YUGOSLAV ROUND-UP The following articles were published in "The Guardian", newspaper of the Communist Party of Australia in its issue of Wednesday, April 28TH, 1999. Contact address: 65 Campbell Street, Surry Hills. Sydney. 2010 Australia. Phone: (612) 9212 6855 Fax: (612) 9281 5795. Email: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Webpage: http://www.peg.apc.org/~guardian Subscription rates on request. ****************************** 1. MORE BLOOD ON NATO'S HANDS 2. TOTALLY OPPOSED TO THE WAR -- ALEKA PAPARIGA 3. SORTING THE REAL ISSUES 4. ARAB CPs CALL FOR POLITICAL SOLUTION 5. NATO'S "HUMANITARIAN" BOMBING -- PROF. MECHEL CHOSSUDOVSKY 6. APPEAL FROM COMMUNISTS OF MACEDONIA. ******************************* BRUTAL AGGRESSION: MORE BLOOD ON NATO'S HANDS As the savage bombing of Yugoslavia entered its second month and the heads of NATO countries celebrated the war alliance's 50th year and its war against a small sovereign country, they marked the anniversary by stepping up the murderous bombing campaign and threatening to impose an oil blockade. US President Clinton and British Prime Minister Blair have emerged as the principle war-mongers, urging many less enthusiastic NATO countries to "keep up the pressure" and "see it through to the end". The American commander of the NATO forces, Wesley Clarke, is the most bellicose of all, authorising the indiscriminate bombing of a multitude of civilian targets such as water supplies, schools, ordinary factories, a fertiliser plant, homes, trains, bridges and Belgrade TV broadcasters. In a clear attempt at assassination, NATO cruise missiles bombed the home of the Yugoslav President, confirming that individual assassination is still a weapon of US policy. The NATO meeting in Washington also decided to eliminate the reference in NATO's charter that "The Alliance is purely defensive in purpose: None of its weapons will ever be used except in self-defence." This has been replaced by a decision to authorise the use of NATO forces anywhere in the world. That decision is a warning to all nations that NATO could intervene militarily in any country which pursues policies not acceptable to the US-NATO leaders. It signals that other wars are to follow should NATO succeed in destroying Yugoslavia and forcing it into submission. The intention to enforce an oil embargo is yet another illegal act and a provocation directed against Russia which is shipping oil through the Yugoslav province of Montenegro. Once again it indicates that NATO is prepared to violate all accepted laws of international behaviour. And once again the United Nations is ignored. Not only is the bombing destroying Yugoslavia's economy and infrastructure, but it is having catastrophic consequences on the economies of other Balkan countries. The destruction of bridges into the River Danube has halted normal shipping traffic -- the Danube is a main artery of trade between Balkan countries. As is to be expected, the tourist trade to Balkan countries has plummeted. These consequences will not concern either the US or Britain who are a long way from the frontline. In fact, the disruption and weakening of the economies of European countries helps to achieve one of the objectives of the US, which is to maintain its economic and political dominance over Europe. Anger and opposition to NATO aggression is growing throughout the world with massive demonstrations continuing in many countries. These are not now being reported by the Australian media which faithfully follows the CNN-NATO propaganda line of half thruths, outright lies and cover-ups. Anti-fascists in Israel have condemned the bombing, noting: "Fifty eight years ago, the Nazi German air force bombed Belgrade to enforce their hegemonic rule over all of eastern Europe. The Nazi Wehrmacht set up the puppet states of Croatia and Bosnia- Herzegovina and instigated them against the Serb population which fought a heroic struggle against the Nazi occupation." The parallels with NATO's policies towards Yugoslavia today are clear and ominous. An appeal by the Trade Union Confederation of Serbia says: "We workers, members of trade unions and citizens of Belgrade, have gathered at this big rally to protest against the brutal aggression on the Republics of Serbia and Yugoslavia. "As workers and trade unionists, whose voice is the voice of reason, peace and justice, we are appealing to you to help us stop the criminal bombings of our country and safeguard our right to live and work. "We are appealing to all trade unions in the world to demand that their governments stop this madness and try to find a peaceful, political and just solution for Kosovo, fully respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country." The New Communist Party of Yugoslavia sends its thanks to "all communist, workers, revolutionary, guerrilla and anti-imperialist organisations in the world which support the Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia by organising demonstrations and other actions against NATO intervention ... "We will not allow the occupation of our country. We will continue the struggle for freedom until, ultimately, ending the intervention." The appeal ends with the slogans: "DOWN WITH AMERICAN, BRITISH, GERMAN AND FRENCH IMPERIALISM!" "DOWN WITH NATO!" "LONG LIVE PROLETARIAN INTERNATIONALISM!" In reporting the complete destruction of the Zastava car factory, which was the biggest industrial complex in Yugoslavia with a workforce of 38,000, and tens of thousands more dependent on this factory, the message of the Yugoslav communists is -- "Our industry is made up of people. When we beat the neofascists we will build up our industry again." Website of the New Communist Party of Yugoslavia: <http://members.tripod.com/nkpj/english> ********************************************************************* TOTALLY OPPOSED TO THE WAR On April 8, Melbourne Ethnic Radio 3ZZZ 92.3 FM broadcaster Peter Stamatopoulos interviews the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), Aleka Papariga. Peter Stamatopoulos: In view of the present situation in the Balkans, i.e. the bombing of Yugoslavia by NATO forces, could you tell us the position of the Communist Party of Greece? Aleka Papariga: Yes, we are totally opposed to the war that was unleashed in the Balkans by NATO and the European Union. Their first target is the people of Yugoslavia, but we believe that this war will open the way for a general conflict in the Balkans, for a change in boundaries and the enforcement of the New World Order. PS: Do you believe that this could have a domino effect in the Balkans and at some stage Greece could fall victim as well? AP: Undoubtedly, because now the way is opening for, shall we say a Greater Albania, and also for the surrounding states to demand an expansion of their space and change of their boundaries. PS: How do you explain the carnage and atrocities that we are so used to hearing from the mass media, electronic and print? AP: Look, all these years since 1991 we are used to seeing carnage and then they reveal to us, sometimes the French Government, and other times the international organisations, that it is a provocation. Further to this, even if we accept that there are some violations of human rights inside Yugoslavia, that is a matter for the Yugoslav people to solve without external interference. They can change their government for example. I don't understand why there should be external interference. There is no reason. People should be allowed to solve their own problems. They cannot be solved with bombings. PS: To what extent are the bombings of NATO responsible, and to what extent are the Serbs responsible for the outflow of refugees from Kosovo? AP: Ah! The refugees left after the war. They are war victims. It is only natural that the Albanians would seek refuge in the "neighbouring" countries that speak their own language. Why didn't they leave so many years before? They are undoubtedly war victims. When Pristina is bombed then Albanians and Serbs are in danger. PS: Would you like to give us a picture of the Greek public opinion regarding this matter? AP: I can tell you with great certainty -- these are the results of the various polls, but they do not publish them because it is not in their interest -- 90 per cent of the Greek people are against this NATO interference and 75 per cent believe that the European Union is equally responsible. Also 70 per cent believe that the Greek Government is to blame as well.... Northern Greece has been transformed to a military camp for NATO forces. German troops are everywhere and five Greek airports have been transformed into military ones. Only Greek troops have not participated as yet. Greece is taking part in every other aspect of war. Simply Greek and Turkish troops have not participated because they have not been asked yet. PS: Mrs Paparigha, it appears that the US dictate the political situation in Europe and not the European Union. If it is so, then what is the role of a United Europe? AP: Look, I don't agree. The countries of the European Union are part of NATO as well as the US, and they lead the political situation in Europe. They, of course, have a common purpose with the US, but they have given some responsibilities to NATO forces. With the Amsterdam treaty, they decided that NATO will remain part of Europe. But there is also a supremacy fight going on between them. They are allies, but each one also strives to get the upper hand in the Balkans. PS: I asked you this question because we see the President of the US on our TV screens all the time making all the important statements. AP: No, it is not true. He has, of course, to play an important role, but he could do nothing without Blair, Schroeder, Simitis, D'Allema, Jospin and all the others. Therefore Europe is the base for the attack against the Yugoslavs. If Europe did not allow it, the war wouldn't happen. PS: Can Russia play any role in all this? We know that some Russian ships are sailing for the Mediterranean. AP: Yes, and the Greek Government has already condemned this action. Mr Tsohatzopoulos the Defence Minister did last night [April 7 -- Ed.]