Monday, May 24, 1999

Why do you allow Milosovic to stay in power?

    Q: Why do you allow a barbarian such as Milosovic to stay in power?

    It is a way that dictatorial regimes in the world work. There is a dictator, which is usualy supported by strong military and police forces, and people who are opressed by dictator's actions. Opposed to popular view, we (opposition in Serbia, along with many civic and student organizations) have been trying to overthrow Milosevic since 1991. As you may see, with no success. Milosevic managed to crush every attempt so far, by using police or military. You may not know that, but so far number of people have died in clashes with police in numerous anti-government street riots since 1991. Also, Milosevic used tanks and army in Belgrade to stop first of these riots in 1991. Right now, he is using poice and military to crush anti-war protests in Krusevac. If you take a look at history of countries that managed to overthrow their dictators, you will see that it was always been done with a help of military or by establishing armed rebel forces. Fall of Causescu in Romania is a perfect example. Right now, Yugoslav army is working by Milosevic's orders, treating any democratic movement in Serbia as enemy. Also, because od war, it is impossible to organize any armed resistance movement, because it would be crushed by police or army. We are not in the position to allow or not allow Milosevic to do anything. If we were, none of previous wars (Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia) would have happened, as well as ordeal of Albanians in Kosovo. We are not in the position to protect even ourselves from Milosevic, let alone to prevent him of commiting crimes against Albanians. As a matter of fact, any of us could be arrested just for saying that Milosevic's forces are killing Albanians in Kosovo. Recently, 30-year old architect in Novi Sad was arrested and sentenced to prison for saying that in public. Any open action against Milosevic would have to wait after the war.

    Q: How you can say that the massive exodus is caused equally in part by NATO?

    We don't have many reports from Kosovo because phone lines to the province were cut off in the first days of NATO campaign. But many people in Serbia managed to stay in contact with their friends and relatives in Kosovo. We have reports that life in the province is next to impossible. There is no food, there are problems with water and power supply, no medications, roads and bridges have been destroyed. Not exclusivly by Yugoslav army, but mostly by NATO air raids. Every nationality that's been living on Kosovo is on the move. First, there were Albanians fleeing from terror of Serbain military and police forces. Now, it is Albanians, Serbs, Turks, Macedonians... It is quite impossible to separate causes for exodus - Albanians are fleeing from Serbs only, other nationalities are on the move because of NATO. We don't say that ordeal of Kosovo Albanians was caused by NATO, we are saying that NATO campaign is affecting life of Albanians on Kosovo as well.

Robert from tampabay.rr.com