DEEPENING AUTHORITARIANISM IN SERBIA: - Human Rights Watch
DEEPENING AUTHORITARIANISM IN SERBIA: - Human Rights Watch
DEEPENING AUTHORITARIANISM IN SERBIA: - Human Rights Watch
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December 14, 1998<br />
Dear Madame/Sir,<br />
APPENDIX C<br />
International AppealCAlternative Academic Educational Network (AAEN) 47<br />
The Republic of Serbia passed a new repressive law on University in May, 1998. This law abolished the<br />
autonomy of the University, which has a 160-year tradition. In implementation of the law, the Serbian government<br />
made it impossible for university professors to influence the managing and election of academic staff. Since the<br />
passing of the new university law, a fierce repression of the university professors who do not want to give up their right<br />
to free academic thought has been going on. These professors refused to sign illegal and superfluous employment<br />
contracts, which were supposed to be an expression of acceptance of this unconstitutional and repressive law, as well as<br />
support for the politics of the Serbian regime. Up until now around fifty professors have been fired from the<br />
University, and its been estimated that the number of fired professors will increase to a hundred by the year's end.<br />
Facing the further degradation of the higher education, university professors in Serbia and activists of NGO<br />
academic projects decided to establish Alternative Academic Educational Network (AAEN). AAEN is a<br />
non-government, non-profit, educational and research association committed to the organization of alternative, parallel<br />
multidisciplinary programs, primarily in the disciplines which have been neglected or removed from the university<br />
curricula for political reasons. In the education of students, as well as in scientific work and research, professors and<br />
associates of the AAEN are fighting to preserve critical thinking and the independence of free academic thought. That<br />
is why we address you with a plea to support the work of AAEN and the professors who lost their positions, and who<br />
are repressed by the regime on daily basis. You can support our association in several ways by:<br />
1. Writing references and appealing to different foundations and grant agencies to support our program.<br />
2. Sending copies of your books and textbooks, which are unavailable to our professors due to their difficult financial<br />
situation.<br />
3. Making a donation for subscription to scientific journals.<br />
4. Taking part as a visiting professor in our programs.<br />
5. Inviting professors from Yugoslavia for sabbaticals at your universities.<br />
6. Notifying your professional organizations about difficult position of the<br />
Belgrade University professors due to enforcement of the new law on universities.<br />
We believe that we can develop a close cooperation that will result in mutual satisfaction. For all questions, please<br />
do not hesitate to contact us. Our e-mail address is aaen@opennet.org, attn: Prof. Marija Bogdanovic, Ph.D.<br />
<strong>Human</strong> 47 English <strong>Rights</strong> translation <strong>Watch</strong> as received from AAEN. 31 January 1999, Vol. 11, No. 2 (D)