STUDENT IN TEARS: “Many outsiders in Kosjerić, it’s hard to watch frightened people!”

Rade Josipović, a student at the Faculty of Dramatic Arts originally from Kosjerić, says that the situation in his hometown is such that many activists are present and the police dare not react, making incidents likely a week before the local elections. He said in tears that students and their parents are intimidated, and he finds it difficult to witness this in the town where he grew up. He notes that this has not, however, swayed their intention and demand for snap parliamentary elections.

Escalating Tensions

Activist Aleksa Petrović was attacked on Friday by the same man who previously assaulted an N1 television cameraman. Rade Josipović, the student from Kosjerić, told N1 that this is a chain of violence formed by local “sheriffs.”

He adds that individuals are carrying out violence at the local level, but the same ideology is visible in the media.

He explains that students conduct daily village visits, a so-called “Student Buklija” (Student’s Invitation), where they invite locals to exercise their right and come out to vote, regardless of whom they will vote for.

Confrontations and Fear

SNS activists follow the students, seeking out locals they spoke with, telling them that the students are lying about everything they say. This led to a minor incident and argument on Friday between two SNS activists and residents of the village of Ražani. The student says the activists claimed they were there as tourists, even though locals recognized them as SNS members.

“Yesterday, they came looking for people we spoke with and told them we were lying. SNS follows our actions and tells people that everything we say is a lie,” the FDU student stated.

Describing the atmosphere in Kosjerić, where President Aleksandar Vučić will be today, he says the police justify their inaction by claiming their hands are tied and that they are waiting for the prosecution to do its part.

“We have police who dare not react, a bunch of activists coming to Kosjerić. The situation is tense precisely because of this, especially due to the President’s visit today to the village of Seča Reka. We learned from local residents that they were told he was coming at 10:30 AM and to come support the President. I hope the situation will be peaceful; a large number of police officers are in Kosjerić. Kosjerić is plastered with ‘Welcome, President’ posters. This morning, I saw graffiti that didn’t welcome him being painted over. I hope there won’t be incidents, but the situation is such that they are likely,” the N1 interlocutor said.

He adds that the elderly population is afraid of losing their pensions, and in conversations with students, they say they have survived worse things and that everything is fine as long as they have their pensions.

“On the other hand, there are the socially vulnerable who have been promised all sorts of things,” Rade pointed out.

Unwavering Demands

Asked whether the unfair campaign has shaken their demand for snap parliamentary elections, the student replies that it has not.

However, he says very emotionally that it is difficult for him to watch frightened and intimidated people in the town where he grew up.

“It’s a very different situation when you talk about Serbia globally and when you are in the place where you grew up and you see people you know who are intimidated and unable to express their opinions. Very few students participate in shows because both they and their parents are intimidated. Somehow, it’s hard for me to watch it from here,” the student said.

Asked if he was afraid for himself, he said: “I don’t know what to tell you, I’ll lie and say I’m not.”