------------------------- Via Workers World News Service Reprinted from the Dec. 5, 2002 issue of Workers World newspaper -------------------------
BELGRADE PROTEST DEMANDS RELEASE MILOSEVIC By John Catalinotto Efforts to win the release of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic from his prison in The Hague have increased since early November, when dangers to his health became apparent. They include a demonstration of thousands in Belgrade on Nov. 19. Milosevic faces charges for alleged war crimes during NATO's wars on the Balkans. Defending himself since the trial opened last February, the former Yugoslav leader has often been able to turn the tables on NATO. What began as a show trial against Milosevic has been virtually ignored by the establishment media since his self-defense has been so convincing. Milosevic, who has heart and high blood pressure problems, has endured life in a small cell with little chance for exercise or decent food as he prepares for daylong court sessions with the minimum of legal assistance. On top of this constant threat to his health, doctors of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia gave him improper medicine earlier in November, according to the Nov. 22 NRC Handelsblad, a Dutch newspaper. Called on only a few days' notice, the Nov. 19 protest was on the occasion of a meeting of United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan with representatives of the current Yugoslav government. According to spokespeople for SLOBODA (Freedom), the group calling the action with the support of the Socialist Party of Serbia, the nationalists and other patriotic parties, more than 10,000 people took part. Protesters in this "Liberty for Slobo" rally included the Serbian nationalist Vojislav Seselj, who is running in the election for the Serbian presidency against Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica. Milosevic's wife, Mira Markovic, and others from his family were also present. Other speakers included a famous basketball player, a bishop, a professor of medicine and several well-known writers. Supporters of Milosevic also demonstrated against NATO in Prague with others protesting the eastward expansion of the aggressive military pact. The committee asks that messages demanding proper medical care for Milosevic and his release from prison be sent to: Sergio Vieira de Mello, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, OHCHR-UNOG, 8-14 Avenue de la Paix, 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland; fax 4122 917 9022; or e-mail tb- [EMAIL PROTECTED] - END - (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 e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe [EMAIL PROTECTED] Support the voice of resistance http://www.workers.org/orders/donate.php) ------------------ This message is sent to you by Workers World News Service. To subscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To switch to the DIGEST mode, E-mail to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Send administrative queries to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
