Communist Web Friday 28th April 2000 9.30pm gmt Humanitarian Disasters Created by NATO This article, written by Zhong Shukong, alternate member of the Committee of the United Nations Human Rights Group, says that the bombing attack launched by US-led NATO against Yugoslavia that lasted for 78 days and nights from March 24 to June 10 last year, has proved to be a shocking humanitarian disaster. Following are highlights of the article. The incident of large-scale encroachment on human rights occurred between March 24 and June 10 last year. The wanton bombing launched by US-led NATO against a sovereign state, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia., lasted for 78 days and nights, these indiscriminate bombings carried out in the name of "protecting human rights" and under the pretext of "humanistic intervention" has proved to be a shocking humanistic disaster. (I) The Bombings Have Caused Serious Humanistic Disaster According to unbiased reports and factual statements, the wanton bombing of Yugoslavia has resulted in extremely serious humanistic disaster, relevant facts include: (1) Bringing untold suffering to large numbers of innocent people. The "carefully plotted" bombing brought great disaster to the Yugoslavian people. Including: the death and injury of thousands upon thousands of innocent people; leaving about 1 million people homeless; rendering over 500,000 people unemployed; depriving 2 million people (nearly one-fifth of the country's total population) of their source of income. (1) Inflicting serious damage on the infrastructure facilities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The indiscriminate bombing destroyed more than 50 main bridges, 12 railways, and five provincial standard highways; meanwhile, it also destroyed the country's power plants and main transformer stations. (1) Triggering sustained ecological disasters. The wanton bombing of Yugoslavian refineries, chemical fertilizer plants and pharmaceuticals has led to large-area pollution and "poison-containing cloud and smoke". This will bring long-term negative effect on the ecological... http://www.billkath.demon.co.uk/cw/humanitarian/humanitarian.html
