Police attack in Belgrade

Dear MEME reader,

Approximately one moth ago you were introduced to Novica Milic, a resident of Belgrade, and member of Sezam Pro, the largest BBS in Serbia. Milic, 41, and his wife Sasha, are active in the opposition to President Milosovic of Serbia. A month ago you read of the situation in Belgrade, via Milic's letters to me, and many of you sent letters of support. Several were read during the daily protests in Belgrade, and on the radio, which have attracted up to 300,000 people daily.

After a brief period of tension with the police, it seemed the opposition was on its way to being granted control of several cities (which they won during elections held in November 1996). Such hope has suffered a serious setback, as I have received the following note from Milic this evening. I am resending it to you.

The Internet is playing an important role in these events, by circumventing the near complete censorship of media in Serbia, and forging a bridge between the embattled democratic opposition and those people of good will who support their demand for self-governance and freedom from dictatorship. With this in mind, I ask you to forward this message wherever appropriate.

Thank you.

David S. Bennahum

Dear friends:

Tonight at 11.30 PM (local time) several thousand policemen attacked the Belgrade demonstrators. I've just come back from the town, and as a witness I can say this:

We were blocked in front of the Branko's bridge for more than 2 hours. 10-15,000 people were on the other side of the bridge, but police blocked the bridge from both sides, and did not allow them to join us. There were 30-40,000 people on our side of the bridge, but many of them left the place. When only 4-5,000 remained, and when we saw that strong police forces began to circle us, the opposition leader Vuk Draskovic spoke, and told us to go to the center—because 5-10 minutes before that we felt that perhaps they would attack. We started to go, and less than a minute later police attacked us from all sides with water cannon and tear gas. There was NO any provocation from our side, and there was NO one single reason for the police to attack! We began to retreat and run away, but the police srat running after the people, beating brutally everyone whom they could catch—older women, children, everyone without difference. A taxi driver took me and my wife and drove us home. Now I am listening to the two independent radio stations here (B92 and Radio Index): several thousand policemen are on the streets in the center of Belgrade beating everyone there! People try to escape, but at the moment the situation is dangerous around the Faculty of philosophy where many people found a shelter. The latest news is that policemen entered into the Faculty, beat several people and arrested many others. Hundred of people are injured. Many cameramen were attacked. In a dramatic interview Vuk Draskovic just said that police fired at him, but somehow he managed to escape—he says that the regime gave order to kill him this night. The lady from the opposition, the leader of pacifist Civil Ligue of Serbia Vesna Pesic is injured. At the time I am writing this messages, the police action still goes on!

Please, help us by informing everyone on the net about this terrible night in Belgrade.

And we are going to keep fighting for our freedom and rights, no doubt! They can arrest us, but they cannot win, no matter what happens!

Yours, Novica Milic