"Long live our Serbia"

Bozidar Jovicevic, 61, lives in a village near the town of Pozega. He has two daughters, both of them are married. He used to work for a military factory in Lucani. He became "interesting" for the media when he built himself a grave that he calls a mausoleum, with a five-star on top of it. He says he will hang himself when he is no longer able to contribute to Serbia's development, because he loves Serbia above all. He greets everybody by saying "Long live our Serbia and may all our enemies drop dead".

Bozidar goes to see his mausoleum at least once a week. He has his own gate to the mausoleum. On top of it is a large five-star with a lamp in it. He wants it to shine day and night. The mausoleum includes space for Zora, his wife. It is decorated with posters of Zoran Lilic and Slobodan Milosevic as well as his own photograph next to them. There is also a flag of the former Yugoslavia, candles, invalid money, an old record player, a large marble stone with his name on it, several mirrors, many posters of Slobodan Milosevic in all shapes and sizes, and an SPS membership card.

So why did he build himself a mausoleum? His father died suddenly. He has been building the mausoleum for a whole decade and he hasn't finished it yet. He wanted another floor, but he gave up because of the expenses. He reads what will be engraved in the marble stone. "Dear comrades, I send you all my greetings. I shall walk in these parts no more, so try to act like men. Long live Serbia as long as the sun shines". Why the five-star? Because he was somebody while he was a comrade. He was a Milosevic fan ever since he came to power. He is a bit angry that the Yugoslav president "allowed all this stealing", but he is convinced that "we don't have a better man at this time". He loves Serbia unreservedly. He is a pensioner and receives 1,530 dinars monthly, but thinks that they should be halved because many workers make no more than 530 dinars a month. "I will give up my entire pension for mother Serbia if need be", he says proudly.

He is still strong and healthy. He skis over the fields during the winter. He rides his bicycle and runs by the seaside during the summer. He will live as long as he is able to produce, he says. He shows us a rope. He says he will hang himself once he is no longer able to contribute to produce. But not just yet, he says. "I can see the train are running more frequently these days. I can see that Serbia is moving forward, slowly but surely".

He will simulate his funeral next year. He says that a feast for the entire village and the arrival of Lilic and Milosevic should mark the event. "I've been their fan for a very long time, they should do me the honor", he says. Bozidar has a "Serbian past". None of his ancestors died of natural causes, virtually all of them were killed in wars. However, he hates no one although many people have sent threatening letters". Who exactly?

Somebody called Aleksandar Dosenovic, residing in Germany, found out about his case in the newspapers. Jovicevic gives us the copy of Dosenovic's letter and wants us to read it out aloud.

The letter says: "Bozidar Jovicevic, you son of a f.... bitch. You communist rascal, you traitor above traitors, you bandit, you lover of the biggest enemy of the Serbian people, that dog Slobodan Milosevic. Where on earth do you live, can't you see that the Serbian people are having the worst time of their lives. And you built a bloody communist mausoleum for yourself. You won't rest in peace there you dog, that toilet of yours will be blown away. I will deal with you as soon as I set foot in Serbia for betraying the motherland and the people", the letter says. "What a fool", says Bozidar. He writes his address with the intention of sending it to his furious adversary. He can't believe the man threatened Milosevic and his wife. "All right, I don't mind if he lashes out on them, but why should he attack me, an average citizen", he wonders.