BosNet Digest V5 #52 / Feb. 1, 1996

From: Davor <[email protected]>

Bosnia-Herzegovina News Directory

CONTENTS

[01] NATO Called For Air-Support Over Bosnia

Feb 1, 1996 SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina

American aircraft have been called in to make a show of force in Bosnia, after Bosnian Government troops refused to leave the zone of separation. The aircraft did not fire, as the Bosnian soldiers surrendered after the NATO planes swooped low over their position. This is the first time that NATO forces called on air-power to force compliance with the peace agreement.

NATO Spokesman Major Simon Haselock explained that: "Initially they refused to leave and they refused to put down their weapons, and shortly after that a pair of A-10's were called who flew passes over the area to show a display of force. Subsequent to that, the negotiations were successfully concluded. the offending troops left and their weapons were confiscated."

Major Haselock said the 30 Bosnian soldiers were found to have almost enough weapons for a battalion, including 300 rifles, six mortars, eight rocket launchers, and a large supply of grenades and ammunition.

NATO officials say there is no explanation yet why the Bosnian soldiers were in the zone or why they had so many weapons.

Also Wednesday evening, Serb gunmen sprayed NATO vehicles with machine gun fire in Ilidza, a Serb-held suburb of Sarajevo. An American humvee jeep was struck in the fender by one round, but the American soldiers inside were not hurt. A short time later, a British Army jeep was also shot at, although not hit.

Another NATO spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Mark Raynor, warned in the future nato troops will shoot back. "Action is being taken to increase patrolling in this area as this senseless behavior will not be tolerated."

Colonel Raynor said the NATO chief of staff has spoken to the Mayor of the Serb suburb where the shootings are taking place. He said the Mayor has promised to go on the radio to try to encourage his people to cooperate with NATO. Tensions around Sarajevo are growing before the Saturday deadline for Serb troops to withdraw from Serb-held areas around the Bosnian capital.

[02] Elisabeth Rehn: "Expect More Mass Graves"

Feb 1, 1996 BONN, Germany

The UN Special Envoy for human rights in the ex-Yugoslavia Elisabeth Rehn says she will not be surprised if more than 200 to 300 mass graves are uncovered in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Her comments are published in the latest edition of "Stern," the German weekly news magazine.

Although much attention has been focused on the killing and disappearance of thousands of Muslim men around the so-called UN safe zone of Srebrenica, Ms Rehn said people are forgetting many other areas. Between the southern city of Mostar and the Serb stronghold of Banja Luka, the UN special envoy says there are many normal cemeteries with large mounds of freshly turned soil. The mounds, measuring in some cases more than 20 square meters, are believed to contain the unmarked graves of countless victims of the conflict.

Ms. Rehn says she and her small staff also have been informed of three mass graves around Vukovar, which are believed to be connected with the 1991 serb takeover of the area. She was critical of the NATO Protection Force for failing to monitor the sites of suspected mass graves, something the US commander says he can do only when he has adequate forces.

UN experts have so far identified at least 29 mass graves believed to contain the victims of Serb forces, including a mining complex near Banja Luka where thousands of Muslims are believed to have been killed. Experts say Croat forces are thought to be responsible for at least three mass graves. Muslim forces are suspected of being responsible for three others.

[003]How Government Will Function In Post-War Bosnia

January 31, 1996 SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Under the Dayton Peace agreement, Bosnia is to be divided between a Muslim-Croat federation that will control 51 percent of the territory and a Serb entity that will control the rest.

The Serb entity and the federation each will have a government in charge of the economy, trade, culture, and education of their territory.

Another government above both entities will be responsible for foreign policy, foreign trade and monetary policy for the whole of Bosnia. A three-member presidency -- consisting of a Croat, a Muslim and a representative of the Serb entity -- will be in charge of defense.

THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT:

The Bosnian parliament on Tuesday elected an interim government to rule until elections, which will be held by September. Hasan Muratovic was chosen Prime Minister. His government currently has three Muslim and three Croat ministers. After the elections, the government will also include three ministers from the Serb entity.

Bosnian President Alija Izetbegovic will hold his post until the elections, when the presidency will be replaced with the three-member panel.

THE FEDERATION GOVERNMENT:

A special assembly of Muslims and Croats on Wednesday elected an interim government for the federation headed by Prime Minister Izudin Kapetanovic, a Muslim. His government consists of seven Muslims, six Croats and one Serb who remained loyal to Bosnia's multi-ethnic government during the war.

