Kosovo Serbs protest against electoral bill

GRACANICA - The administrations of all ten Serb-majority municipalities in Kosovo-Metohija stopped work for 30 minutes on Thursday in protest against plans for the Kosovo assembly to adopt a bill on general elections.

The municipal administration staff members were joined by employees of health care institutions and other institutions, as well as civil society organisations that oppose the discriminatory law, the Citizens' Initiative Srpska said in a statement.

Should the bill on general elections become law, Serbs who do not have Kosovo documents will be stripped of the right to vote and reserved seats in the Kosovo assembly will be scrapped.

The Kosovo Serbs stand resolutely against the adoption of the bill, which was tabled to the Kosovo assembly on Thursday, the Initiative said in the statement, adding that the bill significantly reduces the rights of the Kosovo Serbs, putting their existence in danger.

This is just another warning to the Pristina authorities, the international community and the public to show that, if adopted, the bill will have a disastrous effect on further relationships and processes that have been initiated, the statement said.

The Citizens' Initiative Srpska wants the bill to be withdrawn from procedure and broad consultations started with the Serb community on a new bill that would not endanger the interests and rights of communities, the statement said.

Photo Tanjug, BOKI/ illustration