Originally From Karl Waldron
from: davor konjikusic,
belgrade. zgebche@Eunet.yu
I can't manage to reply to all emails and send all the info i have... Today,
together with a friend of mine i watched how military police raided the
skyscraper across my building.. A silly situation. Everybody was on their
balconies, but when they saw the MP's they all went inside to hide...
---
Tonight i spoke briefly with a friend of mine who's in Pristina. She has
suffered a lot in the past, since she worked for Humanitarian Right Fund.
>From her words it is clear that the situation in Kosovo is extremely hard.
Since 11 o'clock they are bombing Yugoslav military and police. I just saw
on television that there is a lot of fire in the field, and who knows what
else. Nothing good.... It seems to me that refugees from Pec were
deliberately sent towards Montenegro. Montenegro still hasn't declared state
of war, so it was neccessary for them to destabilize that region.
---
I sometimes feel small and stupid. I don't know much about many things. But
Milosevic is there because of them, they are here because of him, Tudjman is
there because of Milosevic and so on. It's a circle. Simply put, we are
positioned between two sides. One is Milosevic's regime, other is
capitalist-expansionist politics of USA. Third side maybe fights for an
Albanian state in Kosovo - a poligon for new exploitation from Albanian
elite. I van not choose a side in this conflict. I don't support neither one
of them. I don't want to get killed in order to protect this pighouse in
Serbia, i don't want to get killed for a united and free Europe. We were
brought to absurdity. Our existence in absurd. As Maya has well put it, we
are thinking about passports, open borders, normal life... I believe that i
have a right on that and much more by birth and that i shouldn't have to
fight for those rights. My country is gone [Darko was a Serb, born in
Zenica, Bosnia]. Streets which i liked no longer exist, and i don't believe
in defence of virtual national states. The problem is that people who die
aren't cyber like in games but real people from flesh and blood. To direct
your hate towards an Albanian person or towards a NATO pilot doesn't solve
anything. You can hurt an individual but not the system.
They know that well. ... The only question is what's good, i.e. best for me.
Since i want to live...
---
Today I took a ride with some people who were on their way to report to the
army. They were speaking about some Bulgarians who were caught while placing
radio locators. I feel that they are just ordinary smugglers, and this
atmosphere smells bad. Serbia is becoming even more radicalized.
******************************
from: marko strpic, zagreb, markos@zamir.net
SITUATION IN CROATIA and short analysis of what's going on
Here are some more personal conclusions and analysis of situation in
Croatia since NATo air strikes started. The whole thing is still main news
in all media, and aproach is still (more or less) objecitve as much as
media can be, without political or personal comments from journalists.
That's what you get from a national tv station (HTV), but from other tv
stations and newspapers too... And than you read some more about what was
going on behind waht you see on the news... Statment of the main news
editor at HTV that we could see in newspapers was this (more or less) -
"we were euphoric, atmosphere was really good, but we managed to cover
almost everything, we did a good job." They were happy!!!??? After hearing
something like that, you have to question everything you saw on a tv, but
at the end, when you compare it with what you see elsewhere, yes, it's
objective. At least they don't show their feelings while they report about
current events. Interesting thing is that ruling party (HDZ), which is
right wing, although they call themselves "party of the centre", stated in
all news and at all press conferences how they are very concerned and
worried cause of the air strikes and development of the situation in
Yugoslavia. Also, they acused all euphoric reactions caused by bombings.
They also call all sides to find a peaceful solution and sign a agrement.
It was strange to listen something like that coming from HDZ, becasue of
their nationalist and militarist politics that we used to listen through
all these years. It's nice change, but just for ears, not for current
situation in Croatia - reasons for this kind of statement are not in a big
change in their politics, but in many other reasons. First of all,
Croatian air space was closed for the first two days (all the airport got
direct order from NATO to stop all the traffic) of air atrikes, and after
that just part of it is open again. Economic damage done by that is big.