. Don't tell me that the Greek Government is not participating, because it is. The Greek people are protesting today because they see the Russian flotilla is a good sign of peace. Russia of course can help, but we can not be certain if she can resist at the end, because we have not a very good picture for the Russian leadership. Up to now she has played a positive role. It is understandable why Russia is taking this stance, because she will be the next target. Russia of course is not a socialist country, she is a capitalist one and they want her total submission to become their puppet. And they wish to divide her further. She will be the next target. She fears this, that is why she reacts so. PS: One last question Mrs Paparigha. Do you believe that Milosevic will sign the Rambouillet agreement? AP: Up to now he says no. We do not know how far it will go. We further say that all nations must stand on the side of Yugoslavia so that all Yugoslavians win. And we do not to differentiate between Albanians and Serbs. We want them all to win. PS: Mrs Papariga I thank you so much for taking part. AP: Many thanks for the opportunity, and greetings to all Greek and Australian people. The above are extracts from the interview, translated from the Greek by Peter Stamatopoulos. ************************************************************** Yugoslavia: SORTING THE REAL ISSUES By Peter Symon The Democratic Socialist Party (DSP) adopted a statement on March 29 outlining that Party's analysis of the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia. Pursuing the idea that the real issue is the alleged "ethnic cleansing" of Albanians by the Yugoslavian Government, the DSP concludes their statement by offering their "solution". They propose: the fullest and most consistent democracy in relations between the national communities inhabiting Kosovo; ending the Serbian campaign of terror and repression and ethnic cleansing; recognition of their (the ethnic Albanians) right to self-determination; withdrawal of all [Serbian] armed forces from Kosovo and "providing the KLA with all the resources, without any political strings attached, needed to defeat the Serbian armed forces in Kosovo". With only slight variations all these conditions could be easily endorsed by NATO in the present situation. The question of who is to provide the KLA with its arms and other resources is not answered but they could only come from the imperialist arms supplies as is already the case. No matter how frequently the attempt is made to suggest that the KLA is some legitimate national liberation movement, the reality is that they are being armed and promoted by Western imperialist governments, particularly, that of Germany. Reasons behind NATO aggression Because of the refusal of Yugoslavia to bend the knee to NATO pressure and allow NATO bases on her territory as has happened to the bordering countries of Hungary, Greece and Macedonia, Yugoslavia had to be subdued. Yugoslavia occupies an important strategic position in Europe and her occupation is necessary if NATO's expansion to the east is to succeed. Another major factor in the aggression against Yugoslavia is the struggle for domination between the US dollar and the European euro -- the new currency of the European Union which is a considerable threat to the present domination of the US dollar on world currency markets. The conflict between these two major capitalist camps is not new and is re-emerging again in full force. The DSP statement says that the NATO aggression is to advance the "predatory interests of the western powers" but fails to draw the necessary conclusions from this statement. Rather, the DSP tries to fight on two fronts with the slogan of "Stop the bombing" and "Independence for Kosovo". But the "predatory interests" of the Western powers include the separation of Kosovo as a province of Yugoslavia, thereby destroying her sovereignty and so weakening Yugoslavia as to force her capitulation. The DSP seems to thoroughly approve of this outcome if it achieves the defeat of the present government of Yugoslavia and the separation of the province of Kosovo from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The facts on Rambouillet But it is not only this NATO plan as it affects Kosovo that led the Yugoslav Government to reject the Rambouillet document. An Appendix to the main document has received little or no public acknowledgment. The Appendix would facilitate the occupation by NATO of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) as a whole. Here are several clauses from the Appendix. Clause 8 reads: "NATO