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Let no one betray us...Milan Kurepa, Belgrade University professor, Serbian Academy of Sciences and Art member: "I truly hope that the opposition leaders will gather together, despite some dissonant voices I've heard recently. I've read today that Djindjic and Draskovic can't stand each other. One of them should leave so that others could get along. Perhaps more of them should leave the public scene" Predrag Misljen (35), a member of Civil Alliance of Serbia working on a voluntary basis for the security of the rally: "I'm glad that the political parties have finally realised that they should organise a mass protest together. I'll be satisfied if more than 200,000 people attend the rally". Icecream street vendor in Knez Mihajlova Street: "I worked as a clerk, but now I have to sell icecream in the street to provide for my children. I don't expect that this rally would make a difference, but things should undoubtedly change. Today, I have to say that I'm selling less icecream because poor and desperate people who can't possibly earn their living have gathered here in the main city square. It's great if the opposition bloc is united now so that, hopefully, things could change for the better." Momcilo Cirilovic, electrician and entrepreneur: "The opposition had to unite; it had to happen sooner or later. This should've happened as far back as 1990 when we could have done something to have a better life. This rally is extremely important because we are reborn once again. We've got to start anew and take care of our future". A member of the student movement Otpor (Resistance) from Sombor who has come on foot all the way from Novi Sad: "We gathered in Novi Sad at about 5 p.m. and set out for Belgrade on foot. A large crowd gathered to see us off. Our first destination was Sremska Kamenica where several buses were awaiting us. However, we continued our march towards Indjija. We had no problems along the way except for a traffic accident near Batajnica where one of our activist was slightly injured. The united opposition colours are truly an encouragement for all us so we're looking forward to imminent changes in the forthcoming elections. Let no one betray us." Aleksandar Curcic, lawyer: "We came here to demonstrate how many Serbian citizens are asking for elections, changes and a better, democratic Serbia in which governing institutions abide by the law. This is the basic idea. This rally places a huge amount of responsibility on the united, or soon-to-be united, rather, opposition. If they manage to stick together and form a joint election list, they will achieve a formidable success. If not, this will be another waste of the citizens' energy. I have been a participant of similar gatherings since 1991. This is nothing new to me." Sasa, a Belgrade casino croupier: "Don't print my name when you publish this because of the problems my employer has been recently experiencing. I won't attend the rally. In my view, this rally would make sense had the opposition leaders presented some concrete agenda and a concrete course of action. They should tell us what they plan to do and whether it would serve some purpose, something like that. So tell us what you're planning to do and only then it could mean something. All of their stories basically boil down to hollow statements beginning with: 'When we come to power, then we'll...' This was the kind of story which Slobodan Milosevic used to get a grip on power, and the people rebelled against it. This people's been double-crossed too many times" |
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