Than, lots of tourists (tourism is one of the biggest money - making
resources for Croatia, especially cause of the big and nice coast)
canceled their reservations for these holidays. Some got here and that was
a big news on a tv, although i supose that most of the tourists deceided
to cancel cause Ministry of tourism looks very worried. And it's not just
about current holidays, but big question is how it will look like this
summer - expected number is falling down every day, and it will conitinue
so, as long as there is a war going on. So, we should look for reasons of
all this in economic part and not elsewhere. Also, there's a chance to see
this conflict expanding into other countries. Croatia is maybe not the
first one to be drawn into it, but it's somehwere on the "list". I don't
see that as a development of current situation, although, anything is
possible now - no one beleived that NATO will attack and it happened.
Maybe the biggest danger of new conflicts is in Macedonia, but i still
can't say who can cause that and what would be the main reason for
conflicts there... At the other hand, there is a huge number of NATO
forces placed there nad i don't think that they would let something like
that happen. Although, there were troops in Somalia too and that couldn't
stop conflicts in that country. I don't want to be pessimistic, but
situation doesn't look to bright at the moment. I still didn't manage to
see first reactions of public or politicans in Croatia after these first
attacks of second wave of NATO bombings, but i don't think that much have
changed. According to some media analysis, 80 or 90% of people in Croatia
support NATO strikes and think that it will help bring peace at Kosova.
I'm not sure how offical these numbers are, but unfortunatly that might be
true. If i manage to find checked and good analysis, i'll write about it.
Zvonimir Boban (yes, a football player) stated (within a big interview
hat he gave for a daily newspapers) how "people shouldn't be happy cause
someone else suffers" and that "he's really sorry cause of all this
happenig"... suprise, suprise... i hope that general situation will change
in that direction... That's all from me for today and my small anarchist
analysis of situation here... i just hope that all the anarchist friends
in Yugoslavia are ok and that our informations reach anarchist firends in
the world - any feedback from you would be great.
Send via lakota@clara.co.uk
********
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Passed via Karl Waldron
*************************************
From: Maja, Smederevo, Serb, presently staying in Zagreb
Thousand thoughts should be put out at once. And something should be said.
But what? I do not know anymore, it is total chaos in my head, everything
is totally sick and that is too much. I have never outlived this before,
in fact I am still not outliving it fully because I am still not there
where are some people that mean the most to me, where is fucking bomb
attack, where one by one slowly goes away like in every other fucking war.
But you can not feel it fully (at least I think that way) until it is
about something that has direct connections with you and with to you
important people and things. That is all classic about any war, but I am
experiencing this one and that is why I am writing about that.
I do not have any concrete solution in my head how that could be solved
neither before nor now. What I know for sure is that solution should be
anything but just without fucking shooting and killing and without human
or any other victims. I condemn all three (or more) sides, Serbian and
Albanian army and NATO too, and all the others who will use the whole
situation for their dark aims of predominance in region. THAT IS BALKAN.
Maybe Kosovo should be given completely, or at least one its part, if some
kind of wider autonomy "was not possible". There are (or at least were)
more than 90% of population Albanians and they have to live normally. All
population on Kosovo, whether it is Albanian or Serbian or any other,
suffered double, from both armies (Serbian and Albanian). I do not know
about massacres Albanian army did (except from tv-that is not confidently
to me), but for Serbian army I know few things (from people that were on
Kosovo in army) that are so brutal that I do not want to anything more
than that. Somehow I was in Zagreb when attack started. Last time when it
was closed to attack, I was out of country too, but in Macedonia. I am an
optimist and that is what kept me thinking both times that it will not be
anything about attack, but when you watch on Macedonian or Croatia TV how
weapons are just coming around YU, you start being paranoid. My optimism
last time was successful shot, but this time it failed. It was horrible to
listen that all that is closer and closer and to bet with friend that
nothing is going to happen and then just to hear - THEY BOMBED. And what
then, what is about you, what is about those there, what is about these
here. My feelings have changed to the borders of sick and perverse and
before it really happened.
There were some moments when I was happy , like-great, I will ask for
asylum (and get some worth passport) or great, I am staying in Croatia (it
was so long until I have got visa for here, and I wanted so much to
come).But there were moments, in fact periods when I wanted to scream,
when I wanted to disappear, or that I did not even come here, to be there
with those people that mean the most to me, to see few times more things
that mean to me, to listen to few more records while I still have them. In
fact that is what I really feel, and the moments of sick happiness are, I
suppose some kind of self- defense mechanism. That is all too pathetic for
me, but that is how I feel now. Bojan asked me what if all this lasted for
too long, what then, and I do not know what then; I do not know and I do
not want to know. I am still thinking about going home regardless of
everything (on the day I should go if this did not happen). But, does it
have any sense. Realistically not, but if I follow my thoughts then it
has sense of course. These are big dilemmas which I am not going to think
about at least for today.
