Strange Case of Mihajlo Mihajlov SIR,—It was refreshing and not
a little encouraging for Yugoslav democrats to read the truthful and accurate article by Mr Szamuely about M. Mihajlov. Here is a journalist who obviously knows what he is writing about and yet one who has not joined the chorus of so many 'experts' on Communist affairs who have condemned Mihajlov as a crank, enemy of the state, or simply an imbecile. Mr Lederer, from the Observer, calls him a 'fanatic' who, supported by 'reactionary circles,' is impeding poor Marshal Tito's frantic efforts to give Yugoslavia more economic and political freedom. And Mr Zorza, of the Guardian, sneeringly refers to 'Mihajlov and his cronies.'
This is not only utter nonsense but also a -grave injustice. Mihajlov did nothing else but atteanpt-to launch a journal, which was to be edited and pub- lished strictly in line with the Yugoslav Constitution (Articles 34, 39 and 40) and the Yugoslav Press Act (Articles 1, 3, 24, 25 and 52). Of course, -as in all other totalitarian countries, the Yugoslav con- stitution and laws are only for the boobies, and Mihajlov, by having the temerity to call the Communists' bluff and expose the big lie that has been systematically spread in the West about Tito's Yugoslavia and its democratisation, was promptly clapped into jail. Some democratisation indeed!
We do not know what Mihajlov's fate will be and whether there will be enough men of courage and character in the West to protest against this barbaric treatment of a brave young man and his friends, many of whom, incidentally, are (or were until recently) members of the League of Com- munists, but who lost faith in its leadership and policies. The methods used to persecute these people are sickeningly similar to those applied in the Stalin purges of the 'thirties.
From the death of Grol's Democracy in 1945, to the Novi Glas ('New Voice') of Mihajlov, which was stillborn in 1966, Yugoslavia has, according to the experts, travelled a great deal towards freedom. The case of Mihajlov and his friends casts a very heavy doubt on that statement. • R. MARCETIC Secretary, South Slav Democratic Union 26 King's College Road, London, NW3
Previous page
