The Government of Serbia declared today a day of mourning. Fourteen dead in one day, including young people and at least one child. Institutions are surprised, they express their condolences. They avoid responsibility, talk about the “tragedy”. Citizens call for a gathering and collective mourning. Candles are lit. No one is offering resignations. Sounds familiar? It’s as if May 3 and 4, 2023 are happening again in Serbia. Not even as if – they are happening again, and will keep happening again, until the principle of irresponsibility is replaced by the principle of responsibility of the government.
Like a tower of cards, the canopy of the symbol of Novi Sad – its railway station – has collapsed. This building was not only a symbol of the city, but also a symbol of stability, even in the days when it was obvious that the station needed renovation. To tell a resident of Novi Sad that the railway station would fall on their head would sound like a joke. But it’s not like that anymore. The symbol will become a commemorative place, and the joke has become a reality.
I grew up waiting for broken-down buses with no fuel and ancient trains at the bus and train station in Novi Sad. Even in times of inflation, sanctions and misery, renovated canopies weren’t killing us. It may be precisely because, back then, they were not being renovated, and the buildings were safe due to the inertia of some better times.
Back then, today’s government was busy with other destructive tasks, outside of Serbia. Vukovar burned, Sarajevo was terrorized. Yesterday, unfortunately, Novi Sad was struck by the same political hand. The provincial government is run by a hardcore Radical. Now all the destructive energy of that political idea is directed inwards, towards ourselves.
That’s why it’s so nauseating when the president of Serbia (lest we forget – a Radical) refers to us as the “Serbian family” which is going through difficult times and which, therefore, needs to unite. In that primitive metaphor, Serbia could be a family only if it was an abusive one, where it was very clear who was the abuser and who the victim. I’m not sure this is the kind of family the president had in mind.
Prime Minister Miloš Vučević, also known for his Radical beginnings, appeared in Novi Sad as well. Just a few months ago, the erstwhile mayor of Novi Sad rushed into battles for new/old Serbian national interests in his exposé, and just a few days ago he was announcing the return of mandatory military service. The sorrow on his face is false – because, for him, death is a patriotic duty. That’s what he told us when he took office.
The Prime Minister says that yesterday was our “Black Friday,” one of the most difficult days in the post-war history of Novi Sad and a tragedy for all of Serbia. He says that he will insist on finding those responsible for the collapse of the canopy at the entrance to the station. Does the Prime Minister remember the military vehicle that wiped an entire family off the face of the earth a few weeks ago? Has the government dealt with political responsibility for that case? It hasn’t. And it won’t this time.
The entire entourage that lined up at the scene of the accident seemed extremely unfazed – not only by their own responsibility, but also by the situation itself. Maybe there are more people below, they said, such injuries are always lethal, they added, death was instantaneous. One man’s leg was amputated, and another’s arm just barely avoided the same fate. The six-year-old child is dead, kudos to the rescuers and communal services. These are the morbid reports that only serve to anesthetize the audience and end the day as soon as possible. The ultimate goal of all this is for them to live to see another day in power – even if that power is usurped, stolen in the elections, including the local ones in Novi Sad in June this year.
Despite the stolen elections, massively rigged tenders and secret contracts for the reconstruction of roads and buildings, citizens still wonder – how could all this have happened? How is it possible that they don’t even care about statics, mathematics and safety? The otherwise unrebelious citizen has lost even the one hope they had – not to be killed as soon as they step out into the street.
As an answer to that meaningful question, a true event from ten years ago comes to mind. Vučević (who was mayor at the time), at a meeting of the city administration (which was attended by dozens of people – and, therefore, witnesses), in response to a simple warning that a specific plan he had was not legal, slammed his fist on the table and bluntly declared – Fuck it, if I say it’s legal, then it’s damn well going to be legal!
According to that same principle of legality, other things are done and built, not only in Novi Sad, but all around us. Novi Sad felt the consequences of such management yesterday. All the rest of us are just lucky survivors.
Translated by Marijana Simić
Peščanik.net, 05.11.2024.
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