Daily Entry




May 19, 2000

I'm ok but situation isn't..
I'm writing what is going on...

Last night protest were more violent. Around 20,000 people gathered at 7pm to listen the street news from reporters of Studio B TV which has been shut down. Around 8pm protestors started a protest walk but soon were caught in between cordons of police who last night, were beating everyone everywhere.

They even got into the bookshops, McDonald's restaurant and beat up people!

Lot of people got hurt in panic because police threw tear-bombs and then everyone started to run in different directions and policemans had masks so there was no problem for them at all.

One young man was injured really bad. He was driving his car, police stopped him get him out and beat him until he lost his consciousness and they left him on the street.

Crowd hid everywhere, even in the City Hall where also was the temporal emergency space for wounded.

The worst thing is that all of this info I found out on the Internet on the site www.freeserbia.net because there is not a way for you to find out what is going on IN YOUR CITY because they shut down the independent media!!!!

So on satellite channels only BBC I think said something about it or to search on the net and click on reload every minute to see what is new.

BLIC newspapers do not exist (only 4 pages they publish). Studio B now runs RTS programme news. Radio stations do not say anything and the ones who would say are closed.

Radio Pancevo can't be heard anymore here.

It is unbelievable.

From today opposition leaders will go to food markets in the morning in Belgrade and spread the informations and flyers of what is going on because people do not know.

They (police) were chasing anyone, no matter where you were or what you do.

We are in the dark room right now we hear first from outside media then ours. I feel scared more and more what will happen and is this the closest to the civil war?

Will police and army go against its people?

Mow more and where to are they heading with this?

We will see what will happen today and the days ahead.

Katarina