We would like to remind everyone that all the kidnapped had one thing in common - none of them were of Serbian nationality. Today, the same thing is happening to those in Kosovo who are not of Albanian nationality. The spiral of violence and vengeance continues…
The kidnapping in Strpci was the beginning of ethnic cleansing, symbolically announcing constant waves of violence focused against the others and the different. From violence against the ethnically and religiously different, the regime switched to violence against those who think different politically. In this moment, the most frequent victims of the regime's attack are the independent media.
The violence will continue in Serbia as long as we do not recognize the issue of responsibilities for crimes that have been and still are being committed against the different, as well as responsibilities of those who have spread the ideas of ethnically, religiously, ideologically and politically homogenized Serbia. The responsibility of all those involved in the kidnapping in Strpci and of all who covered up its most tragic consequences, has to become an issue, because today Serbia must find the strength to face all the delusions of its recent past, and to turn to the future, which will be free of terror, fear and violence.
We will express our protest against the crime in Strpci, against all the crimes of kidnapped people, and against the terror of the current regime, on February 23, 2000 from 15:30 to 16:30, on Republic square in Belgrade.
Women in Black
Group 484
Yugoslav Law Committee for Human Rights
21 February 2000