personnel shall enjoy, together with their vehicles, vessels, aircraft, and equipment, free and unrestricted passage and unimpeded access THROUGHOUT THE FRY including associated airspace and territorial waters." (emphasis added) And Clause 9: "NATO shall be exempt from duties, taxes, and other charges and inspections and custom regulations including providing inventories or other routine customs documentation, for personnel, vehicles, vessels, aircraft, equipment, supplies, and provisions entering, exiting, or transiting the territory of the FRY" in support of the Operation." (An open go for drug-runners!) Clause 20 says that "NATO may hire local personnel who shall be by NATO." That the Appendix does not limit NATO operations to Kosovo is confirmed by a number of references. For example 1(b) defines "Authorities" as "Authorities in the FRY ... whether Federal, Republic, Kosovo or other." The main Rambouillet document sets up a "Civilian Implementation Mission" (CIM) which would be appointed by NATO. It says that "The Chief of the CIM has the authority to issue binding directives to the Parties on all important matters he sees fit, including appointing and removing officials and curtailing institutions." As one of the Parties to the document was to have been the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia it follows that the CIM is given power over that government as well as anything that might be established in Kosovo. That is what the Rambouillet ultimatum was all about and this is what NATO expected to enforce quickly by the bombing following its rejection by the Yugoslav Government. To bolster its case the DSP presents a version of the Rambouillet ultimatum which has little to do with the reality of the terms of that document. It is claimed that the "chief purpose" of the NATO occupation force provided for in the Rambouillet "agreement" was "to disarm the KLA and thus make the Kosovars completely dependent upon, and under the military and political control of the US-led NATO alliance." A reading of the Rambouillet document shows that it does not even mention the KLA. It is perhaps referred to in the term "other forces" but in documents that must be precise in such matters this omission is no accident. How can the KLA be held accountable if it is not even mentioned in the document? On the other hand the military forces of the Yugoslav Government are mentioned specifically. They would be obliged to withdraw completely from the province of Kosovo, a province that every government in the world recognises as part of Yugoslavia. Only a small police force would remain in border regions and even this force could be reduced on the decision of the NATO occupying force. By claiming that the Western powers intend to disarm the KLA when they are clearly arming, supplying, training, financing and giving political support to the KLA is merely an attempt to give the DSP and the KLA some sort of anti-imperialist credentials. NATO-generated refugee crisis Throughout the DSP statement the alleged "ethnic cleansing" of Albanians has top billing which is also the main element of the ceaseless propaganda of the mass media. That there are many tens of thousands of refugees is not in question. That there is a humanitarian disaster is obvious but this is not only falling on the heads of ethnic Albanians but on ethnic Serbians and the other nationalities which inhabit both Kosovo and Serbia proper. If the Serbian Government was so hell-bent on throwing out all Albanians why is it that the 100,000 ethnic Albanians living in Belgrade are unaffected and that at least one of the Albanian leaders, Rugova, went to Belgrade and not to Albania or Macedonia? That there was and is an armed conflict between the KLA and the Yugoslav military forces is beyond question but there was no mass exodus from Kosovo before the NATO bombing commenced. Why did NATO carry out heavy bombing of Pristina, a city largely inhabited by ethnic Albanians, except to create a refugee crisis? Although the DSP statement "unequivocally condemns the NATO aggression" it fails to deal with the full significance of NATO's violation of the sovereignty of an independent country and the declaration by NATO that it may intervene in the affairs of any country anywhere in the world. Blow against UNO Furthermore, NATO has struck a heavy blow at the United Nations Organisation and has acted in flagrant disregard of the UN Charter which specifically excludes "the use or threat of force" by any country against another. Instead of a clear cut statement the DSP uses convoluted language which obscures the real issues. It says: "the US and its NATO allies have undertaken their war ... without any pretense to be enforcing UN resolutions against a threat to the national security of any sovereign state or enforcing compliance with any agreed `peace' pact." Not only is there no UN Security Council resolution but the US aggression