Milosevic funeral

[nikita**]

"As a war criminal, his body should be cremated in secret, with no ceremony or family members allowed to attend ". Unfortunately, there seems to be plenty of support in Serbia for a funeral.(Definitely won't go there for my hols)

[Oneeyedvic]

"As a war criminal" - sorry, I thought he was on trial for war crimes but died before the trial finished.

[nikita**]

War crimes - war criminal - you know what I mean. Whatever, he seems to be seen as a martyr in his country.

[Oneeyedvic]

Sorry, you seem to misunderstand. He was on trial but not found guilty. Since in this country people are innocent until found guilty, he is not a war criminal and hence shouldn't be treated as one.

With regard to how he is seen in his own country (and I assume you mean Serbia - he was president of Yugoslavia), I guess that is open to interpretation and media bias.

The BBC report: "A few thousand people have paid their respects to Mr Milosevic's coffin, which has been on display at a Belgrade museum since Thursday.

However, most people in Serbia have greeted Mr Milosevic's death with a resolute indifference, the BBC's Allan Little in Belgrade reports. "

In a similar way to this countries war on Iraq, most people I know said they were against it and there was an unprecedented march in London. Some people will remain convinced thought that the majority of people were for the war.

Who knows the truth? People see what they want to see and hear what they want to hear.

[noxlumos]

As oneyedvic points out he's not a convicted war criminal and the people of Serbia have the right to feel however they wish, just like the rest of us, they don't need your permission, my permission or anyone else's.He also has a family who doubtless mourn him as a husband and father rather than a a state leader/murderer/warcriminal/all round nasty bloke, so as he's dead I personally wouldn't presume to try to dictate what is done with his body by his family.At the end of the day he's no-one important anymore and if some see him as a martyr as some doubtless will, lets not give them any more asmmunition for that by behaving badly with what is in effect just an old man's dead body.

[nikita**]

Well he got out of being convicted just like Hitler did. Where are all his henchmen now? No doubt, some see him as a martyr and will try to raise his ugly head again.

[scotstone]

If Britain had been defeated in the second world war both Churchill and 'Bomber' Harris would have been condemned as war criminals by Nazi Germany although we considered them heroes. Presumably some in Serbia regard Milosevic different to us and therefore should be allowed to do as they wish with his remains.

[nikita**]

Excuse me, but Hitler was trying to wipe out a race. Same a Milosevic. You cannot compare the a war situation with someone's personal intentions of ethnic cleansing.

[spacechimp]

You just put Churchill in the same league as Hitler and Milosevic?? If the people of Serbia see Milosevic as a hero they are sadly ignorant. Also, there is no doubt that Milosevic would have been found guilty; there is proof of his crimes.

[jump79]

Oneeyedvic- I think, by saying "since he wasn't found guilty, he shouldn't be treated like a war criminal', you are belittling what he actually did.

The bodies and mass graves that were found are physical proof of the crimes he committed (and there's not a shadow of doubt that he is totally responsible for them, him being President at the time) and the trial that has been going on was merely a legal procedure, to bring him to justice in the public's view (basically, us acting civilised in the face of the barbarity Milosevic showed).

I don't really care what people do with his remains or about his funeral. But I think people should not make light of what evil he did, just because he has "cheated" trial and was hence, not found guilty.

[scotstone]

You seem to have misunderstood again. I wasn't defending Milosevic or condemning Churchill and Harris but pointing out that, to many Serbians, Milosevic was not a war criminal and we should return his body to them.

[nikita**]

You have gotten into a real twist about this. Who cares what supporters for Milosevic thinks? Just the same, who cares about the Far Right views on Hitler? They openly did what they did and their supporters are totally ignorant or blind, in which case racism will rear its ugly head again.

[geo0939]

Lets have some common sense here, reading some of these previous postings one could be forgiven for thinking that the man was whiter than white. Has anyone else noticed that he complained to the Russians, just about the time he "died", regarding his medical treatment. Isn't it just possible that he knew the game was up and he wasn't about to go quietly. As far as "innocent untill proven guilty" goes I think the case against him was more or less proven.

[scotstone]

As you have ceased to carry out reasonable debate and resort to hysterical outburst I think it is time this thread was terminated.

[geo0939]

scotstone, since you didn't initiate this thread, what makes you think you have the right to decide when it should be terminated? Perhaps you have some position of authority on AB, if so please explain.

[geo0939]

PS. I'm also curious about which outbursts are the hysterical ones?

[nikita**]

Scotstone, think - before you state anything. How can you accuse Geo0939 of behaving hysterically. It was only a response to your comment and I understand what he means.

So, you cannot exterminate this thread.

[scotstone]

Geo I wasn't referring to your post which was perfectly acceptable. My comment was aimed at the dogmatic immature replies from Nikita.

[nikita**]

OMG, are you stirring things again? WHat have I said that has upset you? I thought it was you who sounded dogmatic.

[noxlumos]

Nikita, It's not for you to say "who cares what anybody else thinks" is it? Obviously it's important what the Serbians think, he was their leader not yours or mine. I personally think he was a reprehensible scumball, but I'm not Serbian so really that's a moot point.As soon as you start not considering anyone's opinions but your own you are on a very slippery slope and if people disagree with you you do come off sometimes as quite aggressive and dogmatic, no offence intended.

[nikita**]

How can a person who has carried out ethnic cleansing, be talked about on this site as if he is whiter than white until proven guilty? His supporters feel that he should have carried oun his tyranical, milatary operation. SHould I care about that. Yes, to the point where I dont care about those supporters and there is nothing wrong with that. Geo0939 gave a good explanation.