1902 The Central Committee (of Belgrade) was established in 1902 by
Milorad Gođevac,
Luka Ćelović,
Vasa Jovanović,
Žika Rafajlović,
Nikola Spasić and
Ljuba Kovačević. The "Serbian Committee" was established in September 1903 in Belgrade, by the combined Central Boards of Belgrade, Vranje, Skopje and Bitola. The fighters sought to protect the Slavic Christian population from
zulum (atrocities, persecution), and carried out assassinations of known persecutors. With the failed negotiations of a joint Serbian–Bulgarian action, and growing nationalism within the Bulgarian committees, the Serbian committee decided to fully organize their own armed groups. It's armed wing was thus officially activated in 1904. Among the architects were members of the
Society of Saint Sava,
Army Staff and
Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
April–May 1904 On
Đurđevdan (23 April) 1904, Bulgarian students travelled to Belgrade to hold a congress. This was after negotiations between the Bulgarian and Serbian committees about a joint Serb-Bulgarian uprising had failed after more than 50 meetings in a period of 4–5 months. The Bulgarian students and the Serbian side constantly stressed the need for Serb–Bulgarian brotherhood. The Committee had prepared the formation of the first bands for a number of months.
Vasilije Trbić, who guided them, told them that the best way was to go through the
Kozjak and then down to the Vardar. The two voivodes however, wanted the fastest route, through the
Kumanovo plains and then to Četirac. According to Serbian state documents, the death toll was 24 Chetniks, a
zaptı (Ottoman
gendarmerie), and three Ottoman soldiers. Serbian deputy Ristić, according to the document, named Žika Rafajlović as the organizer of the band, and that "such adventures and thoughtless treacherous actions should be stopped".
Veljko Mandarčević, from the
Skopje field (Macedonian-Andrianopolitan Volunteer Corps), became the voivode of a band that moved into
Skopska Crna Gora.
Rista Cvetković-Sušički, a former friend and voivode of Zafirov, was sent for Poreče where
Micko Krstić impatiently waited for him with the band. In the village of Solpa, they dried their clothes on the warm summer morning, and rested in the
boxwood shrubs and ate wet bread. The hungry and tired band of Đorđe Cvetković arrived at the village of Gornji Divjaci, where they were hosted by the villagers who had brought cheese and
rakija. On the same day, 14 August, the Bulgarians had killed Serbian priest Stavro Krstić, which the Chetniks later learnt from the villagers. Far from the other bands, without help, tricked and surrounded, the band understood their situation.
Young Turk Revolution When the
Young Turk Revolution broke out (1907–1908), and there was a temporary peace in Macedonia, the
Young Turks gave Serbs more rights. Several members of the Organization joined the
Serb Democratic League. ==Operations and events==