General Strike Cripples Yugoslavia

Oct. 2, 2000 -- In a test of wills and power, the Yugoslav opposition — with the apparent support of the people — brought the nation to a calculated and temporary halt in its effort to drive President Slobodan Milosevic out of office.

The Democratic Opposition of Serbia (DOS) has vowed to build a general strike until Milosevic accepts what they call a crushing defeat at the polls.

Early in the morning, police found empty buses — keys missing — blocking intersections across Serbia. In most cases, they are being left in place.

Drivers have said the road blockades will last for three hours today and will be extended by an hour each day until Milosevic goes.

Police did remove license plates from vehicles taking part in the blockades, but angry crowds sought revenge, in turn pulling license plates from the police vehicles.

Still Clinging

Milosevic lost a Sept. 24 election. But while the opposition believes their candidate, Vojislav Kostunica, received more than 50 percent of the vote, the government does not — and has scheduled an Oct. 8 runoff election.

Most Western powers appear to accept the opposition claim. But Russia, a traditional Serb ally, has said the second round of elections are legitimate.

Several reports from Belgrade said more close Milosevic allies — including his chief of police — have either resigned or been replaced.

Diplomatic sources in Belgrade estimate that only 10 percent of the armed forces — mainly high-ranking officers — and less than 30 percent of the police are loyal to Milosevic.

Miners Strike

Over the weekend, mineworkers in vital coal and a copper mines locked themselves in to prevent the police from taking over the facilities, both essential to the Serb economy.

Staff at the Pencevo oil refinery and Petrohemija petrochemical plant have said they will join the strike today.

Some 700 police formed a blockade around the Kolubara coal mine, but they allowed through buses containing thousands more demonstrators — as well as food and other essential supplies — to the miners, who have been there since late Friday.

The nearby town of Lazarevac, where miners and their families live, was without electricity during the night, said opposition member Dusan Jovanovic.

“It must have been punishment that came from Belgrade because we know for sure that Obrenovac power plant has enough coal to continue production for another five days,” he said.

The mine is responsible for a third of Serbia’s electricity.

Two other coal mines, at Klenovic and Cirikovac, shut down during the night in solidarity with the Kolubara miners.

Bakers Shut for the Morning

Bakeries remained closed this morning, when most people buy bread on their way to work. They said they would open again later today because they did not want to punish the protesters.

The opposition has said hospitals and other essential facilities would retain a skeleton staff to prevent life-threatening situations.

Truck divers are already blockading some of the nation’s main roads, and public transportation was reportedly decimated.

Schools and universities, the first to close, remain shut.

Cracks in the Machine

Milosevic’s once-extensive propaganda machine appears to be showing more signs of cracking, despite the fact that the strongman has in recent months shut down almost all the stations he does not own or control.

Eight local radio stations around the country said they had stopped broadcasting official programming. The editorial staffs of several major television stations are demanding the right to broadcast news of the protest — so far banned from the nation’s televisions.

The major state-run provincial TV station at Novi Sad is balking against the broadcast of more Milosevic propaganda.

The pro-Milosevic daily Vecernje Novosti’s 50 editorial staffers have reportedly issued an ultimatum to management, demanding the right to “publish the truth about what is going on in our country.”

Milosevic has turned down an offer of mediation from his most powerful ally, Russian President Vladimir Putin. Two high-ranking Russian envoys are already in the country and are expected to have talks in Belgrade today.

Despite today’s statement from Moscow, both German and U.S. State Department sources have said Putin has acknowledged the opposition victory and is interested in getting Milosevic to step down peacefully. This could include negotiations for an exile deal. But it will likely not include an amnesty deal for Milosevic, who has been indicted for war crimes, including genocide, by the International War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague.

Reuters contributed to this report.