I am glad that here we have friends who are trying to turn our thoughts
from all this shit and who do not "let us " go home. It means very much
when you know that you have somebody who cares about you (specially in
this kind of situations). In some moments I get away from murder thoughts
and I feel kind of good. And then, I find some fucking media again and
everything starts again-CNN, SKY, HRT1 and then again. I became TV addict
in the real sense of that word. I have never watched so much news in my
life. But today I said-no more. We will see what will become of that.
that is that. I could write more and more, but this is already too much.
"HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE THE MOTHER OF A THOSAND DEAD?"
********************************
From: Jelena Kovacevic, jelenak@EUnet.yu, belgrade
My dear friends, friends in bad times, This is my second message I am
forwarding to all of you. any many thanks on good wishes. Don't stop
writing to all addresses you have. I am not mourning and I am not worrying
more than the situation asks for it. I know the most important thing is to
try to stay informed as much as it is possible and to act according those
news. So, without panic. I try as much as I can, to share the feeling of
sane with others and to give it off. The situation is like that we can't
encourage, can't threat the enemy. I have always been against violence and
warfare. But I am not for surrender which would mean that we give up our
integrity, our self-consistence. It's important to stay a person and to
keep in mind a feeling of self-quality. Once again, I would like us to
send together our voice against savagery which has come upon my/our
country. I want to thank you for what you did till now. May be these
voices can't do much at the moment but once their power will be obvious. I
will continue sending my messages, whenever I can. A few minutes ago we
again heard siren. I am sitting in dark trying to type letters. I should
be in shelter but I don't want to go anywhere. Horrible horrible - what
man is capable to do to other man!
Please, try to communicate all the people you know and tell them to give
their voice against bombing.
********************************
From: darko kujundzic , sarajevo
Yugoslav Army, together with the rest of Serbian military formations
present on Kosovo, has intensified it's attacks on Albanian population,
after NATO started with air strikes. Independent media reports about tens
of killed Albanians all over Kosovo.
In fact, this reaction was completely expected as an act of retaliation
for NATO attacks. It is evident that this NATO move is the solution worse
than any other available, but Milosevic was repeatedly told how will the
response to his fascist politics look like. He refused all other better
solutions.
I don't support the strikes.
But equally, I don't want to close my eyes in front of the murders of
innocent Albanian civilians. Many people do that today. Unfortunately.
Are real people really less important that the whole Yugoslav military
industry. There have been many mails sent to this list (ex-yu-a-lista, mb)
- which reminds me more and more of the Serbian TV - but in the past
couple of months NOT ONE message spoke about masacres over Albanians
(remember there were a couple of them).
On the other hand, after 4 days of NATO air strikes, there has been cca.
250 messages which speak about strikes on the military facilities.
Why?
Are people's lives really so cheap, so miserable, invaluable, to be less
valuable than arms factories, military airports and such. Or are they so
cheap, so invaluable because they are "foreign".
Sincerely. Thank you. Darko, Sarajevo
********************************
From: Viktor Todorovic, olorin@eunet.yu, ICQ: 30654211, belgrade
Since i couldn't sit down in peace, i decided to take a walk through the
center and see what's happening.
Dorcol is relatively vivid. Citizens don't really respect the order for
black out, and there are many people who sit in front of the buildings and
chat. In front of the "Komsinica" (neighbour) drugstore at Gundulicev
venac, some people are drinking beer. There are some children there as
well, also stray dogs. The dogs seem to act strange. They try to stay
close to the people, are quiet and don't sniff. They look sad. Palilula
seems also undisciplined regarding the black out, especially skyscrapers
in 27th march street. However there are less people in the street.
I am dissapointed to see that famous pub "Nislija" is closed. They were
open to sell to the students of 5th gimnasium during their daily break,
and now stay empty. However I want to give all the credits to "Palilula"
grill house. They work, and are cheap.
