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OTPOR CAMPAIGN 1999-2000

The most important period of Otpor's existence could not be described properly without a more detailed approach on the campaigns ran by this non-violent movement. Here we present some of the most important highlights in Otpor's campaigns during 1999 and 2000, but we must underline that the mentioned campaigns were not the only ones, but the major ones.

Summer / October 1999

After the NATO bombing and the war in Kosovo were over, OTPOR had to change its goals.

Instead on focusing to the problems of the university, the priority was to challenge the regime.In order to do so, the first step was to organize motivation campaign, followed by humorous public performance actions, such as "Dinar for a change", (collecting money in public theatre action offering people opportunity to hit Milosevic picture painted on petrol barrel.

Noticed from that period was also an action "It's rotten, it will fall" that pointed out Slobodan Milosevic as the main problem of the country.

Campaign "Declaration for the future of Serbia" started with collecting the signatures for this Declaration that became OTPORs main strategic document, defining the problems to be solved, goals to be achieved and methods to be used. Declaration was signed and supported by all main student organizations in Serbia.

The council of OTPOR gathered respected people from all areas of life, forming an advisory body, while the members of this body became leading promoters of Declaration and the idea of OTPOR (individual resistance)!

Police often noticed at the sites of OTPOR! actions and street theaters. Few activists stopped and being interrogated

November / December 1999

At this time, celebrities took place in "The first is the salute" campaign, by taking public action.

Actors raising the fist as the salute calling for resistance - "Resistfull New Year"

Famous Serbian actors and other artists were postered in 50 000 copies rising their fists as the symbol of resistance. As the addition to the campaign, theatre actors were stopping the shows with their fist raised, Campaign ended just before new year with the thousands of posters of Santa Claus saluting with the fist.

Some prints from this period:

January / April 2000

"This is the year" campaign. New year celebration for 3,000 people in Belgrade central square was cancelled with the message "No time for celebrating".

Gathering tens of thousands of the people in Belgrade 's main Square, OTPOR! Has broken the celebration with presenting dramatic video-wall movie of Milosevic's victims. People are called to " go home and think, so that next New Year, we have a reason to celebrate!". People showed nonviolent discipline going away in silence. Powerful message that "This is THE Year" was sent and all year long campaign was announced with the fall of the regime being the only outcome acceptable.

In the first congress of OTPOR, the students' movement became "people's movement", by the decision of the Congress in order to attract the widest possible population. People's movement launched recruitment campaign, in order to mobilize as many activists nationwide before "the final countdown" could begin...

After the New Year's eve action, which was strongly supported by democratic publicity, OTPOR has set 15,000 posters "2000 - this is THE year" launching the one year long victorious campaign.

Recruitment campaign was followed with two types of promoting...

1. It is spreading (print 1)- mobilizing campaign with huge spreading fist allover the biggest format poster in Serbian political campaigns newest history, in order to cover the biggest possible territories, including the smallest villages with huge symbols of the fist.

Some prints from this period:

    
Print #1          Print #2                     Print #3     

May / June 2000

"This is the face of Serbia" campaign. This was the period when the level of repression over OTPOR started to rise. Everyday arrests and beatings were the constant threat for the activists.

Between May and August more than 1,000 OTPOR activists were arrested.

Breaking the fear was the first task of OTPOR. Young girls standing firmly in front of the police ranks with their fists risen and flowers in their hands shamed their mothers and fathers who were afraid.

In this period, the regime closed many of the free media, several serious incidents happened, and in general, civil freedoms in the country were in a very poor condition. OTPOR focused on presenting this condition to the public, as an example for the other problems country faced at this time.

Series of rallies and marches were organized as a protest to regime's attempt to break free media. Throughout the campaign, there was a constant pressure to democratic opposition to unite and take direct actions. OTPOR activists were also sending the message of solidarity and unity by organizing support action with every single arrestment case in the country, including media and law help and even Stand - in front of police stations rapid actions.

August / September 2000

Late in July, Milosevic Called for the early presidential elections, appointed for September the 24 th . 2000. and running for the office himself. In order to achieve both getting young people to vote for changes, and keeping Milosevic constantly busy OTPOR planned and launched two completely different campaigns:

"It is time" campaign was a "Get out to vote" campaign taken up in Serbia for the first time. This campaign was very simple and positive, trying to reach young people between 18 and 27 years, especially "the first time voters", who were the most likely not to vote in the election. Rock concerts were organized in more than 60 cities, with tens of thousands young people present. Using public persons like sportsmen, singers and actors "Caravan of celebrities" touring around Serbia , reached more than 53 local sites, sending the message nationwide.

It is time campaign was using a symbol of "five minutes to twelve" watch, suggesting importance and supporting "It is time - 23-09-2000" copy.

"He is finished" campaign. This campaign reached every single home in Serbia with a simple message: "The dictator is over, and he will realize it in the elections". It was based on stickers and partly leaflets and posters, mobilizing close to 20 000 grass-root volunteers, which was regional record in Southeast Europe election campaigns ever.

New way of putting up materials on the city walls was invented, setting HE IS FINISHED stickers over the existing Milosevic's posters. Turning existing regime's posters into OTPOR posters, this way, OTPOR printed out 1,500,000 stickers saying "He is finished". Great discipline achieved in transferring the message was enabled by stickers itself and enormous activists network.

One of the goals was to set the grounds for the united opposition and their campaign that started later than the OTPOR campaign. Campaigning positively, opposition parties with their presidential candidate covering territory of Serbia with "Democratic caravan" campaign.

After the election in September 24, sub campaigns with the names "Blockade" and "Defence" were run, aiming to temporarily block Serbia in order to defend the will of voters.

For the first time OTPOR made a TV clip "He is finished". "The washing machine" video was rewarded as number one in 2000 by international experts. [All videos available here]

Some prints from this period:

October / November 2000

"We are watching you - BULLDOZER OTPOR" campaign was a warning for the establishment (considering both old and new establishment) that OTPOR is still awake and ready to react in case that corruption and illegal acts occur during this transitional period.

This campaign used a symbol of a bulldozer - a one that break through police at the October 5th - as a reminder that the people can take up destiny in their own hands, and overthrow a bad government if necessary.

Some prints from this period:

November / December 2000

"Stamp it" and "Use it" campaigns were intended to enable the completion of the process of changes in Serbia in the republic election on December 23.

"Stamp it" campaign was formed around the message that the job must not be left unfinished, and invited people to finally end the period of Milosevic rule in Serbia by taking his last fortress - the parliament.

On the other hand, "Use it" (referring to the brain) campaign was another "Get out to vote" campaign, but this time aimed more to the overall population than just young voters.

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