Belgrade’s long awaited gay pride parade, due to pass through Belgrade’s city centre today (20.09.09), was prevented from taking place on police orders.
What can only be described as a capitulation by the Serbian authorities has ended with a ban on all public gatherings from Belgrade’s City centre, this has prevented the pride march and also the counter demonstrations organised by nationalist groups such as 1389 and Obraz.
Poster and graffiti campaigns, ongoing for months, climaxed with posters around Belgrade telling those who wanted to take part in the parade “We are waiting for you” and repeating the chants heard in 2001, “Ubi pedere” -”kill faggots” would be the best translation.
Paraders had good reason to be afraid, the last attempt to hold a gay pride rally in Serbia back in 2001 ended in violence as the marchers were attacked in front of police, some of whom were unwilling to intervene.
The police recommended the 2009 pride parade be relocated, away from buildings, in a field or other out of town location.
On this occasion the state has demonstrated that it is either unwillng to unable to protect its citizens from unruly protestors. This is a PR blunder for the Serbian government, for whom the parade would have been an opportunity to demonstrate minority rights are respected in Serbia as is required by EU law.
Several foreign embassies had commited themselves to support the march, and President Tadic had promised the protestors would be protected.
Promises that the event will take place next year now have little value.
