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Date:         Wed, 16 Dec 1992 19:33:00 EST
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Subject:      US Viet Vet in ex-Yugoslavia

From:   IN%"QUAKER-P@UIUCVMD.BITNET"  "Quaker concerns related to peace and soci
   al justice issues" 12-DEC-1992 12:16:30.28
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   DU"  "Earlham News Gateway"
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Subj:   US VIET VET SERBIA/CROATIA REPORT

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From: Joel Sax <jsax@IGC.APC.ORG>
Subject: US VIET VET SERBIA/CROATIA REPORT
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/* Written  8:52 pm  Dec 11, 1992 by wrlmilitary@igc.apc.org in igc:yugo.antiwar
 */
/* ---------- "US VIET VET SERBIA/CROATIA REPORT" ---------- */
GREGG PAYTON'S BRIEF REPORT ON HIS SERBIA/CROATIA TOUR, TO THE
(U.S.) WAR RESISTERS LEAGUE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE NOV. 4, 1992, NEW YORK.
A more detailed story of Gregg's trip is expected in the League's NONVIO-
LENT ACTIVIST for Jan.-Feb. 93, and likely be posted in conf:wri.news.

Gregg's first stop was in Vienna where he met with refugees from Serbia
and with some deserters.  He was surprised that with all their problems,
many were interested in learning about what happened in Los Angeles.
From there he went to Belgrade.  On the way his train was stopped at the
Hungarian border where he was questioned.  When he showed his American
passport, there was no problem.  He became aware of the prestige that an
American passport has.  In Belgrade he met some people involved in the
peace movement who appeared to be burnt out by all the problems of refu-
gees, not knowing exactly what was going on, and all the hatred on both
sides.  Gregg saw that they had little knowledge of how to organize and
rally the people.  There is no fighting in Belgrade, but the population
is very tense.  The Serbians seem to be denying inside themselves what is
going on.  They feel they must support their government even though they
may be critical of what is going on.  Sanctions are hurting them -- no
gasoline, food shortages, inflation.  They don't feel part of the war and
don't understand why they should have to suffer.

Gregg appeared on local TV and was interviewed on radio shows.  Gregg
found that there was no real relationship between veterans and the peace
people as there is in the US.

After Belgrade, Gregg went on to Novi Sad where he met two women who had
set up a post-traumatic stress clinic.  He had a chance to exchange with
them ideas and experiences.  He found the people very confused on what
was going on.  Everyone had a different explanation of what they thought
was going on.

On to Zagreb where Gregg saw many refugees and veterans suffering from
post-traumatic stress.  The peace movement people are overworked in the
refugee camps.  One senses trauma in the whole society.  It seems
everyone smokes and the use of alcohol is excessive.  There is a general
feeling of helplessness.

In Croatia the people want the US to provide guns to kill Serbs; in
Serbia they want sanctions lifted.

Gregg went on to Zagreb where he spoke to disabled veterans (Croatians).
Most of the questions were about why didn't the US give them guns to
fight the Serbians.  In speaking to them, Gregg spoke about his own ex-
periences and how he felt about the Vietnam war and his opposition to
war.  Though they didn't oppose Gregg's position, they were more con-
cerned about their own problems -- the need for more guns.  Many in Ser-
bia and Croatia are opposed to the war but they fear saying anything to
indicate they are not supporting their government.  Because of national
feeling they are proud to have their own government and therefore they
must support it.

Gregg went back to Vienna where the peace people are helping deserters.
He attended a large meeting with deserters and refugees.  A veteran while
talking about his experiences and the atrocities suddenly flipped out.
The people didn't know how to handle the situation.  Gregg had a long
dialogue with the veteran using his Vietnam experiences and brought the
veteran "back".  The journalists present were so moved by this that they
made it the center of their coverage.
                           ___________________