More than 1000 members of Melbourne's Serbian community have staged a small but passionate protest in the city tonight.
They chanted and waved banners in objection to Kosovo's declaration of independence and the Australian government's recognition of the breakaway state.Uniform and mounted police looked on as church and community leaders gave speeches in Federation Square.
The crowd then marched up Swanston Street and Bourke Streets to Parliament House, chanting "Kosovo is Serbia" and "Rudd is a wanker" while waving Serbian flags.Police ordered one protester to roll up an Australian flag that had a swastika sign drawn on the Union Jack and flares were let off near the corner of Swanston Street and Flinders Lane and again on the steps of Parliament House in Spring Street.Four mounted and about 20 uniform police accompanied the marchers but there were no violent incidents.
One of the protesters, Desa Bojanic, said she was there because "Kosovo is a part of Serbia and what they've created is an illegal state."
Asked what impact the secession had on Serbs living half a world away in Australia, Ms Bojanic said: "We can integrate but we can't assimilate. I have a son born here who is Australian but I have a brother back in Serbia.
"Can I choose between being a mother and a sister? Being Serbian or Australian? This is important to us."
The organiser of tonight's protest, Father Milan Milutinovic, the parish priest at St Stefan's Orthodox Church in Keysborough, said Serbs were shocked at the Rudd Government's quick recognition of the new state, when other countries had been more cautious.He said local Serbian anger at the decision remains strong.
"Kosovo has always been the heartland of Serbia - it's like taking Jerusalem away from the Jews."
Superintendent John Cooke said police were pleased the protest was peaceful and that community leaders had conferred with them beforehand.He was disappointed flares were set off but said that no action would be taken.
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