| Belgrade Bullets |
17 March 2003
|
Mob Rubs Out Serbian PM
The assassination of Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic will not go down in history as the most famous political murder involving a Serb; Archduke Ferdinand's death in 1914 retains that title. However, the murder of Djindjic does suggest that Serbia is in for a nasty time of things. The saddest part of all is that it may take another strongman like Tito to prevent the destruction of the country.
At fault here are the hyper-nationalists who had Mr. Djindjic killed by members of the local Mafia. His reformist stance and war on smuggling gave them an excuse. Nor has he ever been forgiven by many for handing war criminal Slobodon Milosevic over the the UN for trial. The fact that he did so for $1.2 billion in aid gained him accolades at home, even if it colors his decency from abroad.
The trouble with an assassination is, of course, its deterent effect on successors who whould pursue the same policies. Yet Serbia is in desperate need of reform, and with warlords and mobsters thick on the ground, it is unlikely to get it. The conditions are perfect for a dictator to step in.