The Guardian 15 March, 2006
Letter from Belgrade:
The situation in Serbia
For four and a half decades, we had lived in socialism which had hundreds of faults and thousands of virtues. Now we have been forced into wild capitalism with thousands of faults and no virtues whatsoever.
Socialism in our country was a nascent social order. It had to overcome the burdensome consequences of the First and Second World Wars, countless inherited problems and capitalist blockade. It had to set aside great resources for its defence. Consequently, and naturally, there was no abundance. Nevertheless, there always was money for all the necessities, for every individual in society. Now, an overwhelming majority of the population has no employment and will not have it while the vassal bourgeoisie is in power, installed by NATO bayonets and dollars.
By the policies of this vassal regime and the NATO countries, Yugoslavia has ceased to exist. As a result of NATO aggression, Kosovo and Metohija are occupied and transformed into the largest military base of the NATO Pact in Europe.
With the adoption of the unconstitutional law of co-operation with the Hague Tribunal, the vassal regime has in fact legalised NATO aggression against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
In nearly six years of the present regime, more people have lost their lives than in all the misfortunes of the 45 years of socialism.
Under the rule of the vassal regime, our country has become the most impoverished country in Europe.
Foreign debt has reached nearly US$16 billion. An average Yugoslav four-member family, now owes more than US$8,500. Imports are covered by only 20 percent (of exports) and the foreign trade deficit amounts to over US$6 billion.
More than 60 percent of industrial capacity is not utilised or is only partially utilised or is shut down. Close to 40,000 companies are in receivership or close to it.
All large companies (or practically all) were sold for a pittance to foreign capital or the emerging domestic bourgeoisie and during this whole time, not a single large industrial enterprise has been built. All large enterprises had been built during socialism.
The number of unemployed exceeds two million people. The average wage of those employed, amounts to considerably less than US$2 per day.
The working class is deprived of rights and converted to day labourers of foreign capitalists and the domestic mafia. With the support of corrupted union leaders, Europe’s most reactionary labour laws were enacted.
By the privatisation of state, social and co-operative property, foreign and newly emerged domestic capitalists have stolen from our people that which was created over decades by the sweat and blood of our ancestors, our fathers and mothers and by ourselves.
The regime has adopted a law by which participation in elections is being paid by several tens of thousands of euros.
CC League of Yugoslavian Communist Youth (SKOJ)
skoj05@yahoo.com
N.B. This letter was received prior to the death of Slobodan Milosevic.