Three letters from an antiwar activist in temporary exile in Budapest

(most recent first)

April 16, Budapest

Here are some more news about the situation in Serbia, where the bombings and massacres intensify. The death toll of passanger train hit rose to 55, of refugee convoy to 80 and the bridge over Danube in Belgrade is the only one still standing. The flames of oil rafinery and chemical plant in Pancevo are threatening in a very serious way.

Several thousand people gathered at the funeral of Slavko Curuvija, a prominent independent journalist, assassinated earlier this week. It was the first, though silent protest in Belgrade against the regime since the beginning of the war. The people who were a core of previous protests gathered again, but this time remained completely silent. There were no speeches, ceremonies or anything, just frightening silence.

Last night there was a discussion about the opposition, NGO-s, intelectuals and journalists in Serbia on Radio Free Europe, and all of them were easily condemned for not reacting to what is happening, both in Kosovo and in Belgrade. A friend of mine, well-known and very courageous peace and human rights activist from Belgrade, phoned in rage afterwards. She screamed to me in the phone "Can't you realize we can't do anything? Don't you know what is going on here?" Again it seems that we, who are outside, do not understand what is happening in war circumstances, how little, if any, resistance is possible. How to expect solidarity and tolerance for victims from anyone if he or she is also a victim? The tragedy happening in Kosovo is thus, either unknown or rejected in Belgrade.On the other hand, the panic is rising, my friend says. The fear opens the door for more nationalist hysteria, intolerance and isolationism. In another phone conversation I have found out that the military prison in Novi Sad is full of draft evaders. Not only the Nazarenes and Jehovah's Witnesses (traditional religious objectors in Vojvodina, Serbia), but others as well. None of the proceedings have started yet, although they are all threatened with much more severe sentences than in peace times.

Nevertheless, as my pacifist friend confirms, it is almost impossible to escape mobilization. It is different than before, she repeats, people are silently accepting the call-ups, as they see no other way out. After bombings of military barracks and reservists who were sleeping out in the fields, many mobilized are now allowed to stay home. They just get uniforms and wait for the ground troops' attack.

April 8, Budapest:

Dear friends,

Budapest has become a meeting point and destination of exile for many of our friends, peace activists, independent journalists, human rights lawyers, prominent opposition figures, but also common people fleeing from Belgrade and elsewhere in Serbia. Unfortunately, I have to admit, only those who have money and connection were able to leave, as it always happens in similar situations. In past days I have been listening their stories full of fear and anxiety for their personal and country's future and I will try to articulate some of it here.

This is only part of the story as I haven't been able to get any direct testimony from Kosovo.

As you all know many independent media were immediately shut down and their property seized. The remaining ones have come under direct or indirect control of state. The only difference separating former independent media from state owned is that occasionaly they report on the extent of damage and number of casualties in the bombings. Another source of information is the web site of Democratic party which displays the information received by its members and other sources. It is their only activity and basically the only one possible. People are thus, very uninformed and in permanent fear for everything. They hardly know of anything happening in Kosovo. The state media add further to the spreading of the fear, and shelters are places where it all comes out.There, the rumours about poisonous gases or radioactive substances easily spread. That is why most of our friends and people who try to remain sober avoid going to the shelters. After the bombing of Aleksinac, which killed many innocent civilans in their homes, this will become more difficult.

People are afraid to cross the remaining bridges. Very few move during the day and almost none at night. There is still food, but no cigarettes. The biggest anxiety is evidently in Novi Sad which was cut in two by destruction of all of its bridges. All bridges to Croatia were destroyed, further severing the situation for the remaining Serbs in Vukovar area.

It is no wonder that in this situation many former opponents turn to Milosevic and the government. The same people who were beaten and jailed, only couple of years ago, for carrying American flags are now burning them. There are stories of spontaneous violence,attacks on Albanian owned shops, untolerance against Roma etc. The homogenization, xenofobia and nationalist reasoning are all encompassing. For those of you who remember, this was not the case in Serbia during previous wars in Croatia and Bosnia.

The communication and mutual support is the only way out of overwhelming hysteria. For this reason, the biggest concern is the functioning of Internet. Many servers do not work, and the remaining ones function extremely difficult and slow. The NGO activists also continue their activities by communicating with friends in Kosovo, where the situation is the most tragic by far, and among themselves - Sharing information, advices, energy. It is admirable that these activities continue and that their representatives are meeting and discussing on how to adjust to new circumstances. I have to admit that the tense political situation and the rhetoric used in media remind me to 1950s in Yugoslavia. In these circumstances, many decided to leave, joining thousands of opponents of Milosevic regime who fled in past tense years, which is further diminishing any chance for striving for change in Serbia. For many, the NATO bombing gave the final blow against the chances for democratization in Serbia. Not a word about it is heard in "Western" media.

For the moment, I have no reports on direct harassment and pressure on individuals who were opponents of the regime, besides that some people were interrogated by police. The bombs and general atmosphere are effective enough. There are also no reports on the application of extreme war measures against draft evasion and desertion. However, many men are in terrible fear and are hiding. Otherwise, they can become easy targets for NATO war machinery.

With acceleration of NATO bombings, every hope is disappearing - hope for solution to Kosovo problem, for democracy in Serbia, for stability and prosperity in Balkans.

April 6, Budapest:

My Dear Friends,

I am sorry it took me so much to gather energy to write few words. These past days have been very difficult for me. I spent all my time trying to write and talk on the phone to my family and friends, and peace activists in Belgrade, Kosovo and elsewhere in Serbia and to give them support to endure the tragedy that befell on them. Now, the lines are broken for almost three days (at least I couldn't get through from Budapest)and I have no direct information. Outraged because of the intervention and the events that followed, I also feel powerless in a way, being away from my loved ones and not being able to do anything.

I will use this opportunity to share some information that I gathered so far and some of my thoughts.

Thousands of people from Serbia have already come to Hungary. Some of our friends as well. Women, children, elderly and some men who came before the intervention. The border is sealed, for almost two weeks now, for all men between 18 and 60. The scale of mobilization in Serbia is without precedent and many of my friends were among the ones recently mobilized. There seems to be no way out. Every call-up order is counted as delivered, no matter if the person is at home or not. For those who don't appear, the court martials were introduced. All penalties were increased, and according to some sources the death penalty was restored.

Most people do respond to call-up orders, which is to be understood, given the circumstances of the total war which NATO is launching against Serbia at the moment. (SERBIA, NOT MILOSEVIC) Dragged into war that most of them never wanted, these soldiers are now victims to unforeseen NATO bombing. In such situation NO REBEILLON OR DRAFT EVASION IS POSSIBLE.

Only more killings and destruction.

But I don't want to share with you my thoughts about the rhetoric and methods applied in this war.I just want to urge you once again to do something in your respective countries to stop this chain of violence.

First of all is to stop the NATO bombing which only leads to more killing and destruction.

Equally important is to give shelter and protection to all people from Kosovo, Serbia and Montenegro fleeing from the war. This is especially important for the conscripts. They must be recognized and legalized and not threatened and unsecure about their stay.

We should bare in mind that all the opposition, NGO's and independent media have been silenced down in Serbia as a result of NATO attack and war situation created. Therefore, it is up to us to do what they can not.

Today, the pictures of destroyed slums of poor mining town of Aleksinac were added to the pictures of human catastrophy on the border of Macedonia. Deeply shaken by the events, I tried to gather some energy and will to speak and write. This was my first and very modest attempt to say something and to thank you all for all the letters of inquiry and support I have received so far.

I remain praying and acting for peace.