Tomislav Nikolic’s threat to declare a state of emergency on his first day as Speaker of the Serbian National Assembly indicates a serious slide towards totalitarianism in Serbia. Through this threat, Nikolic shows disdain towards the electoral wishes of the citizens of Serbia. Such a declaration would usurp state institutions and abolish human rights. Adding insult to injury, this announcement happened on the Day of Victory over Fascism. At the same time, the declaration of a state of emergency would bring an end to the process of transforming Serbia into a normal country.
Political parties, through their lack of responsibility and seriousness, are playing with the future of Serbia. Therefore, we, the activists of Urgent Antifascist Opposition - Serbia, call on all conscientious citizens, all democratic political parties, and all organizations in Serbia to unite and oppose the further facisization of the state and society. If we don’t step out of our comfortable positions of self-isolation and apathy, there won’t be anyone to oppose the evils of fascism and totalitarianism, which Assembly Speaker Tomislav Nikolic publicly threatens us with and Vojislav Koštunica threatens from the shadows.
We urge you to raise your voice!
HAOS (Urgent Antifascist Opposition—Serbia)
May 10, 2007.
Belgrade
The coalition is comprised of The Women in Black Network—Serbia from Belgrade, Bečej, Kikinda, Vrbas, Vlasotince, Novi Sad, Zaječar, Bor, Velika Plana, Kruševac, Kraljevo, Niš, Novi Pazar, Tutin, Dimitrovgrad, Leskovac, and Pančevo; The Youth Initiative for Human Rights; The Center for Peace and the Development of Democracy; The Incest Trauma Center; The Anti-Trafficking Center, SOZM, The Queeria Center, The Belgrade Centre for Human Rights, The Lawyers’ Committee for Human Rights, Škart, The Social Democratic Union, The League of Social Democrats of Vojvodina, and The Novi Sad Lesbian Organization.
