BELGRADE: Student protesters in Serbia called for a one-day general strike on Friday in a bid to up pressure on the government, as demonstrations continued over a fatal train station roof collapse.
Fifteen people died in the accident in November, which occurred shortly after the Novi Sad station was renovated and ignited long-simmering anger over corruption and an alleged lack of oversight of construction and development projects.
“Don’t buy anything. Don’t go to work. Join us in the streets,” the protesters said in a widely shared social media post.
A protester-led strike on January 24 saw businesses shutter, cinemas close and many people refrain from shopping.
Major services continued operating though, including power generation and public transport.
Pressure has been mounting on the government since the accident, with protests nearly every day, and several high-ranking officials, including the prime minister, have been forced to resign.
Students have been blockading university campuses for months and a significant number of primary and secondary schools across Serbia have closed.
President Aleksandar Vucic and other government officials have oscillated between positions, sometimes meeting some students’ demands and calling for dialogue, sometimes accusing demonstrators of being backed by foreign powers.
University students have emerged as the leaders of the widening protest movement, which has drawn thousands to demonstrations across Serbia.
The latest mass protest came at the weekend, when tens of thousands of people gathered in the southern city of Nis.
In between major rallies, students have regularly criss-crossed Serbia on foot, seeking to raise awareness about their anti-corruption crusade in towns and villages that have long been a stronghold for Vucic.
The next mass rally is scheduled to take place in the capital, Belgrade, on March 15.
