The whole world watched recently as Serbian leader Slobodan Milosovic seemingly lost the presidential elections. What few people saw was the role played by a student movement known as ‘Otpor’ (“Resistance”) in trying to rid their nation of a ruthless leader. A group with no one person in charge, Otpur went from being a campus organisation at Belgrade University a year ago to being a nationwide group with 2,500 activists and 120 chapters – one that is respected by fellow citizens and depended upon by the opposition. Mothers and grandmothers have their own chapters within the movement and some moms have even been arrested alongside their children, says Mother Jones. Otpur members want Milosovic to be punished for ruining their youth and their country. In one attempt to get their message through, some of the students put up banners in town squares all over Serbia on the occasion of the leader’s birthday. It read “Happy birthday, Mr. President, may you celebrate the next one with your nearest and dearest on a deserved holiday in the Hague”.
Serbia
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