Protests in Serbia Archive
Odraz B92 Daily News Service

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    ODRAZ B92, Belgrade                             Daily News Service
    Odraz B92 vesti (by 3 PM), December 17, 1996

    e-mail: beograd@siicom.com      URL: http://www.siicom.com/odrazb/
            odrazb92@b92.opennet.org     http://www.siicom.com/b92/
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    All texts are Copyright 1996 Radio B92. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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    NEWS BY 3 PM
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    CONTACT GROUP SENT WARNING TO MILOSEVIC

    US mediator for the Balkans John Kornblum urged Serbian President
    Milosevic last night to yield to the pressure for democratization,
    reports Reuters. The protests in Serbia have now entered their 5th
    week. Kornblum spoke to the press again today, following the
    Contact Group meeting in Geneva, and reported that its members are
    unanimous that changes are needed in Serbia. Karl Bildt, who also
    attended the meeting, said that what we are seeing on the streets
    of Belgrade is encouraging and represents the beginning of
    democratization in Serbia.

    US Defense Secretary William Perry said in Brussels today that the
    international community has to maintain its pressure on Milosevic
    to restore the opposition victory in the local elections.


    MILOSEVIC RECEIVED MARCHERS FROM NIS

    The group of 17 students of UofN arrived in Belgrade this morning
    after a 200 mile march. President Milosevic received their
    3-member delegation at 13:30 for a short talk, during which he
    promised that all those who have breached the law will be
    punished. Only a Radio Television Serbia crew was allowed to cover
    this meeting.


    SERBIAN PARLIAMENT IN SESSION

    The newly constituted Serbian Parliament began its first session
    yesterday. It voted to accept the Socialist Party of Serbia's
    (SPS) proposal to include the issue of organizing a multi-party
    panel to discuss the past elections, issues of importance for the
    1997 elections, the media and other related matters. The Serbian
    Radical Party's proposal to put the ongoing situation in the
    country on the agenda was, however, rejected. Last night, Serbian
    Government withdrew its proposal for changes to the Law on
    Employment which has provoked today's protest of several hundred
    workers in front of the Parliament.


    SERBIAN RENEWAL PARTY: OSCE COMMISSION MUST HAVE LEGAL EXPERTS

    ``The OSCE commission will have the task of establishing the truth
    about the local elections in our country and we therefore insist
    that it include not only politicians but also legal experts,'' was
    said at today's press conference by the Serbian Renewal Party
    (SPO).


    SOCIALISTS OF NIS PROPOSE COURT AND POLITICAL SOLUTIONS

    Nis city council of the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) announced
    today they will use every legal means at their disposal to protect
    their interests and the interests of their voters. They said they
    have instructed their legal crew to investigate the recent
    decision by the Municipal Court of Nis and find legal means to
    respond to it. Earlier this week, the Municipal Court of Nis
    canceled the decisions made by the Nis Electoral Commission which
    had turned the seats Zajedno's candidates had won into the hands
    of the left coalition. The Socialists of Nis stressed they
    preferred legal and political procedures to disturbances of peace
    and order in the streets.


    BULATOVIC, MAROVIC AND DJUKANOVIC SUE KILIBARDA AND PEROVIC

    Montenegrin top state officials, Bulatovic, Marovic and Djukanovic
    have brought private legal suits against Kilibarda and Perovic,
    leaders of the Montenegrin opposition coalition Narodna Sloga
    (People's Unity), for libel allegedly committed during the
    electoral campaign, reported news agency Montena Fax today. In its
    opening remarks, the prosecution said these were not criminal
    suits and pointed out that its clients appear as private citizens
    rather than state officials. It also stressed that the aim of
    these legal proceedings is moral vindication of its clients and
    that if the court decides to fine the accused, the money will go
    to humanitarian purposes.


    DATA ON ARRESTS OF DEMONSTRATORS

    According to Zajedno's Information Center, at least 23
    demonstrators were arrested in the period between November 29 and
    December 6. Most of them have been sentenced to 7--30 days in
    prison. Criminal suits have been brought against 4, who are
    defending themselves while on bail. The majority of sentences were
    passed for disturbing public law and order. In most of the cases,
    the arrested were not allowed to contact their families, nor were
    they permitted any legal assistance. The Center for Information
    said the arrests seem to have ceased December 6.

    Prepared by: Aleksandra Scepanovic
    Edited by: Vaska Andjelkovic (Tumir)

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    ODRAZ B92, Belgrade                             Daily News Service
    e-mail: beograd@siicom.com      URL: http://www.siicom.com/odrazb/
            odrazb92@b92.opennet.org     http://www.siicom.com/b92/
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