From: chetnik@infopls.chi.il.us (Andre Popov)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.yugoslavia
Subject: A. Popov (AKA: Chetnik) and his posts etc..ALL READ THIS
Date: Sat, 21 Nov 92 00:00:19 CST
Organization: INFOPLUS support, Wheeling, IL

     *           . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     
      * * * * *       . *                                         * .
        * * *         .            THE SERBIAN DEFENDER             .
     * * * * * *      .           ----------------------            .
    * * * * * * *     .     The official online publication of      .
      * * * * *       .     -The Serbian-American Online Info-      .
        * * *         .                 -Exchange-                  .
      * * * * *       .               (708) 581-1735                .
          *           .                P.O. Box 362                 .
Dedicated to Truth    . *          Skokie, IL. 60076-0362         * .
     Justice          . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
      Peace                       
    Democracy                 ISSUE #:PROCLMTN       DATE:11/19/92
        &                 TITLE: PROCLAMATION TO INTERNET USERS      
    Freedom!!             ORIGIN/AUTHOR: A.P.                         
=======================================================================
                       
                       I M P O R T A N T      
                       = = = = = = = = =
 
                TO ALL INTERNET USERS,
              READERS OF SOC.CULTURE.BOSNA-HERZGVNA
                READERS OF SOC.CULTURE.YUGOSLAVIA
                    
               FROM A. POPOV <--> TO ALL READERS
  
                     OPENING STATEMENT
 It has come to my attention that some people just can't handle the
content of the messages I've been posting, my handle (Chetnik), or
me at all. This concerns me greatly.
           
          THE SERBIAN-AMERICAN ONLINE INFO. EX. RELEASES
 Messages that I post with the above title heading are for informative
purposes. If they are news articles, the source and date is always
mentioned. Nothing is fabricated. If they are views/opinons and such,
the author's name is always given. Articles exposing the "untold"
story are usually selected, as you can read about the plights of Muslims
and Croatians (and countless others) in the world media, while the
plights of the Serbs are going virtually unnoticed. Everyone in the
former Yugoslavia is a victim of the war -- and no single group can
be singled out as "victim" or "aggressor." It is our (S.A.O.I.E.) goal
to provide you with information that will help you to understand just
what is going on in the former Yugoslavia and why. While there are 
many who will disagree with what is stated, if you'd take the time to
do some research you can judge for yourself. The validity of historical
information printed in the releases of the Serbian-American Online
Info. Ex. are unquestionable. That does not mean that you should
not question it. Feel free to research the information provided and you
can then make the judgement. We at the S.A.O.I.E. have done our
homework, and find the information provided reliable. We urge all who
question our releases (in the U.S.) to use the Freedom of Information
Act and request official government records and files from the
appropriate agencies. Remember, there are 2 sides to every story, and
we're giving you the other side. As Peter Brock, an American Journal-
ist, frequent visitor of Yugoslavia, now political editor of the El
Paso Daily Herald wrote on 7/16/92, "Today only half of the Yugoslav
story is being told to Western audiences - the Croatian side."
 Please do not hold me accountable for what you read from the 
S.A.O.I.E. unless it specifically states that I wrote it myself,
which is very seldom to ever occur. For example, I have gotten many
replies regarding news articles and the Congressional Report given
before Congress by Rep. Jim Moody of Wisconsin. I did not write these
articles or reports - I am simply distributing them to say. How do
you expect me to answer questions on things are not even mine?
Suppose I criticized you for a speech made by President Bush - that
in effect is what is happening here. If I did not write the article,
please don't burden me with lengthy responses - send them to the 
source. Although I appreciate feedback, I don't have time to argue on
behalf of someone else.
 
                         MY HANDLE - CHETNIK
 You may think differently of the Chetniks than I, or you may not 
even know what or who the Chetniks were/are. Now this is a
controvercial topic, and everyone (Serbs, Croats, Muslims etc.) has
their own version of who the Chetniks are and what. But let me tell
you what the U.S. said of them. In 1948, President Harry S. Truman
awarded the Chetnik leader Gen. Mihailovic with the Legion of Merit.
There is an official Chetnik day marked in Chicago - proclaimed by
former Mayor Edward J. Kelly. A memorial to the Chetniks is being
erected in Washington D.C. to honor the U.S.'s allies during WW II.
This memorial is not being erected by Serbs, but rather by U.S.
veterans of WW II, prominent Congressmen, and government officials
in recognition of one of our greatest allies.
 What you know or think of the Chetniks may or may not be true. If
you don't believe what I've wrote - feel free to research from a
credible source. Don't simply believe what I, the S.A.O.I.E., or
anyone else for that matter tells you. That is the whole problem,
we tend to believe everything. Read the Report of Commission of
Inquiry -- of the -- Committee For A Fair Trial For Draja Mihail-
ovich put together by a U.S. Congressional commission. It is as
unbiased as it could possibly get - detailing just about everything
there is to know. Some call the Chetniks Nazis, fascists, etc. etc.
Those people either have been brought up that way, or are simply
ignorant. Whatever the reason - they don't know the TRUTH.
For those of you that are offended by my use of CHETNIK, I am sorry.
I am also sorry that you don't know know (or don't want to know) 
the truth. I have posted a messaged titled The Chetniks in regards
to who and what they were/are.
 
