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VIII -
TO POLITICIANS REPRESENTING THE CROATIAN PEOPLE
Bishop's letter to the Deputy Premier of the RC, Dr M. Granić (IS
October 1992)
SYSTEMATIC ETHNIC CLEANSING IS BEING CONDUCTED IN THE FIELD
Dear
Sir!
I take this opportunity for the first time to leave the Bosanska
Krajina after virtually a year and a hall in order to attend the
Croatian Bishops' Conference in Zagreb, to point out the very difficult
situation faced by my 120,000 faithful (mostly Croats) in these
regions.
I have done this on a number of occasions, whenever possible. I
cautioned various institutions abroad, to whom I could send my words
and voice. At the same time I requested to speak to the current
Serbian authorities, both civil and military in Banja Luka itself,
as well as the highest representatives of the Serbian people in
B-H. I considered this the only just method to save my people who
have lost their legitimate political delegates and who have even
more so expected some assistance from the Church. I can satisfactorily
ascertain that our people have managed to save themselves from entering
the war in the main part of Bosanska Krajina. This is admitted to
us by even the Serbian authorities who state that they have no problems
as far as the Croat - Catholics are concerned.
Despite enormous provocation, our people have managed on the whole
remain to extremely peaceful, but this has not saved them from the
terror, killing and destruction. I have cautioned the civil and
military authorities in the Krajina municipalities about these events
and they have generally responded to my warnings. However, in the
field, systematic ethnic cleansing is still being implemented.
With the assistance of the military police I have managed to visit
all those regions inhabited by Croats and other Catholics which
have not been caught up in the war conflicts. Based on my visits
and the impressions I could gather, I can say that the ethnic cleansing
is practically complete. This means that the greater part of the
Catholic faithful have mostly departed their homes, while the remainder
will more than likely do so as soon as they are offered the opportunity.
In the Banja Luka municipality itself, where there were virtually
30,000 Croats before the war, the situation is still good in that
there has not been any massive killings or destruction. Ethnic cleansing,
however, is systematically being implemented via a method of individual
terror, detentions, destruction, confiscation of property or even
killing of civilians. A special form of pressure which has been
implemented for months now is economically based. Virtually all
the Croats in this region have been dismissed from their employment
and now there are no signs that this situation is going to improve
or rather, that this essential human right will be re-instated.
Croat teachers have been dismissed from the schools and the only
language taught is Serbian. The health sector is experiencing the
same phenomena with the doctors and other medical staff being let
off, simply for being Croat.
Outside the Banja Luka municipality in the Prijedor, Sanski Most,
Ključ, Mrkonjić Grad, Kotor Varoš, Prnjavor, Bosanska Gradiška,
Laktaši regions the situation faced by the Croat population is much
worse. Virtually 200 civilians have been killed in their homes and
the number of those detained or taken to labour camps is much higher
as is of those who have had their property confiscated, damaged
or destroyed. We have for example six villages completely destroyed,
such as Briševo where 68 houses were burned to the ground, together
with the local church. The village of Šurkovac on the other hand
was completely looted and anything that could be carried away was.
These people "wish" to move out because they do not see
any possible future life with their neighbours in this region. When
the people met with high representatives of the Serbian people,
which I managed to organise recently, this situation was openly
presented to the current political leaders. These and other crimes
which have affected the Croatian people have been committed without
any reason or provocation because the Croatian people in these regions
did not have any weapons, nor do they want to fight. Often enough
various para-military groups are blamed for these deeds and the
local authorities are apparently trying to prevent these incidents.
However, we cannot foresee any improvements.
A special form of pressure against the people is to detain their
priests and destroy their places of worship. A large number of priests
were detained in concentration camps. Some of them will be invalids
for the rest of their lives. One priest, (Father Ratko Grgić) has
not been heard of for three months now. More than 40 per cent of
the sacral buildings in our diocese have been destroyed while over
50 per cent have damages of varying degrees.
