The Mayor Cacak Affirms Having Overthrown Milosevic Cacak 8 October, 2000
(French Press Agency -- AFP)

The Mayor of Cacak, Verlimir Illic, states that he led a "commando" of more
than 2000 men which was the basis of the assault on Thursday of the
Parliament and the Television station in Belgrade. It was premeditated act
according to him with the objective of triggering the downfall of Slobodan
Milosevic. This assault took place in front of the Federal parliament at
the time when several hundred thousand people were there in an act of civil
disobedience. 

"Our action was prepared well in advance. Among my men there were
ex-parachusetts, ex officers of the army and the police as well as people
who have fought in special forces," he said in Cacak to journalists
including AFP. "A number of us had bullet proof vests and we were armed,"
said he. "Our objective was very clear. Take control of key institutions of
the regime including the Parliament and the Television station. '

He insured that "Vojislav Kostunica was in no way knowledgeable of this
action." We feared that he might oppose it." 

During these confrontations contacts were maintained regularly with senior
members of the army and the police which had already deserted Milosevic,
the Mayor stated in this city in the center of Serbia. 

"I was constantly on the telephone with a General of the Army as with as
well as with part of the hierarchy of the Ministry of the Interior. For the
moment I prefer not to mention their names," he stated. 

With regards to the first scenes of fraternization between demonstrators
and police officers which gave courage and hope to the large majority of
the demonstrators and led to destablizing forces which were still faithful
to Milosevich. Mr. Illic smiled before revealing the secret. 

"Those were our men dressed as police officers or in the uniforms of police
officers." Villic said that he wished to emphasize the anti-communist
background of his family. "My father was hanged by the reds in 1943."
During the bombings by NATO against Yugoslavia in the spring of 1999 he was
watched by the military police because he refused to be mobilized and he
hid for 40 days in a forest reinforcing his image as a rebel. In civilian
clothes, two ex parachutists, Mr. Illic's body gaurds, are guarding him in
front of his officer. Vivan Markovic, 32 years old, and Mihailo Nikolic, 29
years old, were watching over the mayor, "our hero" they say, during these
violent assaults.

"On arriving in Belgrade it was hot stuff. We had to go through two road
barriers erected by the police on the road to Belgrade," said Vivan.

"Before leaving Cacak, we assembled the local people to tell them that we
were going to die or come back victorious," said Mihailo, with emotion. "We
lost all battles which Milosevich brought us into, Slovenia, Croatia,
Bosnia and Kosovo against NATO. But we won the war against our monster,"
said Mihailo. In the hear t of Serbia, in the streets of Cacak, the
atmosphere is festive, etc. etc. 

(Article translated by Emperor's Clothes: www.emperors-clothes.com)


Louis Proyect
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