URGENT APPEAL: PROTEST THE ILLEGAL ABDUCTION OF FORMER PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC AND REMIND THE WORLD OF THE REAL CRIMES COMMITTED BY NATO
June 29, 2001
Dear Friend of Yugoslavia and of Truth,
We are writing because we need your help!
Former U.S. Attorney General and human rights activist Ramsey Clark is in Belgrade With him is IAC West Coast coordinator Gloria La Riva, a videographer who produced the world-renowned film, NATO Targets. Both had been under NATO bombs twice in 1999 to show their solidarity with Yugoslavia. They returned two days ago to again show support for the struggle against the re-colonization of Serbia.
Mr. Clark had attempted on June 26 to fly to Belgrade to confer on former President Slobodan Milosevic’s defense. But the Yugoslav ambassador to the U.S., Milan Protic, refused to grant a visa. The delay prevented a meeting before the kidnapping and abduction of Milosevic. Ambassador Protic actually defied orders from the federal government of Yugoslavia to issue Mr. Clark a visa. Protic was following orders from other masters, those running the U.S. Even after landing in Belgrade, collaborators in Zoran Djindjic’s police force tried to put them back on the plane. Finally representatives of the Foreign Ministry were able to get through to Mr Clark. A crime ordered by Washington took place June 28 in Belgrade, the 612th anniversary of the battle of Kosovo Polje, a battle that even in defeat became a national symbol of heroic struggle against occupation and enslavement.
Mr. Milosevic, who was the elected president of Yugoslavia when this heroic land resisted 78 days of U.S./NATO bombing, was turned over to those same NATO powers by collaborators in the current government. They are selling the president and the national honor to the criminals who bombed and sanctioned the people of Yugoslavia. All people of honor must resist these acts.
Tens of thousands of people gathered in Belgrade June 29 to protest this crime. They are not necessarily supporters of Mr. Milosevic or his policies. But they all find it shameful that the person who led the defense of their country was sold out for a handful of coins. Similar loans to other countries in Eastern Europe have been Trojan horses, increasing their dependency and deepening their poverty as their riches are taken away.
A second “bombing campaign” of Yugoslavia is now underway. The phony tribunal established by the NATO countries at the Hague is planning months of bombardment with daily media lies and horror stories. Each new tale is designed to justify NATO’s war on a sovereign country that had no troops outside its own borders. Countless arrests of other patriots who dared to stand up to NATO lie ahead.
All those who defend Yugoslavia from aggression, all who fight for peace will lose if Washington, Berlin and their allies succeed in blaming Milosevic for the war against Yugoslavia. They are desperately trying to use the case against Milosevic to escape blame themselves.
The International Action Center has taken on the vital task of organizing within the United States itself a movement to protest this illegal abduction and to remind the world of the real crimes committed by NATO. We are rushing a book to the printer that gives an accurate record of NATO’s bombing and destruction of Yugoslavia. Regular press releases, internet work, and gathering testimony is essential in the days ahead. Otherwise the lies of the warmakers will go unanswered and unopposed.
This is a critical moment. We need your help to continue to defend Yugoslavia. Please make a generous donation to assist this work. A tax deductible contribution of $50 or more can be made out to the People’s Rights Fund / Truth for Yugoslavia Campaign. Credit card donations can be made on line at www.peoplesrightsfund.org.
At a meeting in New York on Thursday, July 5 we will hear first hand from Mr. Clark and see video footage of the mass demonstrations shot by Ms. La Riva. This meeting will also include the participation of leaders of the European anti-NATO movement, uniting those on both sides of the Atlantic who held popular tribunals that condemned the NATO leaders for their war crimes against Yugoslavia.
Please come to this meeting and follow the reports on our Web site. And send your support, send the funds the International Action Center needs to carry out this struggle to get out the truth about the real war criminals. Defend Yugoslav sovereignty.
In solidarity,
Sara Flounders
Milos Raickovich
Pat Chin
Brian BeckerInternational Action Center
National: 39 West 14th Street, #206
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(415) 821-6545 Fax: (415) 821-5782Web page: www.iacenter.org
Email: iacenter@iacenter.orgRamsey Clark, Chairperson
International Action Center
39 West 14th Street, Room 206
New York, NY 10011
email: iacenter@iacenter.org
En Espanol: el_iac@yahoo.com
web: http://www.iacenter.org
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