                         CONFLICTING IDEAS
 There are many Croats, Muslims, Serbs etc. etc. posing in these
various message bases - each working to further their own cause. I
respect this. Wether I believe what others say or not - everyone
is entitled to say as they wish. We all have our beliefs, deeply
rooted within us, and we are unlikely to change them. I came here
to further the Serbian cause in general. But I also work for 
certain aspects of the Croatian and Bosnian Muslim causes also.
This may seem odd, but it shouldn't. I want to see all these 
countries free and democratic -- I want to see justice, which in
my opinon isn't being served. I want to expose what I and many 
others consider as being the TRUTH. But what is the truth? The
fact of the matter is, everyone fighting in the former Yugoslavia
is guilty, and everyone is a victim -- but some parties hold more
guilt and suffering than others. As a French journalist recently
said in an interview, "The truth is disturbing to all sides in this
war...and nobody wants the truth to get out." I agree with this
statement. I was very disturbed to learn of the POW camps run by
Bosnian Serbs for Croatians and Muslims. This is unjust, and should
be dealt with harshly. But if justice is to be served, then the
Croatian-run, and Muslim-run POW camps for Serbs should also be
dealt with harshly. Human Rights abuses are widespread in the former-
Yugoslavia, and no side is immaculate of them. But as I said, some
are more to blame than others. This policy of "ethnic cleansing" is
to be harshly condemned and should in no way be permitted. The UN has
confirmed that militias from all sides have taken up this dreadful
tactic, and should be condemned. Innocent people of all sides are
suffering, children and adults alike. Nobody deserves such a fate.
That's where my next point comes along...
 
                   STOP THE MADNESS
  I did not come to exchange insults, racist remarks, death threats,
etc. Yet, this is what I've been receiving from numerous people. 
To put it bluntly, CUT THE S@IT. Those of you out there know who
you are. There is enough pain and suffering going on in the
former Yugoslavia and we don't need to spread it and the hate
around. I have no problems with others working for their causes,
and I ask the same respect for myself. These USENET bases give
us the opportunity to discuss events taking place in our home lands
like civilized people -- we are given the chance to do something
our leaders couldn't really do -- TALK. There is no need to
further the madness. I don't appreciate being called a "beast" or
"Serbian scum" by various people here. Who are you to judge me?
If we can't communicate like sensible human beings, then I ask you
to go your own way, and leave me to go mine. We don't have to live
together, communicate, but we have to RESPECT one another. I
call upon all of the Serbs, Croats, Muslims and any other parties out
there to come to an understanding that there is no need to spread the
violence and hatred which have started the conflicts. We have a
unique chance to debate and discuss important issues to us without
resolving them with guns. There's been enough of that. 
                      INCREASE THE PEACE
  As Rodney King said, "Can't we get along..?" Those of us that are
Christians here (e.x. Serbs and Croats) believe in the same God, same
Jesus Christ, we exchange wishes of PEACE and JOY at Christmas time,
yet some of us are not sincere. Hypocrites! There is no reason why
we can't co-exist peacefully..but all that is up to the politicians
back in the homelands. It is up to us to see to it that we here on
the Internet peacefully co-exist and cut the garbage that I've seen
circulating around. These death threats and such are very serious
matters, and I in NO way appreciate them. For those of you that deal
with such matters -- ask yourselves, "What has this man ever done to
me, besides fighting for his own cause?" I have nothing against you
people out there posting messages to further a cause which you see
noble and just, and I don't see why you should see otherwise of mine?
You catch what I'm saying? RESPECT is the term to remember.
I don't have the time or will to deal with extremeists who will stop
at nothing to vent their anger and rage at someone. I have done
NOTHING to NOBODY and ask you to take that into consideration when
leaving me your heart warming replies (you know who you are).
 
                       CLOSING
 I hope that a peaceful sollution to the Yugoslav crisis as it has 
come to be called, is found and I am working towards this goal.
 I hope that you come to a better understanding of the former
Yugoslavia and her peoples as a result of these USENET bases.
 I hope that you won't let yourselves become secceptible to lies
and misinformation from ANYONE. Remember that education is the key
to understanding.
 I ask all of you to maintain a civilized and humane tone when
posting messages.
 In closing, I leave you all with the wish of freedom, peace,
democracy, freedom, and justice FOR ALL!
                           GOD SAVE US!
                                                 Sincerely,
                                                Andre Popov

--
chetnik@infopls.chi.il.us (Andre Popov)
Infoplus BBS, +1 708 537 0247, v32bis. Home of Infoplus.