War drums on the River of Drina
by Jozo Pavkovic
Vecernji list, October 21, 1996
The village of Jusici is the only village, after Mahala, where a group of Muslim refugees has tried to come back, as was promised by the Dayton Peace Agreement. After their return was brutally prevented by the Serbian Police this case became a serious threat to peace in Bosnia-Herzegovina. On September 20, 40 Muslim families, encouraged by the IFOR's previous action where the Muslim refugees returned to the village of Mahala, demanded to be allowed to go back to their villages, located near the inter-entity line. All of this alarmed Serbian Police in Zvornik. Zvornik Serbs threatened to attack if the Muslims didn't leave those villages. Russian IFOR Troops immediately surrounded the village of Jusici to protect the Muslims and prevent the possible conflict. During the intervention, IFOR discovered hand grenades and weapons on the Muslim refugees, which contravenes the Official Press Release from Sarajevo. Looking at the map, it is obvious that the villages of Mahala and Jusici are a few kilometres away from the border on the river of Drina, which clearly indicates that they have a very important strategic significance. In that context, it is important to mention that the arbitration commission is supposed to decide on the status of Brcko. Someone has to lose as the result of that decision - either the Federation or the Republic of Srpska. Many analysts believe that the decision of the arbitration commission can re-ignite the conflict. If that is the case, it is obvious that by entering the villages in the Republic of Srpska, the Muslims are essentially establishing strongholds which will be used in case of a conflict as a convenient base for advances towards Zvornik and the Drina river.It was a very clear plan. By establishing on the Drina they would be able to cut the Republic of Srpska in two. If the Muslims take Zvornik, Serbs will lose a land connection between Han Pijesak, Foca, Visegrad, eastern Herzegovina, and Banja Luka and Brcko. Another proof of such Muslim intentions is the alleged preparations for a similar "return" to the villages near Kladanj. More "returns" to the villages of Kozluk, Klisa, Krizevci, Glumuna, and Kamenir are also being prepared. At this moment, Jusici is surrounded by the Russian IFOR Troops that are not letting anyone in or out of the village. In the neighbouring village of Malesici, Serbian Police units are prepared and waiting for another spark so that they can force Muslims out of the village. Serbs are also blowing up houses in the villages that were inhabited by the Muslims (Krizevci and Capari), to prevent new groups from coming. Having all this in mind, as well as that the Muslims are interrupting the corridor Trnovo-Lukavica (several armed incidents and wounded Serbs), it is obvious that in peaceful conditions Muslim authorities have started preparing grounds for potential future conflicts. It is to their advantage that the international community in Bosnia is distracted by other issues. The coming days will show to what extent Sarajevo authorities are prepared to use refugees to provoke incidents, and use this to set up Bosnia to their liking instead of according to the Dayton Agreement. But already it is obvious that war drums can be heard on the Drina river.
General Rehearsal in Mostar
The model of "return" of Muslims to the territories outside the Bosnian Army control was first tried out on the Croatian soil. On the eve of September elections, a group of Muslims crossed into Podhum, a township in the western part of Mostar. After a forceful intervention of the Croatian police, and IFOR and Western European police units, the intruders were returned to eastern Mostar. Actually, this was a general rehearsal for Jusici.
