Monday, May 24, 1999

Effects of bombing on the community

    Q: There is a growing feeling in the UK that the bombing of your towns and cities by NATO is creating a strong anti west movement within your communities (much the same as it did here during WW2 against Germany) that is now strengthening Milosevic's grasp on power. Do you agree with this statement?

    Yes. As a matter of fact, if you check some NGO statements on this site, as well as some comments and FAQ in the Facts and Issues section, You would see that this is exactly the thing we've been saying from the beginning. On the day the bombing started, the only independent radio station in Belgrade, B92, was shut down. Afterwards, all stations throughout Serbia faced the same destiny. Pictures of Miloshevic appeared in Belgrade on Trg Slobode, a gathering place of all anti-Milosevic demonstrations so far.

    Q: We are hearing that Serbian forces are in the process of withdrawing from Kosovo
   a) Do you believe this to be true
   b) How do you expect NATO troops to be treated that enter Kosovo either as peacekeepers or peace enforcers?

    a) We are trying not to believe, but rather to have a proof and then to make a statement. There is no way of us knowing the truth, especially about such military issues, because there are no independent media in Serbia anymore, and everything we hear on state television, as well as some foreign stations, we take with reserve.

    However, there are reports from various cities that some of one's friends came home. If some other are sent on Kosovo instead of them that one doesn't know. We cannot estimate number of soldiers or police forces that were withdrawn, but something is happening.

    b) It is highly questionable. Regardless of the name (peace keepers/enforcers), these troops have been bombing Yugoslavia for two months now. They are now referred to as "aggressors". If the peace troops consist of soldiers not from NATO countries the situation would be different.

    There is no different for us, people creating this site, troops are troops, more important are their duty and mandate. But ordinary brainwashed state TV spectators make big difference between Greek troops and American troops. So, Greeks wouldn't be in such hostile environment as Americans would. State TV message is clear, Russians, Chinese, Greeks (...) are friends, Americans, Britons, Germans (...) are enemies. Ridiculous!

    Sometimes, Group 8 (or some other institution) makes a statement and it is said that Serbian government agrees with all that is issued. With every single point, but one - who should withdraw its forces first - is it Serbs who would withdraw or is it NATO the one who would stop bombardment first. That's silly. If everything else is not a problem then it's meaningless. That's a child alike "I wouldn't give in first" game.

    Q: Who do you blame for the NATO bombing?

    Really tough question. There are a great number of those responsible for what is happening now. From the NATO officers and governments of NATO countries that believe that you can bring peace by force (which can't be done and by that makes NATO motives highly questionable), through our government that made the Kosovo problem just bigger (during the last 10 years) and doesn't know how to handle it properly, to some representatives of the Albanians (including KLA, which, as you may know, had a representative in Rambouillet) who wanted to achieve independence at all costs (including the suffering of their own people).

Nick from msn.com