Atrocities are work of men

If we take a closer look at the present catastrophes in the world -- the war in Kosovo, the clashes between India and Pakistan and the social turbulence in Indonesia -- then we will detect that they are all men's works. Man in his intolerance will create his own or his fellowman's destruction.

Let's take a look at the war in Kosovo. Half a century ago, under the leadership of Gen. Tito, Yugoslavia (during World War II) was one nation (including the present day Serbia, Macedonia, Croatia, Montenegro etc.) living in harmony and peace. During World War II, they fought as one nation against Hitler. But when Tito died the nation fell apart and was divided into many states. Afterwards all the troubles began.

Recently the atrocities by Serbia under the leadership of Milosevic erupted in Kosovo with the result that more than one million Kosovars have fled as refugees to neighboring countries such as Macedonia and Albania. Then NATO joined the fray, and when Milosevic stubbornly persisted with his ethnic cleansing, NATO began to drop bombs on Serbian territory for two months at a stretch, reducing Serbian cities to rubble heaps. Only when his own house was obliterated by the bombing did Milosevic give in and instruct his troops to pull back from Kosovo.

Now the tide of war has turned. Kosovars are going back to Kosovo, while Serbians begin to leave, afraid of the Kosovo Liberation Army's (KLA) revenge. A question which bothers me is: If Kosovars and Serbians had the same religion -- Serbians are Christian Orthodox and Kosovars are Muslims -- perhaps this war would not have occurred.

A. DJUANA

Jakarta