Thousands Of People In Serbia Demonstrate Against Kuncitara Second Wave

Rallies in Serbia (Twitter / @ D_Milinkovic)

JAKARTA - The surge in the number of COVID-19 transmission in Serbia has forced the authorities to implement the lock for the second time. It made thousands of people protest. They occupy the front yard of the Beograd parliament building.

However, the action, which had been going smoothly, suddenly became chaotic because a right-wing group started to join forces and pelted the police who were on guard. Inevitably, the police then responded to the protesters by firing tear gas.

Reported by Reuters, the government through President Aleksandar Vucic has appealed to its citizens not to hold demonstrations because of COVID-19. Vucic is worried about transmission, given that COVID-19 is still endemic.

“There are no free beds in our hospital. We will open a new hospital, "Vucic told Reuters.

Vucic accused right-wing groups and regional intelligence officials of masterminding the unrest that weakened Serbia's position. Wearing masks, the protesters chanted in protest.

PLEASE help spread awareness of this: last night thousands gathered outside Serbia's parliament building to protest the utterly corrupt behavior of Serbia's Vucic dictor. Media outlets are saying these protests are against COVID lockdown measures - this is dangerous and false. pic.twitter.com/lNsbwYrEKr

- Izzy (@D_Milinkovic) July 8, 2020

In the incident, as stated by the Serbian Interior Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic, ten policemen were injured. Even so, he did not say how many people were injured by the protesters.

In fact, in the local television footage, it was clear that police were beating protesters. Not only in front of the parliament building. Similar actions also erupted in Novi Sad City in the north, Nis in the south, and Kragujevac. Much of the action ended in clashes between police and right-wing protesters.

The government has recently responded. The government announced it would advise health authorities not to impose locks on. However, the government will still limit some activities as a series of rules in the new restrictions that are planned to be announced as soon as possible.

Regarding the pandemic, Serbia has so far confirmed 17,076 cases of COVID-19 transmission. Among them, there were 341 cases died.