Serbians fight for their homeland

Twice over the last month, close to 5,000 people have taken to the streets in Toronto in protest of international law.
Serbian Canadians, in protest of the illegal unilateral separation of Kosovo from Serbia, took to the streets, accompanied by other Canadians who do not support the separation, to encourage the Canadian government - who has currently not made a decision either way - to not recognize the separation of Kosovo. The separation violates the United Nations Charter, Helsinki Final Act, UN Resolution 1244, and thus becomes a matter of international law and a concern not only for Serbia, but for countries all over the world.
Bojan Ratkovic, a Brock University student, along with four other students from the University of Toronto came up with the idea to organize the protest, and what they were able to achieve was monumental.
"People have definitely responded more positively to the fact that young people have taken the initiative to get politically involved and to stand up for International Law and for the victimized Serbs in Kosovo," according to Ratkovic. "Both our protests were attended mostly by younger people, which sends a clear message that our cause is not a relic of the past but instead a banner held up by the younger generations, in whose hands rests the future of this country."
Marko Petkovic and Jasmina D.* attended the protests in Toronto, and their sentiments about the camaraderie and passion of the students attending the protests was unforgettable.
"By protesting, the people showed their support for Serbia and the Serbian people living in Kosovo. Also, Serbs, as well as other ethnic groups in Canada, all united together in the hopes that Canada will not recognize the independence of Kosovo," Petkovic said. "The protest was held in a peaceful manner, some speeches were made, and overall the people seemed to be in good spirits, hopeful that their voices will be heard by the Canadian federal government."
There was little negative backlash from the ethnically diverse Toronto. As Jamina points out, "Our goal was to get together peacefully, and show Canada and the world that we do not agree with what is happening in Kosovo" .
Marija P.*, who also attended the protests, believes that much more is at stake in this conflict than Serbians losing their cultural homeland. If Canada becomes one of the other 21 countries around the world who have officially recognized the independence of Kosovo (including the United States), it becomes very much a matter of practise versus theory.
"This protest was focused on the loss of the ancestral heartland of Serbians. However, this issue affects so many countries. It is a dangerous precedent - there are many countries battling separatist extremists," Marija said. "If Kosovo's independence becomes officially recognized around the world, you will quickly see the dismemberment of many nations, creating violence and instability all over. As well, how will students of political science and international law accept such double standards? This only creates confusion in comprehending what has been taught versus what is being executed."
Students or not, when 5,000 people take to the streets in protest, the government will have a difficult time turning a blind eye. Ratkovic, along with the others who attended the protests, are the hope for Serbians living abroad. They want to show their families and friends back home in Serbia that, despite the fact that they may not live there any longer, their hearts and minds are still attached to their cultural roots.
*Last names have been withheld by request.
For more information and NATO's role in the conflict, visit www.nato.int/kosovo/history.htm