Drvar Must Belong to its Citizens

Large Gathering of Refugees from Drvar in Banja Luka

Banja Luka, 31 March, 1997 (AIM) - "Everybody to Drvar, Everything for Drvar" was the message of the large gathering of refugees from Drvar held in sports hall Borik in Banja Luka on Saturday.

From all the parts of Republika Srpska and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, buses were arriving overcrowded with people from Drvar who are refusing to give up the idea of return to their town.

"We are grateful to the coalition for return which organized this gathering. It is the only way to show our resoluteness to return", declared a man from Drvar temporarily living in Prnjavor. He says that he will never get used to any other town. "Over there even the police calls us the 'reds', and even the children are not spared harassment", the unfortunate man laments.

The leader of refugees from Drvar, Mile Marceta, believes that Drvar is the greatest test for the Dayton accords. "On 13 March I was in Drvar and sent message to the Croats that we would all return to Drvar. Majority of them are not against it, but there are big problems, because as a buffer zone between the federal partners is the Croat army and it is accommodated in Serb houses", said Marceta to the gathered people.

His speech was occasionally interrupted by bursts of applause and shouts "Drvar, Drvar and Nothing But Drvar!". People were also calling out: "Let's go now! We'll go on foot! We will die here!"

There were also those who are concerned: "We are sensitive about our town. I'm afraid that if we won't be able to return, those less stable among us might commit suicides, because we can't get used to life anywhere else", says Milan Nenadovic, man from Drvar who is living in Cacak at the moment.

Dusan Banjac, member of the Association of Serbs for return to Krajina, called members of SFOR to help their return. "You may become heroes of these people. When we start on our way back to Drvar, be with us and support us", says Banjac.

"Many houses have been destroyed, but we will easily repair them. I prefer sleeping outdoors, but on my own than in other people's feather-bed", said Milo Beric who is living in Brcko now.

Representatives of opposition political parties from Republica Srpska and B&H Federation were also present at the gathering, and for the first time some representatives of the authorities who were invited decided to come.

"Local elections are 'to be or not to be' for the people from Drvar. I hope that people from Drvar will help others to return to their homes as well, regardless of whether they are the Serbs, the Croats or the Muslims", these are the words of Mile Marceta.

President of the shadow cabinet of B&H, Sejfudin Tokic, declared at the gathering that the people from Drvar have shown that Drvar can belong only to its citizens and nobody else. "You have denied all those who say that you do not wish to return. Every other town must also belong to its citizens, and not to thieves and criminals", said Tokic, his words welcomed with enthusiastic cheering.

The Social Liberal Party of Republica Srpska also offered support to the citizens of Drvar, and two days after the gathering sent an open letter to Serb Radio-Television accusing the Television that it was controlled by feudal rulers from Pale and that it was not in their interest to have a single refugee return home.

Such reaction of the Liberals was caused by complete disregard of the gathering by state media. Marceta says that this did not at all surprise him, but that he is hurt that not a single opposition media registered this event. "I am grateful to Banja Luka TV IN studio because they were the only ones present", says Marceta.

The gathering was attended by representatives of almost all international organizations which are working in B&H on implementation of the Dayton accords (IPTF, SFOR, OHR, UNHCR).