Predrag Pantic: My father was arrested only because he is a Serb, this is a hunt for our people

These barricades were not erected just because of my father, it is just the last straw, said the son of the arrested Dejan Pantic today at a large protest rally of Serbs in Rudare.

"My father was arrested and already found guilty. They already know that he is guilty, but neither are they judges nor the prosecutors. My father is guilty because he is a Serb and has lived here all his life. The people recognized themselves in my father, saw that tomorrow any one of us can be arrested like him. In addition to the fact that he was arrested innocent and we have had no news about him for 13 days, they are violating all his rights as a detainee. We have neither seen him nor heard from him. I ask them why they don't give my father one call. For him to tell us personally that he is fine and that he received treatment as a CVD patient. This is a violation of all human rights. Why are Europe and the International Community silent? I appeal to them to react and to correct this injustice. This is a persecution of our people. Thank you all for suffering with us. We are all Dejan Pantic," said Predrag Pantic in front of a large number of Serbs gathered.

All the representatives of the Serb List are present at the meeting.

The gathered citizens carry banners with the following messages: "President Vucic, we have trust in you", "Why is there no peace and freedom for us", "I will not be silent about Kurti's terror", "I did not give birth to children for Kurti's sniper", "Because there is no going back from here", "Brothers and sisters and Gracanica is with you"...

Along the street, a 300-meter-long Serbian tricolor has been unfurled.

Former judge of the High Court, Nikola Kabasic, pointed out that law and justice have been violated in Kosovo:

"The sufferings and problems of Serbs from all over the world are the same. Through propaganda, psychological and propaganda war, the Serbs want to force themselves to leave Kosovo. The example of Dejan Pantic is the grossest violation of Kosovo and Metohija’s rights. This is the moment for all of us to be together and stand on one front. All our rights are threatened by Albin Kurti's decision. We no longer have security, everyone is on a list. Is he a criminal or a terrorist who procures an exclusive device for the Assembly of Kosovo? Are criminals those who set fire to 28 vehicles in one day for so-called government of Kosovo? Are they criminals who block and knock down trucks on the road? These are all those who are now in the Kosovo Assembly who used violence as a form of political struggle, Kabasic said and added that the judge who ordered the detention of Dejan Pantic id not allow contact on the phone, which was against all rules.

"President Vucic, we trust you. Why are we criminals if we are looking for freedom", Kabasic said, and then quoted one of the former American presidents: "When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes an obligation!"

The former mayor of Zvecani, Dr. Dragisa Milovic, and the director of the preschool institution "Our joy from Leposavic", Zorica Jovanovic, then addressed those present.

"As someone who went to school here and who has a family, we stand here calmly, in the rain and in the wind, we stand today, and we stood many years ago, because of our children. I know that every child has the right to peace, freedom of speech, that all these rights must be respected, and are these rights respected today? We are witnessing that today a child cannot go out into the yard without hearing sirens, and without our fear for their safety, and they were breaking in to our institutions while the children were sleeping," Jovanovic said.

Jovanovic said that Serbs grew up with various peoples, accepted them all without any distinction, and that is what we teach our children today.

"We want peace, a better future for our children, for their safe upbringing and freedom for all of us," Jovanovic said.