is just that -- aggression and a VIOLATION OF THE UN CHARTER. Why not say so? One gets the impression that the war is equally the "fault" of the Yugoslav Government and Slobadan Milosevic personally and NATO. The DSP statement says: "The Kosovo conflict has provided the US government with a means to reassert Washington's role as the dominant military power in Europe." The DSP then turns this statement up-side down: "The NATO aggression has given the Serbian chauvinists, headed by Slobadan Milosevic, a pretext for carrying out a wave of terror against the Kosovars..." What is this if not equal blame? Furthermore the demonising of Slobadan Milosevic is a central plank in the propaganda war of the Western mass media. Cold War The DSP refers several times to "the end of the Cold War". This conclusion arises from a wrong understanding of the Cold War based on the idea that it was simply a confrontation between the US and the former Soviet Union and that it came to an end with the dismemberment of the Soviet Union. This tends to make the Cold War some sort of contest between different nation states whereas the contest between socialism and capitalism on a world scale is far more than that. The fundamental struggle in the world is between capital and labour, including that between capitalism and socialism. Its sharpest expression was certainly the confrontation between the US and NATO on the one hand and the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact countries on the other. However, the workers of the world, the national liberation movements and all independent countries are now finding out that capitalist and imperialist exploitation, oppression and suppression have not ceased with the alleged "end of the Cold War" but have increased. Talk about the cold war ending helps to disarm the people of the world as to the real nature of capitalism and imperialism and indicates an unclear understanding of the real nature of imperialism. So what about the ethnic Albanian population of Kosovo? The Albanians do not have any exclusive right to that piece of territory. The historic Serbian claim has also to be recognised. Yet it was ethnic Albanians who fired the first shots and committed the first killings and over a number of years forced Serbians off their land just as the Israelis have been forcing the Palestinians off their historic settlements. The status of nationalities in a multi-national state is always a complicated one. At the Rambouillet conference the Yugoslav Government was prepared to accept autonomy for the province of Kosovo while retaining it as part of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Political solution It is correct to say that the bombing will not solve any of the now very acute problems. These can only be solved in a lasting manner through political negotiations no matter how long they might take. The NATO bombing is not only an illegal, criminal aggression but it will only exacerbate what are historic problems which have many complicated aspects. Neither the bombing nor the shortsighted and simplistic demand for an independent Albanian state offer any lasting solution. The DSP talks about the Serbians wanting a "greater Serbian state" but fail to mention the Albanian wish to form a "greater Albania" carving out not only Kosovo but parts of Macedonia and Montenegro which also have large Albanian minorities. This is a recipe for conflict without end in the Balkans. The DSP has misjudged a number of international issues. They were wrong in promoting Lech Walesa as the saviour of Poland. They were wrong about Vaclav Havel, one of the so-called "dissidents" in Czechoslovakia. The were very wrong in welcoming Mikhail Gorbachev as a hero. They misjudged the situation when they supported the PAC before and up to the electoral victory of the ANC in South Africa. It is the innate anti-communism of the DSP and other similar organisations which continually lead them astray. ******************************************************************* ARAB CPs CALL FOR POLITICAL SOLUTION Communique from communist and workers' parties of the Arab countries It is with extreme anger and disapproval that our parties follow the news of the savage aggression by NATO forces, under the direction of the United States, launched four weeks without cessation against the Federation of Yugoslavia, and [the news] of the barbarous and deliberate devastation brought upon hospitals, bridges, the thermal and energy power stations, as well as the infrastructure, in this country where the number of victims among the civilian population is steadily increasing while, at the same time aggravating the tragic and disastrous situation in Kosovo. >From here on the pursuit of this aggression constitutes a grave threat to security and peace in both Europe and in the whole world. This aggression which is carried out in the name of NATO constitutes a flagrant violation