The Association of Veterans of the 63rd Parachute Brigade called on the "competent state authorities to fulfill their obligations prescribed by law", and they also say that "the presence of veterans at current events does not express any political position other than concern for the safety of young people who are peacefully protesting".
Veterans of the 63rd Parachute Brigade say that "recently there has been a huge outpouring of discontent among the youth, students and citizens of Serbia", which culminated after the fall of the canopy at the train station in Novi Sad on November 1, 2024, where 15 people, women and children, died.
"Emotions and compassion have worked for all honest citizens of Serbia," the Association of Veterans of the 63rd Parachute Brigade said in a statement.
Different people in different ways expressed their dissatisfaction with the situation in the country, it added, which led to a decline in trust in the work of the institutions of the Republic of Serbia.
"Youth, led by students who are the bearers of dissatisfaction, expect the efficiency of state authorities. They are looking for the truth, they are looking for state institutions to do their job, they are looking for responsibility. They demand that those responsible for the death of the people be brought to justice. They want to stand in the way of corruption and ensure the safety of all citizens of the Republic of Serbia", say the veterans.
Always on the right side
Guided by the motto of the Association of Veterans - Heroism is to defend oneself from others, and bravery is to defend others from oneself -, they add that the paratroopers are the ones who were always on the right side and knew how to judge how and in what way to defend the country and citizens.
"We were always ready to give our lives for our country, defending the greatest values of this society, which are the people, our people, the citizens of Serbia - both young and old," they write. "It is logical that there are different opinions in the approach to solving current problems, from the responsibility of the authorities to the stabilization of the situation in all spheres of society. However, there was a sharp division in the part of the public in relation to the students and protesting youth, so threats to the youth appeared, entire parastate groups were appointed that supposedly should violently disperse the protests. There was also a whole series of violent acts against students and all those who took to the streets to demand justice without any aggression towards others."
Part of the veterans of the 63rd Parachute Brigade, as citizens of the Republic of Serbia, expressing regret for the lost lives and worrying about their homeland and peace in it, actively participated in protecting students from possible threats to their safety and their lives by provocateurs and people who want to end the protests violently.
"In the hope that the competent state authorities will fulfill their obligations prescribed by law as soon as possible, we emphasize that it is necessary to return to the regular functioning of society in order to avoid any kind of instability, which would lead to catastrophic consequences for our people and the Republic of Serbia", they add and say that they are not a political organization, nor does the presence of veterans at current events express any political attitude other than concern for the safety of young people who are peacefully protesting.
Veterans, they say, may have different opinions about the use of parts of the uniform when attending protests, primarily about wearing a parachute beret. Those opinions may differ, but that cannot and must not mean any division among veterans.
They also call on the veterans of the 63rd Parachute Brigade from all over Serbia to support the stabilization of the situation in the country through unity, honesty, patriotism, understanding, mutual respect and the right to a different opinion and thus to respect their own code.
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