used without permission, for "fair use" only

Return

by Nevenka Levak

Glas Slavonije, Osijek, Croatia, September 15 1997

After a two day session held in the Croatian Danube region, the presidency of the Serb National Council led by its president Milorad Pupovac issued a statement which mostly speaks about the return of Serbs to other parts of Croatia. Although it is totally understandable that that association is mostly concerned with the problems of Serbs, it is unacceptable that they couldn't find a single reason to think about their behavior and why they are received unfavorably in their former hometowns and villages. They only concluded that there are many obstacles to the return of Serbs to their former homes, some of which systematically discriminate against the Serbs and their right to return; they also concluded that Serb returnees fear for their safety, and face discrimination when requesting financial and other assistance [from Croat authorities].

Serbs left their homes because of several reasons, the most important of which is negative propaganda by their leaders and fear from Croat policemen.

They set off towards FR Yugoslavia, but were soon sent back to the Croatian Danube region, where they mercilessly expelled the remaining non-Serbs in order to find accommodation. Now, they believe that they have a right to return, to receive financial compensation, social security payments, jobs. True, all of that was mentioned in the Letter of Intent [which listed the Croatian authorities obligations with respect to Serbs], but it hasn't matured in the souls of Croats who are now supposed to receive their neighbors in their midst without any questions, even those who occasionally harassed them during the war, if they hadn't expelled them first.

There are also financial problems: no one is asking how is the Croat state is supposed to finance all of its obligations. Actually, Croatian refugees are rebuilding their homes themselves, while the majority of Serbs believe that they should return to already rebuilt houses. Also, everyone knows that Serb homes are overflowing with looted goods, and even if they didn't loot themselves, they watched without protest as their leaders drove Croatian property to FRY. Now, they demand from Croat authorities a compensation, not asking what we had to endure because of their rebellion and aggression. They believe that we must pay to keep them. What have they done, and what are they doing to make us want to keep them?

Translated on 9/20/97