Relaying these facts of which you are probably aware, to some extent,
I also wish to relay my thoughts and questions: Are we to be left
to our own devices? Can Croatia, whose many a son originates from
these regions, help the Croats in Bosanska Krajina so that they
can remain in these regions. It is worthless, however, for the Church
to try and compel these people to stay here if we do not have greater
support from the Croatian Government. It is even more worthless
for us to even try anything here if there is some "X-plan"
which has been set and foresees the extinction of the Croats of
these regions. These thoughts are present in every heart of the
Croats in our region as the development of events seems to indicate
nothing to the contrary.
Apart from the daily exhibits of violence which is being inflicted
on our people and which is the main cause for our people to leave
(if this continues, Croatia can expect tens of thousands more refugees)
which concerns us greatly and which is leading to our complete poverty.
How will our people survive the winter if ethnic cleansing is successful,
what can our people expect in the future?
Apart from the help which our people receive via Caritas, we would
like the Croatian government to offer a specific form of assistance:
Can the Croats in Bosanska Krajina be issued with fuel so they can
work their fields and sow seeds in their fields? We believe that
this would ensure food for our people for the next year. It would
also ease their fear and tension, which is being forced upon them
on a daily basis. This may prevent them from deciding to flee for
the time being. If they could at least sow their fields maybe their
dark thoughts would be put aside for a short time.
Yours, with due respects and gratitude,
Dr FRANJO
KOMARICA, Bishop of Banja Luka
Letter
of the Bishop's Vicar in Zagreb, Dr M. Aničić to the Prime Minister
of the CR of H-B, Dr J. Prlić
(Prot. no: V - 1334/94 dated 28 February 1994)
CONTINUED MOBILISATION OF CROATS IN THE BANJA LUKA REGION
Dear
Sir!
I received news an hour ago of the further mobilisation of our people.
The diocesan premises are crowded with panic stricken people, women
and children.
A few days ago the Bishop wrote to you about the mobilisation which
the Serbs conducted a fortnight ago with the excuse that the Bishop
had approved of this. Some of those men mobilised were sent to Žepče,
others, God knows where. We had reason then to suspect that the
Serbs did this in agreement with some leading figures in Herceg-Bosna
especially in Žepče. Now it has been shown that these suspicions
were correct. Some of our people who had been mobilised have been
returned from Žepče as disabled. They informed us that the local
officials there, I. Lozančić, A. Marinčić and others claimed that
they implemented this mobilisation together with the Serbs and with
the knowledge of the Bishop. Has the Bishop after all his efforts
to protect his people deserved to be slandered with such lies by
members of his own people.
Lozančić even spoke to our people about some crazy idea of re-settling
our families from the Banja Luka region. Where? He did not explain.
Perhaps you have some idea? It is odd that people such as this can
be in such a high position yet they have no regard for the fate
of so many lives.
The Bishop fears for those families whose members were so criminally
mobilised and sent to Žepče. His fear is not without justification
as was seen two days ago on TV Banja Luka when the question was
posed as to what the Croats from the Banja Luka region were doing
in Žepče and in. whose army they were fighting? This is yet another
uncertainty for our people - for our elderly, women and children
who remain at home.
I turn to you on behalf of the Bishop who is currently prevented
from doing so. I turn to you as one of the most responsible persons
in Herceg-Bosna, convinced that you are conscious of your responsibility
to our entire nation and that you will not him a deaf ear to the
cries of your people but will do everything in your power to help
them.
I thank you for your efforts to date and send you my sincerest expression
of respect.
Dr
MILJENKO ANIČIĆ, Diocesan Vicar
c.c.
- Cardinal Franjo Kuharić, Archbishop and Metropolitan of Zagreb
- Papal Nunciature - Zagreb
Bishop's
memorandum to Prof. Pejo Ćošković, Member of Parliament, B-H
(Prot. no: 47/94 dated 26 March 1994)
WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF THE CATHOLICS IN THE BANJA LUKA DIOCESE
IN THOSE REGIONS CONTROLLED BY THE BOSNIAN SERBS AND IN WHOSE HANDS
(BUT GOD'S) DOES IT LIE?
Dear
Professor Ćošković,
I lake the liberty to turn to you as the elected delegate for the
Banja Luka region to the B-H Parliament. As I hope you will be able
to attend the next session of the Constitutional Assembly in Sarajevo
on the 28th of this month, I expect that as our legitimate delegate
of the local Croatian population you will take the floor and turn
attention to the dramatic situation and uncertain future of our
people here.
