European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - February 1, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse Molovan Djilas a former vice president of Yugoslavia who became a leaning dissident with passport he was granted after 16 years to visit England. Yugoslavia s Milovan Djilas political Maverick finally gets a passport associated pressm Slovan Djilas one of the first leading East european communists to Lurn a Amsl the system has won permission logo West in a move political analysis regard As a Liberal gesture by the yugoslav government ii would be a firs t trip abroad since 1969. For Djilas the sudden granting of a passport for foreign travel was the latest in an up and Down series of tussles with the system he helped build but turned against Theca decades ago. He said in an interview at his spacious downtown apartment in Belgrade that to believes the permission la travel shows the attitude toward me is alternately jailed criticized of led in uneasy peace by yugoslav authorities. Dilas pointed to the increasingly outspoken state run news Media As one sign that More criticism is now tolerated in that relatively Liberal communist ruled country but no sweeping change has occurred the 75-year old Dilas said you see what is going on in Bosnia he said referring to jail sentences he says Are handed Down there to even casual co fee shop criticism of the regime Al a meeting with officials in tale january. Djilas Gol the passport he applied for at the turn of the new year so he could have a reunion Wilh his son Aleksa in London the passport was granted on condition he refrains irom outspoken political comments. He says tic with not accept any invitations to Seclure but he indicated he May speak Oul in interviews the horse a have lost its Trot but nol its Paga in the stars and stripes Djilas noted using a proverb from his native Montenegro. He was showing thai he still can speak out despite a near stat heart attack complicated by bronchitis. 13 months ago. Djilas first spoke out in yugoslav politics As a member of the Hen Lafr Destine communist party in tie 1930s, i was always a Strong communist but As 1 saw that communism As an idea is not real and not realistic that it ends in undemocratic social structures and an undemocratic leadership i chose democracy and Haven t significantly changed that conviction or 26 years he told the West German newspaper die Well in a 70th birthday interview in 1981. A close aide of future Leader Josip Bro Tito and Laler Tito s heir apparent he was known among world War ii a i sans fighting the nazis As a propagandist with a penchant for vicious attacks on the communists opponents. His memoirs show his disillusionment with Soviel style communism grew after meetings with Josef Eulalin and before Yugoslavia broke with Moscow in 1948. In 1953, As a vice president. Djilas wrote articles or gum that the communists had achieved most of their Aims and should loosen control. That Cost him his parly functions in 1954, and he resigned his government posts in protest. Djilas officially a nobody in Yugoslavia continued to meet foreign journalists in Belgrade and smuggled his Book the new a ass to now York for westerners Irie Book became a classic denunciation of the privileged life of communist leaders in soviet bloc countries. Yugoslav authorities leaded by jailing Djilas from late 19s6 unlit january sunday february 1,1987 1961, when he was released on parole without explanation. He sent his reminiscences Abou Stalin to the West and was rearrested and jailed again in May f 962, Trio unexpectedly pardoned and released him in december 1966. Despite imprisonment verbal attacks and harassment Djilas never sought to leave his country. Only russian occupation would Stop me from living in Yugoslavia he told reporters in Britain in 1968 at the Elan of his last trip abroad. Yugoslav leaders were embittered by what they saw As Djilas betrayal. After Tito died in 1980, the stale run news Agency Tan Jug accused Djilas at slinging mud at the yugoslav revolution and becoming a millionaire by serving the purpose of the worst reactionary forces in the in 1981, Reading communist official Kola Siroka urged thai Djilas be muzzled. But Djilas weathered criticism and what he said Wera death threats against himself and his son in London in recent years Njilas has criticized Trio Tor leaving Yugoslavia Wlsh Complex economic and ethnic problems. A 1984, police raided on intellectuals gathering where Djilas was to speak about Yugoslavia s restive ethnic groups arresting him and four others. Djilas was not prosecuted however and Only one intellectual was jailed such treatment and growing criticism of Tito from other quarters do not mean that Djilas has won Broad acceptance in Appeal in Yugoslavia. Other dissenting intellectuals such As former Central committee member Dobrica Cosic a Well known author of wartime epics attract far More attention at Home than Njilas
