The generation of students who have been protesting against corruption in Serbia for months was born after the fall of Slobodan Milošević's regime and knows almost only one party in power, the Serbian Progressive Party, the conservative and nationalist party of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, reported the Agence France-Presse (AFP).
Young people rose up against that system, considering it less and less democratic, and they were children when Prime Minister Zoran Đinđić was assassinated in 2003. They have been rising up for weeks and blocking the vast majority of faculties.
A group of four young people spoke to Agence France-Presse about what prompted them to protest and why they do not intend to return to classes until their demands are met.
Their demands include a 20 percent increase in the budget for higher education, the publication of all documents related to the renovation of the Novi Sad train station, the arrest of suspects who attacked students and professors during the protests, and the dropping of charges against the arrested students, 13 of whom were pardoned today, the French agency reminded.
DON'T MISS IT
Vanja Šević (22), a final-year student at the Faculty of Film Arts in Belgrade, said that the coronavirus pandemic has "taken so much away" from students.
"Today, our right to speak freely, our right to safety, our basic rights are in danger. And because we are educated, because we are the future of this country, we must wake up, and wake up everyone else," the student said.
Aleksa Stefanović (20), a computer science student, told Agence France-Presse that "the situation is about to explode."
"We clearly see that the people who bring us donations (at the blocked universities) all have sad stories. The truth is that we cannot live here on the minimum wage, which is 540 euros," said Stefanović.
Emilija Šuković (23), a dentistry student, said that "students are no longer just students."
"There are many citizens around us who support us, because, whether it's at my faculty or somewhere else, the problem is the same - the incompetence of those in charge. And the consequence is a lack of security for citizens," she said.
"I believe it is essential that we act now, as a new generation, full of energy, determination and potential. We may also be driven by the injustice experienced by those before us. Now it is our turn. I feel a responsibility to take to the streets. To fight not only for us, but also for the elderly, I think we owe it to them and to find a solution together," she added.
Jelena Vujanović (26), a textile design student, said that the parents of current students rebelled at the time of the fall of Milošević, believing that things would change.
According to her, then Đinđić was killed, they (the parents) tried, they failed, maybe they came to terms with it, but the young people are angry now.
"Until the institutions are liberated, we will not give up. The concessions and statements (of the president who called for dialogue) very often resemble threats. There is also hate speech. At first, I was a little scared of what could happen. Over time, I understood. We are together, we are strong, we will not give up," said student Jelena.
Bonus video:
