Latest posts by Sinisa Boljanovic
Serbia: Pescanik's Web Site Down, Radio Broadcast Disrupted, Editor's Car Destroyed
A few days ago, Serbian web site www.pescanik.net was hacked and the weekly radio broadcast of the same name was disrupted. Also, the car of Svetlana Lukic, one of two Pescanik's editors, was destroyed. Sinisa Boljanovic translates some of the reactions that have appeared in the Serbian blogosphere.
Serbia: Blogger Krugolina Borup Wins Disruption Prize
On Dec. 18, Sinisa Boljanovic wrote about Serbian blogger Krugolina Borup and her "Mother Courage" initiative. A few days later, Krugolina Borup (whose real name is Branka Stamenkovic) became the fifth laureate of the Disruption Prize, which Luna TBWA Agency has been awarding to individuals or organizations from Serbia for social liability and changing of social conventions.
Serbia: “Mother Courage”
Sinisa Boljanovic translates a selection of heartbreakingly shocking stories of giving birth in Serbia, shared by anonymous Serbian women on the Majka Hrabrost ("Mother Courage") web site.
Serbia: Facebook Group of Serbian Nationalists
"Knife, Wire, Srebrenica!" (Nož, Žica, Srebrenica!) is one of the favorite slogans of Serbian nationalists. A while ago, there appeared a Facebook group with the same name and 1,045 members - as well as a counter-group, whose 10,584 members are appealing to Facebook administrators to close the NOŽ ŽICA SREBRENICA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! group because it "glorifies the acts of genocide that took place in Srebrenica, where 8,000 men and boys were murdered." Sinisa Boljanovic translates a Serbian blogger's response to it.
The Balkans: Human Rights and LGBT
Sinisa Boljanovic reviews the situation with gay rights in the former Yugoslav republics.
Georgia, Russia, Serbia: The Use (or Abuse) of Some Historical Facts?
Serbian bloggers follow closely the situation in the Caucasus region. Many of them compared and analyzed the Kosovo issue and the newest opportunities in South Ossetia. Some of them were careful to express their own thoughts and mainly cited thoughts of politicians. Here is a post by a Serbian blogger who quoted in his blog some pieces of the last statements by Russia's government officials, who linked military operations in Georgia to certain historical events.
South Ossetia: Did Kosovo set a precedent?
When Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in February this year, many feared that it would set a precedent for other secessionist regions in the world, particularly in the Caucasus. Sinisa Boljanovic analyzes what bloggers said then and what they are saying now that those fears have become a reality.
Croatia: Anniversary of Operation Storm
On the 4th of August 1995 the largest European land offensive since World War II started in Central Croatia, in the area of Krajina. Until then Croatian Serbs were the majority population there, but a few days later there were no Serbian families left in this area. For that reason it was called Operation Storm (Operacija Oluja). Bloggers comment on the anniversary.
Serbia: Demonstrators Attack Journalists in Belgrade
Starting with the night when Radovan Karadzic was arrested, nationalist group members and high-ranking officials of the Serbian Radical Party have been gathering in the streets of central Belgrade. Although there were police units nearby, on July 24 the protesters broke several store windows and brutally attacked journalists and cameramen of the "treacherous media." Below are some of the bloggers' responses and other public reactions, compiled and translated by Sinisa Boljanovic.
Serbia: Radovan Karadzic was Disguised as a Doctor
Radovan Karadzic lived in Belgrade under false name of Dragan David Dabic. He was disguised as an alternative medicine doctor and even worked in one private clinic in Belgrade. He also was a contributor to the Healthy Life magazine and took part in forums and lectures, gathering up to several hundred people. At the time of the arrest, Radovan Karadzic (aka Dragan Dabic) had long hair and a white beard. Sinisa Boljanovic translates Serbian bloggers' reactions to this astonishing piece of news.
Serbia: Local Bloggers Discuss the Arrest of Radovan Karadžić
Just a few days after the 13th anniversary of the massacre in Srebrenica, in which over 7,000 people, most of them Muslim civilians, were killed, Radovan Karadzic, former president of Republika Srpska, is arrested. Many bloggers from the Serbian blogosphere were surprised by the news. Below are the first reactions from some of them.
Bosnia & Herzegovina: Anniversaries of Massacres
Every year, bloggers and journalists remind their readers of the tragic events that took place in Bratunac in 1992 and in Srebrenica in 1995. The truth is painful, but nobody should be silent about war crimes. Here is a roundup of several opinions and experiences related to the massacres in eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina during the 90's.
Serbia: “Face to Face With Digitalization”
The Parliament of the Republic of Serbia elected a new government a few days ago. The basic goals now are for the new Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic to strive for European integration, defend Kosovo, strengthen the economy and social responsibility, step up the struggle against corruption and crime, and fulfill Serbia’s international commitments. Bloggers have paid attention to this event. However, one of them was also thinking about a very important issue for the government, something the new Prime Minister has so far failed to address: the digitalization of Serbia.
Serbia: International Day Against Homophobia
On the International Day Against Homophobia, Serbian political activist and writer Jasmina Tesanovic re-posted a statement from Labris, a Serbian lesbian human rights organization, on her blog. Sinisa Boljanovic has translated the statement.
Serbia: Ambassadorial Discontent
While some of the foreign embassies were being set on fire in Belgrade in protest to the unilateral proclamation of independence of Kosovo, Serbian embassies in Belgium and Russia were having diplomatic activities of a different kind - and Serbian bloggers took interest in them. Sinisa Boljanovic translates.
Serbia: Bloggers Discuss Rally and Rioting in Belgrade
Yesterday, Kosovo is Serbia rally was held in Belgrade. According to unofficial sources, 150,000-200,000 people attended it to protest against unilateral proclamation of independence of Kosovo. The rally went peacefully but was followed by rioting. Buildings of the American, Croatian and Turkish embassies were set on fire. Many people were injured, at least one person was killed. Sinisa Boljanovic translates reactions by several Serbian bloggers who blog at B92's blog portal.
Serbia: Bloggers Discuss Kosovo Independence
Sinisa Boljanovic translates some more reactions from the Serbian blogosphere to the declaration of Kosovo independence.
Serbia: Belgrade for Monopoly
Monopoly is one of the world's most popular board games, and there is voting going on right now for 24 cities that will get included in the World Edition of this game. Serbian bloggers have organized a campaign to get their capital, Belgrade, to win a spot on Monopoly's list.
Serbia: More Views on Boris Tadic's Re-Election
Democracy has passed one more very difficult exam in Serbia, eight years since the end of Slobodan Milosevic's regime: the incumbent president Boris Tadic got re-elected on Feb. 3, with 50.5 percent of the vote to Tomislav Nikolic's 47.9 percent. The previous Global Voices post on the outcome of the election covered reactions of the Anglophone Serbia bloggers. Below is a translation from Serbian of two more posts, both published on B92's blog portal.
Serbia: Smokers’ Paradise
Serbia marked the National No Smoking Day on Jan. 31, but, as one Serbian blogger noted, "Serbia is the paradise and El Dorado for smokers." Sinisa Boljanovic translates two bloggers' views on the situation with smoking in Serbia.
Serbia: Choosing Between Tadic and Nikolic
Sinisa Boljanovic translates two Serbian bloggers whose views are representative of those who support Boris Tadic and closer relationship between Serbia and the EU, and are opposed to Tomislav Nikolic's nationalist policy.
