SISAK - Employees of the Sisak-moslavina Police district, have recently discovered in Slavsko Polje and Cremisica, near Vrginmost, six plots of indian hemp with approximately 1,000 plants of excellent quality; these plants could yield 170 kilograms of leaves whose market value is about DM 300,000. This was stated at the press conference by the head of the Police district, Vladimir Milankovic.
Milankovic stated that indian hemp had been planted in the Spring of this year by Serb rebels who had been overseeing that territory; he emphasized that the plots were surrounded by trenches, approaches had been mined and the plots had been constantly guarded. This led to a conclusion that the occupying serb authorities had themselves organized planting of the hemp, produced drugs and drugged the members of the serb paramilitary formations, emphasized the head of the Sisak-moslavina Police district, Vladimir Milankovic.
PLITVICKA JEZERA - A team of experts from different scientific fields is currently at the Plitvice Lakes, together with the special forces of MUP RH [Ministry of Internal Affairs of the republic of Croatia]; they have been visiting Plitvice forests, meadows, Donja and Gornja lakes and the source waters of the national park. As soon as the special police troops cleanse the soft territory, about 20,000 hectars in area, scientists will begin their work.
We talked to Dr. Bozidar Stilinovic about first findings of the team of experts. Dr. Bozidar Stilnovic is a biologist and an expert who dedicated over 30 years of his professional life to the Plitvice lakes and their waters and especially to the process of biodynamic formation of scedra and slapiste. We asked Dr. Stilinovic about first impressions; the Plitvice lakes nature has been a chetnik hostage for four years.
To our question about the state of Plitvice waters and the basis for formation of sedra and slapista which is crucial for the survival of the lakes, Dr. Stilinovic replied: "Water is bacteriologically clean; we obtained first results a few days ago. several water samples were taken at critical points, namely, Milanovac barrier, Milka Trnina cascades and the source of the river Korana. I can openly state that in a freely flowing water I couldn't find any bacteria, traces of fecal matter or any other pollutants. Of course, examination of bacteria in the vegetation will certainly show that some pollution has existed previously. Above all because of Plitvicki Lijeskovac a town at the lake source."
To our comment that the lakes look neglected and, especially around pedestrian trails and bridges, are overgrown with vegetation, Dr. Stilinovic added:
"Donja lakes are terribly overgrown. Five years is a relatively long period, yet too short for natural processes, so this can only be a reflection of human influence. Detailed ecological study must point out the future course of action. The Plitvice lakes must not become Plitvice swamps."
Scientists have also used vehicles of MUP RH and for several days were able to fly in helicopters over the lakes. A well-known expert, Srecko Bozicevic, a speleologist, was certainly pleased; he was a guide for the special forces policemen. Dr Bozicevic informed us that on 10/8/95 a group of divers had taken samples of water, bottom sediments and plants from the lakes of Kozjak and Milanovac and that until then unknown cave had been found under the water curtain of Milanovac waterfalls. Dr. Huber, who has for years been observing Plitvice bears, received the report from the special force policemen that during the search of the lakes they had spotted in the wider area of Medvedak deer, martens, wild boars and a she bear with two cubs. It seems that, while the divers searching the bottom of the lake found a cave behind the Milanovac waterfalls, explosives experts discovered mines on two bridges.
This has been a reality of the Plitvice lakes for the last four years; the enemy used nature, which he threatened with mines, in the war against Croatia. We were told by the special forces of MUP RH that the Plitvice lakes, six days after the beginning of the action were absolutely safe for the visitors. Only now the preparations for the recovery of the economy and the return of the exiles and also visitors can start.