serbia's bid to join the EU, formally delivered towards the end of last month, has been favourably looked on by the powers that be, with the main question being whether privatisation of the country's assets is proceeding in good time.
In human rights terms, EU mandarins are mostly very pleased, with the only sticking point being the extradition of Ratko Mladic and Goran Hadzic for crimes against humanity during the Bosnian war. But for many living in the region, the human rights discussion over EU membership should not revolve around Serbia's attitude to capturing the last two genocide suspects of 1992-5. Its increasingly worrying behaviour now is more important.
The case of the Belgrade Six, who have just spent their fourth month in prison awaiting trial for alleged "international terrorism," is a case in point. In the early hours of August 24 2009, a group of radicals sneaked up to Number 33 Francuska, Belgrade. Hidden by the dark, they prepared two Molotov cocktails, which were then hurled towards the empty Greek embassy. The damage done was minimal, a few scorch marks up the side of the building and a broken window were all that was visible the next morning and the embassy opened as usual. Insurrectionary anarchist group Black Ilja claimed responsibility shortly afterwards, saying they were acting in solidarity with imprisoned Greek hunger striker Todoris Iliopulos.
In Greece itself the event would have barely registered. The reaction of Serbia's leading politicians and media groups however was extreme. Serbia's President Boris Tadic declared the incident to be an example of international terrorism. His public announcement was closely followed by a media frenzy over the rise of extremism in the country, which widely publicised calls for the "neutralisation" of left-wing elements.
Under such pressure, police made six arrests on September 3-4, not of Black Ilja, but of members and friends from the Anarcho Syndicalist Initiative (ASI), which was alleged to be connected to the incident by virtue of its political outlook. Initially charged with "causing general public danger," Ratibor Trivunac, Tadej Kurepa, Ivan Vulovic, Sanja Dokic, Ivan Savic and Nikola Mitrovic spent three months in jail while waiting for their trial before being formally indicted on December 7.
At the indictment, their alleged crimes were upgraded and the six now face between three and 15 years in prison each on charges of "international terrorism." Critics point out that this would be more than double the sentence which was handed down for the burning to the ground of the US embassy in Belgrade in 2008.
The case and its surrounding context have fuelled fears both inside and outside Serbia that the state is failing to live up to its billing as a modern democracy and is instead trying to bury left-wing dissent through draconian means. Academics at Belgrade University have condemned the trial, writing in an open letter: "We fear that this was an arbitrary interpretation of the Criminal Code and a case of its use for political purposes.
"Just in the year 2009 we have witnessed the escalation of violence (as a consequence one foreign citizen was killed) and numerous threats of violence made by fascist groups. All of this was met with a mild reaction from the state prosecution and the police.
"To name just one example: in the days leading up to the Belgrade Gay Pride Parade (set for September 20, subsequently called off due to security fears) the threats of physically liquidating the gay population were called just 'polemics' by a representative of the state."
Events surrounding the parade included a number of vicious beatings of foreigners or anyone characterised as "different" and a fascist attack on a news conference, leading to international condemnation of the state's unwillingness to confront far-right violence.
The International Workers Association (IWA), to which the ASI is affiliated, has held over 40 demonstrations across 16 countries in protest against the Belgrade Six arrests, noting in an official statement: "ASI first found out about the attack on the Greek embassy and of the organisation that took the responsibility for this act through the media. We would use this opportunity to remind the public once again that these methods of individual political struggle are not the methods of anarcho-syndicalism - quite the contrary. We proclaim our political positions publicly and through our work we seek to bring the masses to the syndicalist movement and all the libertarian and progressive organisations. It is clear that this state-produced farce is just one way of intimidating anyone who decides to point out the injustice and hopelessness of contemporary society."
Serbia's political class is uniquely vulnerable to pressure over human rights as it positions itself for EU membership and such pressure is vital. Our newest citizens must be free to express their life choices and politics as we enter the new decade.
This article first appeared in the Morning Star under the heading “Rights must be part of EU deal.”
In human rights terms, EU mandarins are mostly very pleased, with the only sticking point being the extradition of Ratko Mladic and Goran Hadzic for crimes against humanity during the Bosnian war. But for many living in the region, the human rights discussion over EU membership should not revolve around Serbia's attitude to capturing the last two genocide suspects of 1992-5. Its increasingly worrying behaviour now is more important.
The case of the Belgrade Six, who have just spent their fourth month in prison awaiting trial for alleged "international terrorism," is a case in point. In the early hours of August 24 2009, a group of radicals sneaked up to Number 33 Francuska, Belgrade. Hidden by the dark, they prepared two Molotov cocktails, which were then hurled towards the empty Greek embassy. The damage done was minimal, a few scorch marks up the side of the building and a broken window were all that was visible the next morning and the embassy opened as usual. Insurrectionary anarchist group Black Ilja claimed responsibility shortly afterwards, saying they were acting in solidarity with imprisoned Greek hunger striker Todoris Iliopulos.
In Greece itself the event would have barely registered. The reaction of Serbia's leading politicians and media groups however was extreme. Serbia's President Boris Tadic declared the incident to be an example of international terrorism. His public announcement was closely followed by a media frenzy over the rise of extremism in the country, which widely publicised calls for the "neutralisation" of left-wing elements.
