| Anti-war protests in Belgrade | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Part of theYugoslav Wars | |||
 Srđan Gojković fromElektrični Orgazam performing as part ofRimtutituki | |||
| Date | 1991 – 1992 | ||
| Location | |||
| Caused by | Serbian role in Yugoslav Wars | ||
| Goals |
| ||
| Methods | Demonstrations,Protests,Protest songs | ||
| Resulted in | 50,000–200,000deserters 100,000–150,000 conscripts emigrated | ||
| Parties | |||
| Lead figures | |||
| Number | |||
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Following the rise ofnationalism andpolitical tensions, as well as the outbreak of theYugoslav Wars, numerousanti-war movements developed inSerbia.[1][2][3][4] The1991 mass protests against the government ofSlobodan Milošević which continued throughout the conflicts reinforced the youth's anti-war orientation.[5] Demonstrations inBelgrade were held mostly because of opposition to theBattle of Vukovar,Siege of Dubrovnik andSiege of Sarajevo,[1][6][7] while protesters demanded areferendum on a declaration of war and disruption ofmilitary conscription.[8][9][5]
More than 50,000 people participated in many protests, and more than 150,000 people took part in the most massive protest called “The Black Ribbon March” in solidarity with people inSarajevo.[10][2] It is estimated that between 50,000 and 200,000 people deserted from theYugoslav People's Army, while between 100,000 and 150,000 people emigrated from Serbia refusing to participate in the war.[8][3]
According to professor Renaud De la Brosse, senior lecturer at theUniversity of Reims and a witness called by theInternational Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), it is surprising how great the resistance toMilošević's propaganda was among Serbs, given that and the lack of access to alternative news.[11] A month after the Battle of Vukovar, opinion polls found that 64% of Serbian people wanted to end the war immediately and only 27% were willing for it to continue.[12] Political scientists Orli Fridman described that not enough attention was given to anti-war activism among scholars studying the breakup of Yugoslavia and the wars, as well as that independent media and anti-war groups from Serbia did not attract the international attention.[2]
The most famous associations andNGOs who marked the anti-war ideas and movements in Serbia were theCenter for Antiwar Action,Women in Black,Humanitarian Law Center andBelgrade Circle.[3][1] TheRimtutituki was arocksupergroup featuringEkatarina Velika,Električni Orgazam andPartibrejkers members, which was formed at the petition signing againstmobilization in Belgrade.[13] The band organized a concert on theRepublic Square and also they performed anti-war songs in an open truck while circulating the Belgrade streets.[4][13]
The most prominent politician who supported protests wasIvan Stambolić.[13] TheDemocratic Party,People's Peasant Party,Serbian Liberal Party andReform Party of Serbia took part in the “Black Ribbon March”.[6]
The famous architectBogdan Bogdanović was one of the most prominent anti-wardissident.[14] The Belgrade citizens who protested against the Siege of Dubrovnik were joined by prominent artists, composers and actors such asMirjana Karanović andRade Šerbedžija, who sang jointly “Neću protiv druga svog” (“I can’t go against my friend”).[15]
Independent media in Serbia reported on anti-war activities with much difficulty, in contrast to Milošević's propaganda, which was aimed at reviving ethnonational sentiments and mobilizing people.[2] An important role in media coverage was played by the Western-funded electronic mediaB92 andStudio B.[2][16][13]
One of the more famous scenes during the anti-war protests was atank parked in front of theParliament Building, which was returned from the battlefield inVukovar by soldier Vladimir Živković.[8][17]