- You are on the whole aware of the lack of protection for our people
and that they have been stripped of their human rights - the right
to life, a home, a homeland, to work, to a fair share of the fruits
of their labour, freedom of movement, freedom of thought, freedom
of assembly, to bring up their own children and so on...
- You are also aware that as a national and for that matter religious
community we are the oldest and most indigenous population here!
- You are aware of the heavy and dramatic past faced by the Catholics
in this particular region, especially the tragedy of the Banja Luka
Diocese during World War II when a third of our diocese was virtually
destroyed and never renewed again!
That which you should be most aware of is the fact that despite
our peaceful behaviour, virtually 43,000 Catholics have been either
expelled or have fled those regions of our diocese under the control
of the RS. Some 99.5 per cent of these people were of course Croats.
CURRENTLY THERE ARE STILL - more than 27,000 Catholics in some 37
parishes and 15 municipalities still located here according to data
from mid March. Most of them are to be found in the Banja Luka municipality
-15,381 (not including the border parish of TRN - 1,373). There
are even more Croats because they are obviously not all included
on our lists!
Of those who are currently located outside our diocese, according
to our information, some 8,000 have managed to exchange their homes/apartments
for somewhere in the Republic of Croatia or the CR of H-B. The others,
virtually 35,000 of our Catholic -Croats, have been expelled as
displaced persons and refugees - and are potential candidates to
return to their homes. Many of our refugees and displaced persons
impatiently ask when and will they be able to return to their own
homeland?!
Who will make this decision? What will happen to these people, what
indeed will happen to those who are still here and who have no rights.
They are being seriously humiliated and have no dignity left to
enjoy, but are at the end of their tolerance and cannot wait any
longer for the Croatian politicians to lake a more decisive stand
and support them more effectively?!
As you are surely aware, until now a very perfidious campaign has
been used here to systematically implement ethnic cleansing via
a method of "decapitating" and hitting against the most
influential, wealthy people from the intellectual circles of our
society in an effort to remove the economic support and leadership
of our people. If we continue to be left to our own devices, then
it is no wonder that others will make the decisions regarding our
political, economical, cultural, and religious destiny and that
they will try and make us lie in a bed which we did not make, nor
which will fulfil our expectations!
I therefore demand that as the legitimate delegate of our people
in this region, you certainly take the floor at the coming parliamentary
session on behalf of all those you represent, both those who are
still here, as well as those who have temporarily been compelled
to leave. You must demand THE RIGHT TO A NORMAL LIFE AND HUMANE
FUTURE FOR OUR PEOPLE IN THEIR CENTURIES-OLD HOMES! There must
be a way to reinstate these rightless people and give them back
their human and civil rights and liberties including religious and
ethnic rights.
These times will be far-reaching for those decisions made about
the future of our people! These decisions are being made without
us and by others! We have tried to act like civil humans, preserving
our faces and the face of our nation and our Church. Should we now
be punished for taking such a stance and should we be entirely wiped
off the face of this earth in the future geographical maps being
drawn up?!
Whatever I could do in this regard, I did amongst the representatives
of the Serbian people, as well as the Croatian politicians in an
effort to protect my people whom I am obliged to help. God knows
{as do many people) that I have continuously tried to help all those
who needed it and to save us all from an even greater evil!
I know that my capabilities are limited with regard to political
decisions made by others about us and for us. Nevertheless, I did
not remain silent nor do I wish to remain silent like "a dog
who won't bark" when thieves enter his house!
I expect the current political figures representing the Croatian
people to finally speak out more clearly and decisively on behalf
of their countrymen and especially on behalf of those who offered
them their trust at the last free elections, so that they are not
recorded by history as being short-sighted egoists and traitors
to the interests of their people! Among those who are responsible
for us, you yourself may be found!
I am convinced that you will be dignified in your support and will
represent us faithfully at this session and all others in the future!
I offer you God's blessing!
With due respects and sincere regards.
