Crowd surveillance: A tale of two Serbias

Hugh Griffiths RSS / 17.02.2008. u 11:54

Watching demonstrations is an interesting business. The movement of the crowd and the energy it projects make the heart beat faster. Then there is the collective sound the mass of people make. But the key is always in the faces. Whether the Nazi rallies of the 30s or Slobo's shows of strength in the late 80s and 90s, the mean, pinched faces tend to give away whether this is a mob you want to join, or not.

By contrast, the opposition demos of the mid to late 90s in Belgrade were filled with different kinds of faces. And different kinds of sounds. Candles, whistles, hope and songs, a feeling of resistance, with the violence generated by the other side. A lonely battle indeed in the hope of a better tomorrow.

And so it goes. The latest two demonstrations in Belgrade continue to present a vision of two very different Serbias. The first, on the February 11 would not look out of place in any European capital: a civic procession with peaceful purpose, smiling faces but a serious message, cheerful whistles and drums, good humour and witty posters. A pretty girl kissing a policeman. Good street theatre in a capital city moving forward. 

This was a youth demonstration in support of Serbia's integration into Europe, an event backed by more than 70% of Serbia's population and a majority of those who bothered to vote in the presidential elections, despite the Kosovo red herring.

Then there was a second protest on 16 February. Around 1000 people demonstrating for the Kosovo red herring. A small, yet violently vocal group of misfits.

Hardly a good advert for Serbia, many of the demonstrators resembled the fascist wing of Lazio F.C supporters club, letting off flares and scuffling with police.

The footage http://www.reuters.com/news/video?videoId=76338&videoChannel=1 does not do justice to the number of  neo-nazis and general ne'er do wells in attendance, but the faces and the sound carry the message just as well.

Looking at this, it is not hard to see why Arkan's einsatzgruppen recruited from the football terraces for operations in Croatia and Bosnia. It is worth reminding everyone that despite the Vojo's wailing, such people remain a distinct minority, both at the ballot box and on the street.

Let us pray for dilligent law enforcement.



Komentari (17)

Komentare je moguće postavljati samo u prvih 7 dana, nakon čega se blog automatski zaključava

edi-va edi-va 12:22 17.02.2008

einsatzgruppen?

Looking at this, it is not hard to see why Arkan's einsatzgruppen recruited


interesting ... why did you use a german word?
Jelena Pavlović Jelena Pavlović 12:33 17.02.2008

Re: einsatzgruppen?

This is why:

German for "task forces" or "intervention groups" were paramilitary groups formed by Heinrich Himmler and operated by the SS before and during World War II. Their principal task, in the words of SS General Erich von dem Bach-Zelewski at the Nuremberg Trials, "was the annihilation of the Jews, Gypsies, and political commissars."[1] They were a key component in Hitler's plans to implement his "final solution of the Jewish question" (German: Die Endlösung der Judenfrage) in the conquered territories.

Formed mainly from men of the Ordnungspolizei, the Waffen-SS and local volunteers and led by Gestapo, Kripo, and SD officers, these death squads followed the Wehrmacht as it advanced eastwards into Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. In occupied territories, the Einsatzgruppen also utilized local populations to provide additional security and manpower when needed. The activities of the Einsatzgruppen were spread throughout a large pool of personnel from different branches of the SS and German State.

According to their own records, the Einsatzgruppen operatives were responsible for killing over one million Jewish people, almost exclusively civilians, without judicial review and later without semblance of legality (no reading of sentences of martial or administrative law), starting with the Polish intelligentsia and quickly progressing by 1941 to target primarily the Jews of Eastern Europe. The historian Raul Hilberg estimates that between 1941 and 1945 the Einsatzgruppen, along with the SS, murdered over 1.3 million Jews in open-air shootings.

Re: einsatzgruppen?

The footage http://www.reuters.com/news/video?videoId=76338&videoChannel=1 does not do justice to the number of neo-nazis


Umm, it does not show any, and there really weren't any?

I haven't participated in the demonstrations, but I saw them, and I haven't notice any neonazis, and certainly there were more than 1000 people.
Hugh Griffiths Hugh Griffiths 00:12 18.02.2008

Re: einsatzgruppen?

you may have some difficulties identifyimg fascists

Re: einsatzgruppen?

You may have been watching too much B92.
Hugh Griffiths Hugh Griffiths 12:31 17.02.2008

link

a suitable connotation
edi-va edi-va 12:47 17.02.2008

Re: link

:)))

that's what I've supposed ... but I wasn't sure.

Ninoslav Randjelovic Ninoslav Randjelovic 14:05 17.02.2008

Fits versus misfits ?

So, that is what is going on in Serbia... Who is the audience? Fits or misfits ? Or both ?
adam weisphaut adam weisphaut 14:22 17.02.2008

Re: Fits versus misfits ?

Ninoslav Randjelovic

So, that is what is going on in Serbia... Who is the audience? Fits or misfits ? Or both ?

I'd rather say that those misfits were having fits
Hugh Griffiths Hugh Griffiths 14:23 17.02.2008

Re: Fits versus misfits ?

I think the marjority of the audience are truly sick & tired with posturing politicians. They want something better for themselves and their families. Then you have the lost & confused, and the nasty.
Ninoslav Randjelovic Ninoslav Randjelovic 14:41 17.02.2008

Re: Fits versus misfits ?

I think the marjority of the audience are truly sick & tired with posturing politicians

Probably !
But, then you have another issue. Who is doing the surveilance of those different crowds in Serbia ?
Fits or misfits ?
Jelena Pavlović Jelena Pavlović 19:44 17.02.2008

Re: Fits versus misfits ?

I think the majority of the audience are truly sick & tired with posturing politicians.
KafaJeGotova KafaJeGotova 14:30 17.02.2008

:)

The first, on the February 11 would not look out of place in any European capital: a civic procession with peaceful purpose, smiling faces but a serious message, cheerful whistles and drums, good humour and witty posters.

thanks :)
badreligion badreligion 21:43 17.02.2008

neither of two is mine

Both rallies represent extremes, and I find it hard to identify with either.
I just wonder why do all the foreigners see us Serbs so black and white? It seems one has to shout his head off or blow his bollocks through the wistle to be heard... There are some quiet and disgusted people here as well, you know. Those are people who are pro EU and against independent Kosovo.
Hugh Griffiths Hugh Griffiths 21:57 17.02.2008

Re: neither of two is mine

You are right, there are plenty of people who are quietly disgusted with what is going on.

The problem is, is that your deeply unpopular prime minister has made it black & white: "Kosovo or the EU" as he has become fond of saying.

I would agree with you that in Serbia today, there are many shades of grey and many degrees of ambiguity beyond them. The reality is not a matter of the simple stereotypes presented in domestic or international media.

But the demonstrations to which I refer have largely resulted from top-down driven rhetoric from politicians who think they can capitalise on a situation.
badreligion badreligion 22:40 17.02.2008

Re: neither of two is mine

Not that I'm defending him, but he's obviously more popular than his opponent behind the demonstrations to which you refer.
My point is that I'm tired of having to explain to my mates that majority of Serbia are people who would actually prefer not to care about who the PM is, and to be just left in peace. To that extent, I don't think either group of demonstrators represent the true face of Serbia.
Umetnica Umetnica 02:27 19.02.2008

Re: neither of two is mine

badreligion
There are some quiet and disgusted people here as well, you know.

Yes, those are traditionaly known as fence-sitters.

Arhiva

   

Kategorije aktivne u poslednjih 7 dana