Supporters of Milosevic as seen on television, wise, powerful and adored, must have suffered a terrible shock in the unexpected clash with reality and it is no wonder that they started running from the very sound of thousands of whistles
On December 28 events in Belgrade slid along the edge of catastrophe for a full eight hours. From the early morning of that day columns of buses under police escort arrived in the city. Some 50 buses from Kosovo arrived and groups of Kosovo Serbs got out with the arrogance of "Sloba’s men at rallies" and "liberators of Belgrade" who will get rid of the "fifth column and traitors"
They don't have to do anything: make banners, write out slogans, nor, god forbid, conceive them. Their only job is to appear, to lend their support and to go back. Which is what they did, inciting pity, anger and contempt
"In case the head of state tramples over the electoral will of the citizens, he thereby abolishes himself as the head of state and presents himself as the head of some kind of legal and constitutional terrorism"
In order to have a public rally, one presumably needs the public. The police can help only to a certain extent. Last Tuesday, Serbian police displayed high professional standards but couldn't replace Milosevic's supporters who didn't show up.
The author is a professor of Urban Economy at the School of Economics, University of Belgrade, member of the Initiative Board for the Defense of Democracy of the University.
"The citizens of Belgrade are asking for democratization, free media, affirmation of individual values, in order to feel more dignified and free."