of the UN Charter and of the principles of international law. It indisputably goes beyond the competence and duties of the Security Council. It represents an attempt by the United States to suppress the role of the organisations of international law, to exercise without hindrance its hegemony and to intervene wherever it wishes, with whatever means of destruction it chooses, however barbarous they may be. If we disapprove of all forms of ethnic or religious oppression, such as "ethnic cleansing" wherever they come from or whoever practices them, we confirm that our peoples -- who have suffered and who continue to suffer the consequences of United States hypocrisy and the politics of double standards which they apply - - know very well that Washington's true objectives are, hidden behind this aggression: on one hand the dismemberment of Yugoslavia, in revenge for its historic role in supporting national liberation movements world wide and because<%0> it remains determined to <%4>preserve its natural sovereignty and refuses to submit to Washington's direction and to the demands of NATO; and on the other hand the reinforcement of the American military presence in the <%0>Balkans, which Washington is trying to subjugate and control in order that it will become a new base from which to exert pressure on Russia, to effect its encirclement, and so as to divide Europe itself internally with the aim of hindering the process of unification which poses an obstacle to American hegemony. We demand the immediate cessation of this barbarous aggression and a return to the negotiating table, to seek a political solution which would produce autonomy for Kosovo within the framework of the indivisible and completely sovereign state of Yugoslavia. Signed: Jordanian CP National Liberation Front of Bahrein Sudanian CP Syrian CP Syrian CP* Iraqi CP Lebanese CP Egyptian CP * There are two Syrian Communist Parties with the same name. The above is an unofficial translation from French by Tom Gill. ***************************************************************** NATO'S "HUMANITARIAN" BOMBINGS The balance sheet of destruction in Yugoslavia by Professor Michel Chossudovsky<R> Department of Economics,<R> University of Ottawa Amply documented, the bombings of Yugoslavia are not strictly aimed at military and strategic targets as claimed by NATO. They are largely intent on destroying the country's civilian infrastructure as well as its institutions. According to Yugoslav sources, NATO has engaged around 600 aeroplanes of which more than 400 are combat planes. They have flown almost 3,000 attack sorties, "with 200 in one night alone against 150 designated targets". They have dropped thousands of tonnes of explosives and have launched some 450 cruise missiles. The intensity of the bombing using the most advanced military technology is unprecedented in modern history. It far surpasses the bombing raids of World War II or the Vietnam War. The bombings have not only been directed against industrial plants, airports, electricity and telecommunications facilities, railways, bridges and fuel depots, they have also targeted schools, health clinics, day care centres, government buildings, churches, museums, monasteries and historical landmarks [and most recently TV headquarters -- Ed]. Infrastructure and industry According to Yugoslav sources: "road and railway networks, especially road and rail bridges, most of which were destroyed or damaged beyond repair, suffered extensive destruction". Several thousand industrial facilities have been destroyed or damaged with the consequence of paralysing the production of consumer goods. According to Yugoslav sources, "[By] totally destroying business facilities across the country, 500,000 workers were left jobless, and 2 million citizens without any source of income and possibility to ensure minimum living conditions". Western estimates as to the destruction of property in Yugoslavia stand at more than US$100 billion. Bombing of residential areas Villages with no visible military or strategic structures have been bombed. Described as "collateral damage", residential areas in all major cities [have been hit]. The downtown area of Pristina (which includes apartment buildings and private dwellings) has been destroyed. Central-downtown Belgrade -- including government buildings -- have been hit with cluster bombs and there are massive flames emanating from the destruction. According to the International Center for Peace and Justice (ICPJ): "No city or town in Yugoslavia is being spared. There are untold civilian casualties. The beautiful capital city of Belgrade is in flames and fumes from a destroyed chemical plant are making it necessary to use gas masks." The evidence amply confirms that NATO has created a humanitarian catastrophe. The bombings are largely responsible for driving people from their homes. The bombings have killed people regardless of their