Dr FRANJO
KOMARICA, Bishop of Banja Luka
Bishop's
letter to the President of the Republic of Croatia, Dr F. Tuđman
(Prot. no: 54/94 dated 2 April 1994)
"WE WISH TO STAY HERE? AS FAR AS I AM AWARE THIS IS YOUR
WISH ALSO
Most
respected Mr President!
I take the liberty to turn to you on this occasion in writing, on
behalf of the remaining (nearly 27,000) faithful in my decimated
Banja Luka Diocese in those regions currently controlled by the
Serbian authorities.
The events to date and development of the circumstances here is
mostly known to yourself from our manifold conversations in the
past few months. I am grateful to you on behalf of our people stripped
of their rights for your willingness to be readily informed of our
unenviable position and your readiness to help us wherever possible.
You are not unaware of our patience comparable to Job's, which is
being granted lo us by God himself, and of our effort to bear the
countless injustices, humiliations, mutilations, abuse, expulsion,
even murder in our own homes for no other reason than that we are
Croats, or rather, Catholics! You are also not unaware that in this
region we Croats did not endanger the lives nor bring injustice
to our neighbours - neither the Serbs nor Muslims. In fact, thanks
to the aid we were able to deliver via our diocesan Caritas as donations
from good people, we shared our food with our neighbours, even with
those who harassed us!
In countless conversations with the local authorities and the military
I tried to always politely caution them about their constant oppression
of our fundamental human rights; I asked that they distance themselves
from the criminal activities and decisions inflicted upon our people
or else it would be they who would be stained with the stigma of
inhumanity. I will not say that following my interventions there
were no positive results, however, these were insignificant compared
to the deliberately planned intention that our national and religious
entity in these regions, where we have existed for centuries, be
diminished to the smallest possible measure, if not completely annihilated!
You are also aware of our decisiveness, despite all the misfortunes
we have experienced, to remain on our ancient hearths, nurturing
an indestructible hope that the representatives of the Croatian
people will help and support us in our legitimate wish to exercise
our fundamental human rights! In the past few weeks, I have contacted
the leaders of the Bosnian Croats in Bosnia-Herzegovina or rather
Herceg-Bosna on a number of occasions. I requested that they energetically
undertake positive measures for our benefit in all their possible
contacts with national and international institutions. We demanded
that one of our politicians finds a way to come here and talk to
the local Serbian authorities regarding the status of our rightless,
confused and quite disturbed people.
I am personally doing what I can here to calm restless spirits and
to warn the local authorities that what they are doing is not good.
However, none of this is and cannot be enough!
Every day sees new ways of oppression for our people; bombs thrown
at their homes, physical abuse - even the elderly - to the edge
of death (in the Banja Luka, Prnjavor, Kotor Varoš, Laktaši regions);
killings of innocent civilians in their homes (Prijedor, Prnjavor);
daily violent hunts and mobilisation of our men to the army of the
RS; the sadistic orgying against many of our people, compelled to
attend compulsory and inhumane "labour camps", often in
the immediate vicinity of battlefronts such as Doboj, Donji Vakuf
and the Bihać regions or Bosanski Brod, Šamac and Orašje regions;
dismissals from places of employment of the very small number of
Croat teachers, doctors and other workers; frequent telephone provocation
such as name calling "Ustashi, what are you still doing here!",
"we'll kill you all like bugs!"; constant evictions and
being thrown out literally onto the street, and more frequently
now out of their own private homes. These are just some of the facts
we have to live with as well as the fact that we have no one to
turn to for protection because we more or less do not have any of
our own politicians and it is not worth going to the Serbian politicians.
All this puts us in a very unenviable position! Our only support
is the Church, our only comfort is our faith in God and keeping
God's Laws!
I would never consider over-dramatising the situation, as it is
dramatic enough! May it be truly clear to you, respected Sir, that
the option open to us regarding our future in these regions is without
change - we are determined in our wish to remain here! I am aware
that this is also your opinion! Many of our people who were compelled
to leave these regions (virtually 49,000) wish to return to their
homes and constantly ask us to help them in their request to the
government of Croatia as with the local authorities!
It appears that the general political situation is now a little
more favourable than in earlier months! As such I take the liberty
to most earnestly request that you make some substantial steps.
