A QUESTION OF DESERTIONS

May 19, 1999
		The continuous air assault on Yugoslavia is taking its toll on the morale of Serb forces in Kosovo, according to NATO officials. They say as many 500 Serb soldiers have deserted the Yugoslavian Army in the war-torn province, and protests have erupted in Serb towns. --Posted 3:30pm EDT

Strikes in Yugoslavia coverage May 10, 1999: Russian and American negotiators discuss a diplomatic efforts to end the war. May 18, 1999: Public opinion polls show a growing uneasiness with NATO's bombing campaign. May 10, 1999: Two Serb POWs are freed to authorities in Yugoslavia. Complete NewsHour coverage of Europe   NATO US State Department Serbian Ministry of Information

Spokesman James Rubin said the soldiers may be returning home to protect their families from government retribution for the protests against Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic. He did not reveal his sources, but called them "credible." In Brussels, NATO officials said they too had heard the reports of desertions. In his daily military briefing, Major General Walter Jertz said low wages, fear of attack, hunger and lack of sleep may be driving Serb soldiers to the breaking point. "We have continuous indication that more and more soldiers, especially conscripts, are trying to get away from Kosovo," the general said. NATO spokesman Jamie Shea said that "spontaneous" demonstrations have reportedly broken out over the last couple of days in the towns of Crucivac, Cacak and Aleksandrovac. He said the protesters are reacting to the fact that "coffins are coming back and of course families are not very happy to see that their conscripts are being killed." Shea suggested that some Serbs in Yugoslavia don't think Kosovo is worth dying for. "There is unrest, at least among the civilian population, at being conscripted into the Army and being sent to Kosovo -- or families of those who are in the Armed Forces who clearly don't believe that Kosovo is such a sacred cause that they should allow their sons' lives to be sacrificed for it." Shea added that he doesn't want to overplay the impact of the demonstrations, but says the situation will get worse for Milosevic as long as he continues to defy international community. Serb media have reported neither the troop desertions nor any information on the possible protests in Yugoslavia and there has been little independent confirmation.

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