nationality or religion. In Kosovo, civilian casualties affect all ethnic groups. Dangers of environmental contamination Refineries and warehouses storing liquid raw materials and chemicals have been hit causing environmental contamination. The latter have massively exposed the civilian population to the emission of poisonous gases. NATO air strikes on the chemical industry are intent on creating an environmental disaster, "which is something not even Adolf Hitler did during World War II". According to the Serbian Minister for Environmental Protection Branislav Blazic, "the aggressors were lying when they said they would hit only military targets and would observe international conventions, because they are using illegal weapons such as cluster bombs, attacking civilian targets and trying to provoke an environmental disaster". A report by NBC TV confirms that NATO has bombed the pharmaceutical complex of Galenika, the largest medicine factory in Yugoslavia located in the suburbs of Belgrade. The fumes from this explosion have serious environmental implications. Supplying drinking water for the inhabitants of Belgrade is also getting difficult after the drinking water facility at Zarkovo was bombed. Hospitals and schools NATO has targeted many hospitals and health-care institutions, which have been partially damaged or totally destroyed. These include 13 of the country's major hospitals. More than 150 schools (including pre-primary day care centres) have been damaged or destroyed. There are almost no pre-school institutions (nurseries and day-care centres) which are operational. Churches, monasteries and historical landmarks NATO has also systematically targeted churches, monasteries, museums, public monuments and historical landmarks. "The targets of the attacks on historical and cultural landmarks have included the Gracanica monastery, dating back to the 14th century, the Pec Patriarchate (13th century), the Rakovica monastery and the Petrovarardin Fortress, which are testimony to the foundations of European civilisation, are in all world encyclopedias and on the UNESCO World Heritage list." Use of banned weapons The NATO bombings have also used of weapons banned by international conventions. Amply documented by scientific reports, the cruise missiles utilise depleted uranium "highly toxic to humans, both chemically as a heavy metal and radiologically as an alpha particle emitter". Since the Gulf War, depleted uranium (DU) has been a substitute for lead in bullets and missiles. According radiobiologist Dr Rosalie Bertell, President of the International Institute of Concern for Public Health: "When used in war, depleted uranium (DU) bursts into flame releasing a deadly radioactive aerosol of uranium, unlike anything seen before. "This ceramic aerosol is much lighter than uranium dust. It can travel in air tens of kilometres from the point of release, or be stirred up in dust and resuspended in air with wind or human movement. It is very small and can be breathed in by anyone: a baby, pregnant woman, the elderly, the sick. "This radioactive ceramic can stay deep in the lungs for years, irradiating the tissue with powerful alpha particles within about a 30 micron sphere, causing emphysema and/or fibrosis. The ceramic can also be swallowed and do damage to the gastro- intestinal tract. "In time, it penetrates the lung tissue and enters into the blood stream.... It can also initiate cancer or promote cancers which have been initiated by other carcinogens." According to Paul Sullivan, executive director of the National Gulf War Resource Centre: "In Yugoslavia, it's expected that depleted uranium will be fired in agricultural areas, places where livestock graze and where crops are grown, thereby introducing the spectre of possible contamination of the food chain." In this regard, a report in from Greece: "... registered an increase in levels of toxic substances in the atmosphere of Greece, and said that Albania, Macedonia, Italy, Austria and Hungary all face a potential threat to human health as a result of NATO's bombing of Serbia, which includes the use of radioactive depleted uranium shells". Plight of refugees What is not conveyed by the international media, is that people of all ethnic origins including ethnic Albanians, Serbs and other ethnic groups are leaving Kosovo largely as a result of the bombing. There are reports that ethnic Albanians have left Kosovo for Belgrade where they have relatives. There are 100,000 ethnic Albanians in Belgrade. The press has confirmed movements of ethnic Albanians to Montenegro. Montenegro has been portrayed as a separate country, as a safe-haven against the Serbs. The fact of the matter is that Montenegro is part of Yugoslavia. ******************************************************************* APPEAL FROM THE COMMUNISTS OF MACEDONIA Very little is heard about the situation in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), except