Whom Does the KLA Represent? (was Re: Protest against the Bombing)

[Johannes Schneider]

Yoshie Furuhashi wrote:
> Thanks for info. Is there anyone else protesting the Bombing on the street
> among listers? We in Columbus, Ohio had another demonstration today and
> about 60 people (local socialists of various stripes, religious lefties,
> libertarians, anarchist punks, anti-imperialist veterans, etc.) showed up.
> Lots of drivers honked in support of the protest (to my surprise). Hey,
> American people turn out to be smarter than some harf-baked
> 'left'-business-observers here!
Just an update from Munich: Yesterday there was a protest of around 200
people from the various 'hard-left' organizations in the center of town.
In Berlin there is going to be a (bigger) demonstration on Saturday.
>
> The KLA, in my opinion, does not represent the interests of
> anyone--including Albanians in Kosovo--anywhere except their own. It's a
> creation of right-wingers, Albanians, Americans, and others, who see a
> benefit in further fragmenting what's left of Yugoslavia, for economic and
> military purposes (the most important of which is to extend the US/NATO's
> reach to the East, while giving Americans and Europeans an impression that
> the NATO must continue its existence even after the collapse of the Soviet
> Union and other socialist countries). Those who think that the KLA is an
> entity representing the interests of people in Kosovo should think again
> and at least check who is financing the KLA, in what manner, and for what
> purposes.

 I dont doubt the financing of the KLA, but I think things are more
complicated. The KLA is not a monolithic bloc, but rather a very
heterogenous movement. The left wing inside the KLA is arguing, that NATO
bombs are dirceted against Serbs and Kosvorians as well.
Furthermore I think we should not confuse the Kosvorians right to
self-determination with the character of the KLA.
Johannes