Hague protest to demand freedom for Yugoslav workers
By John Catalinotto
European groups that have been defending former Yugoslav President Slobodan
Milosevic, along with organizations of the Yugoslav diaspora, are issuing
a call for a demonstration in The Hague, Netherlands, on June 28, demanding
his freedom.
It was on that date two years ago that Milosevic was kidnapped from Belgrade
by NATO forces and brought to The Hague. It is also St. Vitus Day, a date
commemorated in Serbia for its significance in the struggle against foreign
oppressors in 1389.
The call states clearly the reasons NATO went after President Milosevic.
"Slandered from the outset," it reads, "Slobo dan Milosevic,
the Socialist Party of Serbia and all patriotic forces resisted the shattering
of Yugoslavia into weak, racially segregated territories, resisted domination
by the IMF and World Bank, resisted penetration by the McDonald's culture
and resisted NATO-dominated racist-terrorist forces cynically disguised
as freedom fighters. It is because of these acts of principle that NATO
has put him on 'trial' in The Hague.
"In that trial President Milosevic refuses to make a deal to save
himself but continues to expose the crimes of violence and racism committed
by NATO and its proxy forces against Yugoslavia.
"Slobodan Milosevic was overthrown by a 'regime change' made in the
USA. Yugoslavia is now being wrecked economically, socially and culturally,
under USA/German domination. President Milosevic has become the first
political prisoner of the so-called 'globalization' of capitalist exploitation.
By kidnapping and putting on 'trial' a popularly elected president of
a sovereign state, NATO and their 'tribunal' have established the gravest
precedent for the destruction of the sovereignty of states.
"After the military invasions in Afghanistan and Iraq, the U.S. government
and its allies continue to blackmail many more nations into subjugation
by economic sanctions, the threat of mass destruction and destabilization
through 'dissident' and 'opposition' forces organized from outside."
The International Action Center, which was active in leading the anti-war
struggle in the United States during the U.S./NATO bombing of Yugoslavia
in 1999, has added its support to the call and will send a representative
to The Hague on June 28.
Reprinted from the May 29, 2003, issue of Workers World newspaper(Copyright Workers World Service: Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but changing it is not allowed. For more information contact Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via email: ww@wwpublish.com. Subscribe wwnews-on@wwpublish.com. Unsubscribe wwnews-off@wwpublish.com. Support independent news http://www.workers.org/orders/donate.php)