The post of Federation President Kresimir Zubak, a Croat, will no longer exist after the elections.

THE SERB GOVERNMENT:

The Serbs' self-proclaimed government will not be recognized until elections are held. Serb leader Radovan Karadzic has declared himself president of Republika Srpska, the name of the Serb entity. The Serb government's premier is Rajko Kasagic.

[04] Bosnian Government Criticizes Steiner's Statement On Police

January 31, 1996 SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina

The Bosnian Interior Ministry said Monday that a statement by deputy High Representative Michael Steiner that the Serb police might be allowed to maintain public order in Serb-held parts of Sarajevo which are due to revert to the Bosnian Federation is on the level of a "political incident" and contravenes the authority and mandate entrusted upon the E.U. office for the implementation of the civilian part of the Bosnia peace accords.

Steiner has announced the organization of a joint police force consisting of "former Moslem and Serb soldiers, providing they are not war criminals."

"It is superfluous to reiterate how such statements and stances damage the overall peace process in Bosnia, in which among other things, deadlines and regulations for the reversion were clearly set," said a statement by the ministry.

"Such statements by Michael Steiner, to put it mildly, cannot be considered well-intentioned and in the function of the agreed implementation of the civilian part of the peace accords on Bosnia which relates to Sarajevo, because the formation of a joint police force envisioned by Steiner is not a way towards the reintegration of the occupied parts of Sarajevo into a unified city, but a way towards freezing the situation created as a consequence of the aggression against Bosnia," the statement read.

[05] Dutch Foundation Provides Equipment For School Near Zenica

Jan, 30 1996 ZENICA, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Dutch foundation for helping Bosnia has sent school equipment to an elementary school in Nemila near Zenica in central Bosnia.

The aid consists of 200 desks for students, several dozen chairs and some 100 office desks. The foundation's founder and president, Islam Telalovic, said the school "Camil Sijaric" will soon also get modern equipment and furniture for its kitchen and library.

[06] ON THE OCCASION OF OUR PROTEST WE SENT IN PUBLIC THIS

NOTIFICATION

TO WOMEN OF TUZLA, WOMEN OF BOSNIA, WOMEN OF WORLD

We address You all in hardest moments in our lives. You, who loved and who are still loving, You, who gave birth and who watch over your children, You, who respect your brothers and your husbands, You should know what is happening to us, and why we are protesting.

We are mothers, wives, daughters, sisters of over 10.000 missing, captive boys, men, old men who stayed in Potocari, or tried to escape through forest in the direction of Tuzla, or across river Drina to Serbia. From 11th of July 1995, when Srebrenica is happened, pasted over 200 days.

Do you know how long is that? Imagine yourself - what would you done if somebody take your canary or some other pat from you - wouldn't you seek for it? We know, you would. What would you do if somebody takes your child from you? Would you wait or would you search?

What would you do if you new that somebody who loved is in concentration camp over 200 days, or laying death somewhere, on some hill on the road of horror from Srebrenica to Tuzla?

Do you think what would you feel if somebody from your family is lying with thousands of others in massive grave, covered like trash?

CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT? TRY! MAYBE THAN YOU WILL SUPPORT US IN OUR DEMAND TO FIND OUT DESTINY OF THOSE WE LOVE THE MOST.

Are we asking a lot?

We stayed without our towns, homes, material goods. We become refugees, we were not guilty. Everything is difficult, everything heart. But we can overcome all that. It is not important if we have, or do not have home, but WE WANT OUR CHILDREN BACK. We gave them birth, we watch over them, those are our sons. We waited for too long, we hoped that they will be back. But nothing. That is we are protesting and looking for support of all mothers and women.

WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW THE TRUTH. WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO SEARCH FOR OUR SONS, HUSBANDS, FATHERS, BROTHERS...

AND WE WILL SEARCH FOR THEM, UNTIL WE HAVE STRENGTH IN OUR BODIES. WE WILL GO BY FOOT ON THE ROAD OF DEATH, TO LOOK FOR THEM, DEATH OR ALIVE, IF NOBODY WOULD DO THAT FOR US. IT IS NOT IMPORTANT IF THEY KILL US ALL IN THE ROAD, OUR LIVES IN SITUATION LIKE THIS DO NOT HAVE SENSE.

TUZLA, JANUARY 31st 1996. WOMEN FROM SREBRENICA