serbian original at http://www.kosovo.com/news/haag.htm June 28, 2001 The topic of the day on this Vidovdan (St. Vitus Day) is the extradition of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic to the Hague tribunal. Without getting involved in fiery discussions with respect to this issue, we wish to remind you that today there are more than thirty Orthodox Christians who are Serbs imprisoned in The Hague and that what they require most of all is communication with those closest to them and with their compatriots. We appeal to you to forward this document received from Father Vojislav Bilbija to your friends and acquaintances, to Serbian forums and lists on the Internet and to publish it on your Web pages and in your newspapers. In the meanwhile, the list of prisoners has grown and continues to grow but the topic of this message has become even more current. Thank you on behalf of the Hague prisoners of Orthodox faith. Editors of Amselfeld.com On Vidovdan (June 28), 2001 * * * * * List of prisoners of Orthodox faith imprisoned in The Hague: (as of April 22 of the Year of Our Lord 2001) Family name, given name, residence and comments (if any) 1. Brdjanin, Radoslav (Banja Luka) 2. Dosen, Damir (Prijedor) 3. Galic, Stanislav (Banja Luka) 4. Jelisic, Goran (Bijeljina) 5. Kvocka, Miroslav (Prijedor) 6. Kovac, Radomir (Srbinje) 7. Kolundzija, Radomir (Srbinje) 8. Kos, Milojica (Prijedor) 9. Krajisnik, Momcilo (Serbian Sarajevo) 10. Krnojelac, Milorad (Srbinje) 11. Krstic, Radislav (Sokolac) 12. Kunarac, Dragoljub (Srbinje) 13. Nikolic, Dragan (Vlasenica) 14. Obrenovic, Dragan (Zvornik) 15. Plavsic, Biljana (Sarajevo) 16. Prcac, Dragoljub (Prijedor) 17. Radic, Mladjo (Prijedor) 18. Sikirica, Dusko (Prijedor) 19. Simic, Blagoje (Samac) 20. Simic, Milan (Samac) - since April 19, 2000 defending himself while at liberty 21. Stakic, Milomir (Prijedor) 22. Tadic, Dusko (Prijedor) - serving his sentence in Germany 23. Tadic, Miroslav (Samac) - since April 19, 2000 defending himself while at liberty 24. Talic, Momir (Banja Luka) 25. Todorovic, Stevan (Samac) 26. Vasiljevic, Mitar (Visegrad) 27. Vukovic, Zoran (Srbinje) 28. Zigic, Zoran (Prijedor) 29. Zaric, Simo (Samac) - since April 19, 2000 defending himself while at liberty * * * * * Loneliness worse than imprisonment "To what extent they are guilty is known only to God," says Father Vojislav Bilbija, the priest of the Serbian Orthodox Church parish of Rotterdam and the spiritual pastor of the Orthodox Serbs imprisoned in The Hague. "Loneliness and the feeling that they have been forgotten by everyone is the most difficult thing of all for them," said Father Vojo (Vojislav) of the suffering of the Hague prisoners. While prisoners of Croatian and Muslim nationality who are imprisoned with them are considered to be national heroes by their respective environments, receive abundant legal and material assistance from their governments and bags of mail from their compatriots every week, it appears that both their compatriots and their state wants to forget about the Serbs in the Hague. "Their only connection with the world is "plastic". They spend all their money on telephone calls to their families," says Father Voja. "What is most necessary and significant for them is a warm word, a letter, an indication that someone is thinking of and empathizes with them," he says, refusing to comment on current political affairs. He only mentions briefly that individual prisoners have told him that their indictments are so unbelievable that the only thing left for them to do during court trials is smile bitterly. "Those who live a spiritual life endure everything more easily and find meaning in their imprisonment," says Father Voja. The Serbs imprisoned in The Hague will welcome all correspondence with joy. You can write to them at the following address: Stevan J. Todorovic Penitentiary Complex Scheveningen United Nations Detention Unit 2597 JW The Hague NETHERLANDS Stevan Todorovic will gladly share your letter with his fellow prisoners. You can also send your correspondence to the following fax: +31-70-358-5375 The prison administration reviews all correspondence. * * * * * Message from the Hague prison: Respected former, current and future friends, Even after 857 days spent in the most modern legal-psychological-political laboratory, one continues to nurture a happy disposition, and the belief that he is not alone and that good people exist. That one has friends. Far fewer than in times when we pounded our chests and patted each other on the shoulder... but, nevertheless, you do exist! Hague prisoner Stevan J. Todorovic * * * * * This message was prepared for publication on the Internet by the editors of Amselfeld.com which reports on events in Kosovo and Metohija and in other Serbian lands in the German language. http://www.amselfeld.com [EMAIL PROTECTED] Translated by S. Lazovic (July 2, 2001) Serbian News Network - SNN [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.antic.org/