Regarding Lole Ribara street, it is totally dark there. Ever in the shops.
You can't say that about Palmoticeva street. Then it gets more dark as you
walk towards "politika" building.
Let's go a bit to the other end! Boris Kidric street is in complete
darkness. Also all surrounding streets. However, pub "Zlatni top" works.
Bartenders wait for customers while simphonic jazz plays in the
background.Tasmajdanski park is more-less empty, although there are a few
people with dogs. Through General Zdanov's street you can see darkened
trams and a few cars....
---
reply to darko's message (see above)
And in Serbia people die. Soldiers are also people. Even policemen.
Regarding Kosovo, ever since the war started progressive forces have
opposed to the conflict (ark, otpor...). Don't look at Kosovo events from
just one side.
First of all, information that comes from there is highly unreliable.
Second, there is no independant media. Third, it seems to me that UCK
sticks to the tactics, the worse it looks the better it is, i.e. they
might be able to sacrifice their fellow citizens to gain independant
Kosovo. Forth. don't expect from people who spend night in cellars, don't
sleep well and are tempted phisically and psichically to think about
Kosovo. They thought about it earlier, but instead od help from
'democratic' world, bombs came.
PS: I hope that you, as a person from Sarajevo, who has lived under bombs,
will understand us.
PPS: Maybe you haven't noticed, but we have sent news about attacks on
Albanians all over Serbia, and we spoke about tose barbaric acts against
our neighbours. Just down the street, near my home there is an Albanian
owned shop called 'Serbia'. So far everything's fine, but if someone tryes
anything against them i hereby promise to defend them!
---
Auch! Those weekend Chetnik warriors and nationalist will destroy us! I
fuck such support that comes from them, Zirinovski and similar assholes.
********************************
from: Jovana, Belgrade, jellybean@Eunet.yu
by the way, I won't go to the shelter any more. I feel better to be alone
in the house than to tolerate the new govermnent in the shelter. I have
probably mentioned to you that 2/3 of people in my shelter are gypsies,
and they are the only nice people there. You can sit down and talk with
them, share some food... however, some freaks from the civil guards got
the idea that they are now very important people, so they have put out
their ranks i try to govern the shelter. Today one of those freaks brought
a woman to recognize the person who has put shit on the door handle. When
she recognized the person, they practically linched him...
---
reply to darko's message (see above)
I agree with you Darko! Even before the bombing Yugoslav Army attacked the
Albanians. I am sorry that we don't receive information about that, but
it'd be good if people who know something could send us something. I don't
know why do I feel like I am on the third side (as usual) and that there
are not many of us.
********************************
from: Jelena,
Dear friends, where ever you are!
It's already morning and I at the moment I keep much more steady. I need
to correspond with all of you. It's like writing a diary...
Thank you a lot for all your good wishes. It seems we need them a pretty
lot - we need positive, sound and human action. So,here in Belgrade the
immediate air-raid have passed. It is necessary all threats stop. Please,
don't hesitate and give your voice against raging brutal and lawless
behavior of the American mighty authority. I sincerely hope there is a
stronger volition which can resist the brute force.
A shinning morning raised up. Almost I can't comprehend what happened us
last night - those first detonation - we didn't know what it was. Neither
it was frightful. If you were out and met tired people who had also got
out their bomb shelters, if you heard their strange stories in strange
situation, if you tried to plan, and thus meant to think in advance, into
future, you could feel unsafe and powerless in the very moment. Let us
stand against American warfare and destruction, against its brute force!
Don't let any feeling of collective and individual unsafe and
powerlessness come out under the military and political press!
Please, send this message to all addresses you know. Add your voice also.
Copy the message and write yourself. Don't let any force capture and
destroy your sound spirit.
********************************
From: Darko Kovacevic , Pozega
Since I am active with some media ever since the bombing has started (I
work on radio Pozega) I must say to you that there is a lot of
disinformation and state censorship, so beleive only what you see with
your eyes, and not what you're told. Regarding the number of shot nato
planes it is certain that tonight one F171 was shot down. The rest could
be plain morale pumping propaganda. I am saying this because I saw on this
list that you mentioned 20-30 planes. This is unrealistic... The less we
know it is easier to rule over us...
********************************
TORNA ALL' INDICE