Under such pressure, police made six arrests on September 3-4, not of Black Ilja, but of members and friends from the Anarcho Syndicalist Initiative (ASI), which was alleged to be connected to the incident by virtue of its political outlook. Initially charged with "causing general public danger," Ratibor Trivunac, Tadej Kurepa, Ivan Vulovic, Sanja Dokic, Ivan Savic and Nikola Mitrovic spent three months in jail while waiting for their trial before being formally indicted on December 7.
At the indictment, their alleged crimes were upgraded and the six now face between three and 15 years in prison each on charges of "international terrorism." Critics point out that this would be more than double the sentence which was handed down for the burning to the ground of the US embassy in Belgrade in 2008.
The case and its surrounding context have fuelled fears both inside and outside Serbia that the state is failing to live up to its billing as a modern democracy and is instead trying to bury left-wing dissent through draconian means. Academics at Belgrade University have condemned the trial, writing in an open letter: "We fear that this was an arbitrary interpretation of the Criminal Code and a case of its use for political purposes.
"Just in the year 2009 we have witnessed the escalation of violence (as a consequence one foreign citizen was killed) and numerous threats of violence made by fascist groups. All of this was met with a mild reaction from the state prosecution and the police.
"To name just one example: in the days leading up to the Belgrade Gay Pride Parade (set for September 20, subsequently called off due to security fears) the threats of physically liquidating the gay population were called just 'polemics' by a representative of the state."
Events surrounding the parade included a number of vicious beatings of foreigners or anyone characterised as "different" and a fascist attack on a news conference, leading to international condemnation of the state's unwillingness to confront far-right violence.
The International Workers Association (IWA), to which the ASI is affiliated, has held over 40 demonstrations across 16 countries in protest against the Belgrade Six arrests, noting in an official statement: "ASI first found out about the attack on the Greek embassy and of the organisation that took the responsibility for this act through the media. We would use this opportunity to remind the public once again that these methods of individual political struggle are not the methods of anarcho-syndicalism - quite the contrary. We proclaim our political positions publicly and through our work we seek to bring the masses to the syndicalist movement and all the libertarian and progressive organisations. It is clear that this state-produced farce is just one way of intimidating anyone who decides to point out the injustice and hopelessness of contemporary society."
Serbia's political class is uniquely vulnerable to pressure over human rights as it positions itself for EU membership and such pressure is vital. Our newest citizens must be free to express their life choices and politics as we enter the new decade.
This article first appeared in the Morning Star under the heading “Rights must be part of EU deal.”
Passover Pete
Homepage:
http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index.php/news/content/view/full/85274
Comments
Hide the following comment
Balkan Politics
23.01.2010 20:38
Because of this fact, that people were much better off under Tito's Yugoslavia than they were since the fall, there is still a feeling of Yugo-nostalgia and left-wing groups are still popular. This, of course, threatens the current governments, who thrive on capitalist corruption and the hope of joining the EU, which is still a very unpopular move with most Serbs. The EU is an even bigger motive to exterminate revolutionary elements, as this is their general line anyway. There is no way the EU will push for human rights in this case, as they are the ones who are probably pushing, behind the scenes, for the abuse of human rights happening at the moment.
The six who were arrested belonged to an anarchist organization. Within the EU, it would not be easily pushed under the carpet, if a government was to do that. But in a place like Serbia, where corruption is commonplace and state intimidation is a fact most have to live with, it is easier to "exterminate" anarchists before the country joins the EU. After they join the EU, there will be no excuses for such a blatant abuse of human rights, so they are trying to get it out of the way now while they are still considered "savage". Also, this was related to Greece, another Balkan country with dodgy politics and a strong Communist past during the Greek Civil War. Greece is also resorting to oppressive tactics, often having no regard for human rights, and is a traditional ally of Serbia. It is very possible that the Greek government pushed for this punishment. The 6 that were arrested don't have to be the ones who did it. They are just used to scare the anarchist movement into dissolution.
As for the USA embassy, mentioned on the original post, this was not carried out by Anarchists, but by members of the far right. The USA bombed them not too long ago, so they are not likely to do anything more than absolutely necessary for the USA.
Both countries, Serbia and Greece, rely heavily on the "help" of militant right-wing and neo-nazi organizations, to do their "dirty work" for them. This is why attacks are so common and prosecution is unlikely. It is a well-known fact that these organizations fully cooperate with the police against leftists and anarchists. Often though, these organizations go much further than the state would like them to, as a result of being given too much power and autonomy. They are not easily controlled anymore, but since they are still helping the police, they are given unofficial immunity.
Balkan politics is a complicated subject and many factors should be considered. The EU is unlikely to help and the legal system is designed to work in favor of the ones who designed it. Anarchists cannot rely on the legal system they are opposed to when things get rough. If something is going to save them, this will be a massive anarchist movement in Serbia and global solidarity. They can only be saved by force. Politeness and discussion does not work in that part of the world, unfortunately. In the Balkans, political prisoners are known to have been held for several years with no trial, having unfair trials, and routinely being tortured, sometimes even killed, by the state. The only thing that can stop the state in this part of the world is the sheer force of opposition, that can force them to step back. But with the current situation in Serbia, this is unlikely. Our unlucky comrades are in deep trouble.
Boris