on the question of whether or not the Macedonian Government is closing its borders to more refugees from Kosovo. The plight of the people in Macedonia, the impact of the war and the response of the people goes largely unreported. Marjan Mitevski, President of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Macedonia (SKM), has written to other communist parties giving some information and appealing for support. The following are extracts from the lettter. Its translation into English is unofficial. Do you, dear comrades, actually know under what conditions our party is working in Macedonia? For you, and your work, it is much easier. For you are hundreds and hundreds of kilometres far way from Yugoslavia and the war. And yet we are just 20 kilometres from the border. Our party is financially weak, but in our souls and in our ideology, we are strong and maybe even stronger than you. Because in this moment our activists and citizens have been under great pressure from all sides. The current government is threatening us and is making statements of arrests, because of our activities. What are we doing? We are helping citizens organise humanitarian help for Yugoslavia. We have organised donations of blood for Yugoslavia. Around two hundred people were first involved in this activity and it has not stopped. We are organising peaceful protests across Macedonia. All of our protests, which we as a party up to now have organised, are absolutely peaceful and without incident. The protests were organised with the citizens. On several occasions we have approached the current government institutions, like the Federal Government of Macedonia. In these hard moments, they, the government, should announce mobilisation and that the borders are closed. Because from one day to another, so many of the pro-militia Liberation Army of Kosovo, they are currently on Macedonian soil. We asked for this two months ago, but nobody listened. And now it is evident that we were right. In Macedonia, we have lost democracy. Everybody and anybody is trying in some way to help Yugoslavia, which is in danger. The local television station in a town called Kumanovu, TV ZORA, started to transmit across satellite program RTS. Because of the bombing, it came to a stop. Two days ago, the station was out of action because of lack of electricity. Once the electricity came back, the owners were threatened, if the telecasts continued, they would be physically destroyed. Citizens who are against NATO and have been protesting and were in the first line, they have been visited and threatened with physical harm and were asked not to go to protests -- they received death threats and were threatened with the loss of their jobs or the loss of electricity to their homes. Dear comrades, we are active 24 hours around the clock. We are taking care of ourselves from all sides and in some ways we are working in an illegal fashion. The average age of our members and coordinators is approximately 30 years of age. We are ready for everything. We are in a very uncomfortable situation and the work is going at the maximum. And for this we would like to ask if you are at giving the least thoughts for your comrades in Macedonia. Please reply, even if it means receiving an empty letter. We are getting an impression that we are lonely in this world and that Macedonia is nearing the war danger. What do you think? Who is the first to die? Thanks to us in Macedonia, the communist flag will fly. Our work here is authentic communism. During December 1998 and January 1999, we had a referendum asking people about the presence of NATO in Macedonia. The results show that 91 per cent of the population was against the presence of NATO in Macedonia. Ninety-five per cent have expressed that it will have a negative impact on economic and political relations with Yugoslavia. But if we had a referendum for membership of Macedonia in NATO, ninety-eight per cent of citizens would be against. We organised the first anti-NATO protests before the beginning of the war, while Europe was still asleep. That was the first protest against NATO in the world in connection with the situation in Yugoslavia which was not organised from the side of the Serbs. At the protest, there were only Macedonians. Therefore, the fist non-Serbian anti-NATO protest was in Kumanovu on February 25, and in Skopje on March 15. We believe that you will eventually understand what heavy conditions we live and work under here in Macedonia. PS: This letter was not written in English, because at this moment, nobody here wants to speak or write English. Death to fascism! Freedom to the people! Communists of all countries unite! April 20, 1999 END The Guardian 65 Campbell Street, Surry Hills. 2010 Australia. Email: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Website: http://www.peg.apc.org/~guardian -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
