Letter from Yugoslavia (1) US financial and political support for a "democratic" pro-western and modernist Belgrade under fire project that might mean splitting Montenegro from the Yugoslav federation— thus depriving Serbia of its only sea access and most of its tourist industry.
Djukanovic has not offered to support the Kosovars, though he has opposed the use of Montenegro as a base for Serb From democratic activists... attacks into Kosovo.
Until the NATO attacks started, his "We have heard that the TV picstrategy was to exploit Milosovic's tures of the Kosovo civilian exodus distraction so as to increase the rate of are horrible, encouraging people privatisation in Montenegro, and pass abroad to support NATO intervenlegislation that would keep tourism tion "to stop ethnic cleansing" earnings in Montenegro. But now that As people in Yugoslavia do not NATO bombs are falling on Montenegro, see these pictures, conditions are he will find it hard to oppose Milosovic's very hostile for those of us who nationalist calls for unity and discipline consider ourselves the "democratic If he is not careful, Milosevic will be forces" of Serbia. able to exploit the crisis to replace him The nationalistic, xenophobic with his own "man in Montenegro", ex- homogenization of street life is incpremier Bulatovic. reasing. It has reached an early stage of militancy, with "spontaSerbia intensifies attacks smashing the
Since bombs are already falling, windows of foreign cultural centers, Serbia seems to be seizing the embassies, offices of western airopportunity to implement a radical plan lines, and Macdonalds restaurants. that was already circulating in the cor- Suspicious neighbors are looking ridors of power: expel as many Kosovars for "spies" — a wartime psychology as possible, in preparation of a partition is at work. Anyone who tries to of the province, with Serbia keeping develop an alternative scenario has some of the mines, and the orthodox no chance to say even a word monasteries that are such powerful against the leader and the clique symbols of Serbian nationalism. who actually produced all this.
In Serbia and the NATO countries, The spokesman of the Ministry of the media have become servants of the Foreign Affairs, commenting last generals. All western and independent night bombing, said "In Serbia now, journalists have been expelled from we have 11 million Milosevics!" Kosovo, making it impossible to confirm A state of war has been procthe refugee reports of Serb violence. But laimed. All free media are censored these are plausible accounts. and harassed. The rest are engaged
Things are likely to get worse. The in vulgar propaganda. The Internet Serb mercenary leader Arkan is again news sites and short wave radio recruiting "dogs of war" for the butchery stations like Radio Free Europe and that made him famous in Bosnia and the BBC are just a drop of informaCroatia. ignorance, irrationality and disorientation. NATO escalates the conflict Rationing has reinforced the non-
As the NATO attack intensifies, the market food distribution system, at west will seek more difficult targets, the expense of small private shopincluding those located in populated zones. If there is no quick solution, 6 International Viewpoint #310 April 1999 b
When citizens seize the chance di for a walk and some fresh air, they m discover "patriotic" pop-folk conin certs on the main squares. The na casual stroller is suddenly caught up in in a homogenized mass of people roaring against the western powers.
m
Russian pop-groups and even some Russian MPs exercise their
Cr singing abilities with Serbian fo patriotic songs.
p
Meanwhile, Russian monks carry pr icons of Mother Mary over the
Danube bridge, in a parody of religious symbolism.
da
Democrats are isolated
SI
If it was just a video-game one m could laugh. But it is an increasingly ar sad and dangerous reality. The na human suffering in Kosovo is th coupled with a growing frustration pe forces in of the democratic
Or
Belgrade. We are helpless. Any meaningful sign of resistance would place us in great danger.
de opposition newspaper ac
Republika has just been printed fo
This "newspaper for civic self-liberadr tion" cannot be sold in the streets th or kiosks. If we are lucky, the postal service will agree to deliver it to in subscribers. Only a few people have im
Internet access to the electronic m
The only way out is an immediate ac ceasefire on all sides, followed by ti an international conference hosted by the European Union or the
United Nations. * in gi
W gr
They have asked not
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