Families who fled the troubled Balkans tell STACEY BODGER of their joy that Slobodan Milosevic's hated rule has come to an end.
Jasmina Avdovic's contempt for former Yugoslav leader Slobodan Milosevic was sealed several years ago when she saw him on television, denying to the world that Serbia was at war.
From
her family's home close to the border with Bosnia, Mrs Avdovic could see thousands of Serb soldiers marching towards the border.
"They were going to kill and slaughter and it made me very certain that Milosevic was at no time president for me."
On Friday, Mrs Avdovic sat glued to the television set in her Auckland home, hardly daring to believe reports that the dictator had been deposed.
But as she watched thousands of people burning the Parliament in Belgrade, she realised her family's long-held dream had come true.
"My family is so happy that there is now a chance for everything in my country to get better. Things that Milosevic did, I know that animals would never do to other animals."
Mrs Avdovic and her Muslim family - husband Suad, parents Osmana and Mehmed Mandal and two younger brothers - spent nearly a year in a Sarajevo refugee camp.
They were granted refugee status in New Zealand 10 months ago and now live in Panmure.
Mr Mandal said Serbs had endured nearly 15 years of "this evil" at the hands of Milosevic and would take a decade to recover.
"To hear he is gone is hard to believe but we are still very [fearful] for our family back in Serbia.
"My country is very destroyed and my relatives cannot imagine what it is like to rest easy," he said through Mrs Avdovic.
Although the family are excited over the revolution in Belgrade, they are worried about Serbia's future. "There may be new leaders but we have been told so many lies ... It is hard not to be suspicious."
Fellow Serb Jelena Stojanovic, now living in Milford, said she was "so joyous" to hear of Milosevic's downfall.
Mrs Stojanovic left Serbia for New Zealand nearly four years ago, after mass demonstrations in Belgrade following "controlled" elections.
"We decided that we didn't want to live in that crazy country, under that man who did so many bad things to Serbian people.
"I have been ringing my husband all day because this is very, very big news - nearly all people hate Milosevic and have waited for this to happen.
"He did many bad things to Serbian people and I believe that nearly all Serbs hate him," Mrs Stojanovic said.
In Pakuranga, Kosovar refugees Xhevat and Ylfete Murati followed the events in Belgrade via the internet and by e-mailing friends in Kosovo.
Mr Murati said the end of Milosevic's rule provided huge hope for people in the Balkans.
"He represented a very big part about what was wrong - but this is not the full solution."
The Muratis hoped that Kosovo would gain independence but said they would never leave New Zealand to return home.
"What Milosevic has done will take many years to sort out," Mr Murati said, "and we are very grateful that it is now not our problem."
Herald Online feature: Revolution in Yugoslavia
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Otpor: Serbian Student Resistance Movement
Families who fled the troubled Balkans tell STACEY BODGER of their joy that Slobodan Milosevic's hated rule has come to an end.
Jasmina Avdovic's contempt for former Yugoslav leader Slobodan Milosevic was sealed several years ago when she saw him on television, denying to the world that Serbia was at war.
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