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Friday, March 26, 1999 Published at 22:21 GMT


Sci/Tech

Net shows Kosovo emotions

Radio B92 has been closed down but not in the virtual world

By Internet Correspondent Chris Nuttall

As foreign journalists are expelled from Yugoslavia and the authorities clamp down on domestic media, the Internet is becoming the focus for uncensored reports on the effects of the Nato bombings.

The independent radio station B92 in Belgrade was closed again on Wednesday by the government. But its Internet site has continued to publish the latest news in text, audio and video. On Friday afternoon, it reported fresh air raid sirens on the streets of Belgrade.

Support for B92

A support group has been set up in the Netherlands for the station and its Website is mirroring the news from Belgrade.

Kosovo: Special Report
"In light of the current tense situation it is very likely that the possibilities of B92 and other independent radio stations to continue their independent news services will be extremely limited," it says.

"The support group therefore intends to take measures to distribute news by and about B92 and other independent journalists from Serbia and Kosovo from Amsterdam."

It was after a similar closure in 1996 that the station decided to launch a Website with a text and audio service in order to get round censorship.

B92 was launched in 1989. It is one of the three most popular stations in Belgrade and has also become an Internet service provider.

Kosovo monk reports on bombing

In Kosovo, a monk at a 14th Century Serbian Orthodox monastery has been providing accounts of the military action.

Father Sava Janjic at the Visoki Decani monastery maintains a Website, a mailing list and even a chat room.

On Thursday he wrote: "Our monastery and my brotherhood are safe so far although the monastery has been flooded with Serb refugees who had been expelled by KLA from their homes during the previous months.

"We are constantly receiving news from the ground. Despite the official promises by the Western governments that the attacks will be launched against military targets only, several civilian areas have already been hit by cruise missiles including the village of Gracanica where one of the most sacred Serb Orthodox monasteries is situated."

E-mails from the air raid shelters

BBC News Online has received more than 7,000 e-mails since the bombings began. Although there was support at first, around 80% are now against the military action.

Reaction has come from as far afield as Tanzania, the Seychelles, Barbados and Vietnam. But thousands have come from Europe, a huge number against the bombing from Greece, and hundreds from the .yu domain of Serbia and Montenegro.

"I wish Tony Blair could spend one night watching his kids crying with fright in an air-raid shelter," said one.

Eighteen-year-old Nadya from Belgrade wrote: "World, do you know that we are almost day and night in bomb shelters ... Kosovo for Serbs is like Jerusalem for Jews! And Albanians came on Kosovo many centuries after!

" World, where are children and civil rights? I'm 18, do you know how I feel? I can hear alarm for air attack right now! WORLD, CAN'T YOU HEAR IT?!"

  • The BBC's Serbian, Albanian and Macedonian service broadcasts are available in the On Air section of this site.




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29 Mar 99 | Europe
Your views on Kosovo

24 Mar 99 | Europe
Radio B92 - off the air but on the Net





Internet Links


B92 Support Group

Father Sava's e-mail

Orthodox Diocese of Raska and Prizren

Radio B92

BBC Serbian, Albanian and Macedonian broadcasts


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