“Slobo come back, all is forgiven!”
By Tanja Djurovic
09 Nov 2000
"Slobo come back, all is forgiven!" is probably the most popular comment throughout Serbia these days, expressing in only half-jocular way the regret for former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic.
Acute dissatisfaction of Serbian people with the "Democratic opposition of Serbia" (DOS) and its new role ruling the country has been growing steadily over last few weeks, together with lawlessness, price hikes in the stores and culminating with massive power-cuts all over Serbia.
After a lot of pulling back and forth, on Nov. 5 in Belgrade a federal government was formed. With it the "power vacuum" or interregnum ended, which has been the DOS’s chief excuse for the collapse of the country’s economy and energy supply. Or better still, for their own political clumsiness and inexperience.
But the return of "law and order" with new democratic standards didn’t and seemingly won’t improve anything, and the electricity supply in Serbia is still less reliable than last year during NATO’s bombing of Yugoslavia.
Due to deficit in electric energy, a "program of selective restriction in electric energy shipment" is continuing and getting more drastic.
"We are praying to God that situation is stabilized as soon as possible" says Nenad Mrakovic, assistant director in charge of energy distribution.
While waiting for divine intervention, citizens of Serbia are directing their rage on DOS.
Disappointment is very tangible in Novi Sad, capital of Vojvodina, which seems to suffer the consequences of restrictions harder than Belgrade, just as it suffered the most during NATO bombing. Two hours of power during daylight is hardly enough to cook a meal.
Heavily pressed by "democratic darkness," citizens of Novi Sad huddle around their candles, and spend long tedious hours in discussing the present situation, cursing the "changes" and their own naivete. The counter-revolutionary mood abated, leaving room for endless meanderings, and most of all for fear.
"What are they doing to us? What is happening with that money the DOS promised, and a better life? We had electricity under Milosevic, and under NATO bombs!" says Branko Dobric, during one six-hour-long candlelight session in his house. "In the December elections, I am voting for the socialists for sure!" shouts the 22 year old student defiantly, and the candle flame wavers.
"You might just as well...We all should!" his neighbor Maja Ranisavljevic answers.
Several neighbors nod their heads approvingly.
As the evening wears on, the night chill creeps in. The candle has burned low, and even the most faithful supporters of "new democracy" begin to lose patience.
"DOS leaders promised electricity, from tomorrow for sure... Besides, they’re just waiting for help from abroad” as soon as it comes, matters will stabilize" says Slavica Ilic, but without much hope or conviction. These and similar promises have been heard every day, and been denied by grim reality.
"The European Union and International monetary fund will not give us help or credit out of the sheer goodness of their hearts, that’s for sure, and not before Yugoslavia fulfils their political and economic demands....I don’t know what made us think otherwise," retorts Marko Petrovic.
"With Slobodan Milosevic out of the way, and an obedient puppet-government comfortably installed, America can get exactly what it wants here –another colony," concludes Petrovic.
The clock strikes midnight, and electric light floods the room. Debate halts, as political opponents storm to the kitchen, in hope of hot meal and cup of coffee.
While Novi Sad citizens and the rest of "democratic Serbia" is groping its way through the darkness, DOS leaders are appealing to them to have patience and faith in changes, pleading in the meanwhile for speedy help from the "international community."
EU representatives in Belgrade are giving soothing statements in return.
"We have a whole string of donors, that will help this country, and it will survive," says Kevin Menion, representative of EU humanitarian bureau, in an interview with Reuters.
Strange enough, he says it as if "the survival" of Yugoslavia depends solely on goodwill of the EU and the U.S. administration.
But what does depend on this good will is the survival of the DOS alliance. Political and economic experts in Serbia are already predicting social unrest if power restrictions and the entire impossible social situation in the country continue.
Nevertheless, while those in charge of the electricity distribution of Serbia pray to God, and DOS leaders plead with the "international community" for money and support, a majority of Serbian people is simply praying for "Slobo" to return.
Tanja Djurovic is a Junge Welt correspondent from Belgrade.
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