The Belgrade Centre for Human Rights calls on all competent bodies to urgently identify and prosecute all persons who brutally beat up the three Novi Sad Youth Theatre actors in the night of 5/6 February 2006. The Novi Sad city authorities must finally address the problems in the Theatre that arose because the Theatre Director enjoying their support has been applying despotic measures to control the theatre, the actors and staff of which have opposed his management and work methods. As stipulated by the Constitution of Serbia and ratified international treaties, the state has the duty to protect the citizens from serious threats to their safety. It must conduct an investigation and undertake all measures required by the “exigencies of the situation”. The safety of all participants in the strike is obviously seriously endangered in this case as the grave injuries the three actors sustained corroborate. Statements made by police officials to date and unconfirmed reports that senior political officials of parties ruling Novi Sad were seen in the Novi Sad police station during the night cannot but raise doubts about the speed, effectiveness and efficiency of the investigation and its results.
In the night of 5/6 February, Novi Sad resembled Serbia of the late nineties. Thugs resorting to violence to break up strikes and protests were commonplace during the Milosevic regime. Civic courage and independent media were the only effective tools in countering such conduct by the authorities. The Belgrade Centre warns that violations of fundamental human rights are still possible today, although seven years have passed since the ouster of the undemocratic regime. Public reaction to such violations may still be the only way to protect these rights.