Can there be more effective steps undertaken for the benefit of
our people? May we consider having a Croatian consulate located
here in Banja Luka? Is it possible for the recently opened Office
of the Republic of Croatia in Belgrade to do anything for us here
in Banja Luka? May I finally see the Croatian political representatives
in B-H sit down with the Serb authorities and begin to negotiate
for us and our current circumstances which are truly very difficult
or for that matter to discuss our future?!
Please listen to this cry from your fellow compatriots who have
not given you too much of a headache and help us as you would other
Croats, no matter where they may be located!
I sincerely thank you on behalf of us all!
Dr FRANJO
KOMARICA, Bishop of Banja Luka
Bishop's
letter to the President of the Presidential Council of the CR of
H-B, Dr J. Prlić
(Prot. no: 61/94 dated 18 April 1994)
WE HAVE BEEN LEFT TO THE WHIMS AND INSOLENCE
OF THOSE WHO RESPECT ONLY THE LAW OF FORCE - HELP US!
Mr President!
I sincerely thank you for your letter dated 14 April this year,
in which you refer to my numerous correspondence and in which you
also noted all the efforts undertaken with the Serbian authorities
to realise our most basic protection.
Thank you on behalf of many for your intervention. It is without
a doubt that without your intervention our circumstances would be
much worse than they are. This in itself is confirmation that SOMEONE
must truly do something for this section of our people who through
no fault of their own have been left to the whims and disregard
of those who have no respect for the law. These people should not
be allowed to stand at the head of the official politics of a nation
or a creation with aspirations of becoming a legal state! No one
has the right through their actions to stain the face of the nation
they belong to!
In reply to your report allow me to relay some details regarding
the current circumstances in which my people may be found in those
regions of my diocese under Serbian control.
1. I
do not doubt that your collocutors claimed that their behaviour
toward our people was entirely correct. The situation in the field,
however, is not quite the way they present it! If atrocities are
consistently being committed against an entirely blameless nation,
then this is certainly being done with the knowledge or silent approval
of the current authorities. If the opposite were the case then this
"government" would not be in government, but rather someone
else would hold the authority in their own hands! Why hasn't anyone
till now publicly distanced themselves from the atrocities committed
and which are continually being repeated?! The government must be
aware of what is happening and if it has a clear conscience and
truly wishes peace and a happier future, why is this not seen in
the field and in action? This government gives the impression that
it approves of state run terror against the non-Serbian population
in this entire region. May we just ignore this fact?
2. According
to my information, a great number of my mobilised "parishioners"
have been released to go home for "a rest on the condition
that following a certain number of days, they return to their military
unite". I am not aware of how many have come back, however,
I do know the number of women and mothers who come to me asking
that I protect their men so that they cannot be forced to go to
war, seeing that they did not wish to take up arms since the beginning
of the war against anyone.
In the meantime, just the other day a group of nine men were forcefully
mobilised in Kulaši (between Banja Luka and Doboj). This was followed
by another three. According to accounts of those left behind, the
men were taken off to the Doboj battlefront. Those men mobilised
were told that they "have to put on a uniform and take up arms".
Some fifty men were mobilised in the neighbouring village of Dragalovci
(Doboj municipality) over a month ago and not one has been heard
of since! Official mobilisation is being conducted in the Banja
Luka municipality itself by men presenting themselves as military
police. They deliberately cruise the streets "hunting"
for men. If they catch someone, they forcefully take him often to
an unknown destination. Mothers and wives are coming to me saying
they've been to see the military and civil authorities who have
just answered that this had nothing to do with them. People are
telling me they don't know who is worse - these tyrants going around
hunting down people and forcefully mobilising them or indeed the
official police who should be protecting them from this form of
atrocity! They are especially bitter towards the police in Budžak
and Ivanjska! Our people are asking for their fundamental rights,
yet no one in the civil authorities is offering them any protection!
They are being pressured daily so that they finally give up and
leave these regions forever, i.e. leave everything they own and
go who knows where -"amongst their own Ustashi". It is
sad to listen to their tales of woe! I wonder how it is for them
then! There are still a great number of men in Dragočaj, Barlovci,
Kuljani, Šargovac, Priječani, Česma, Delibašino Selo and Debeljaci,
who are in hiding out of fear of being captured in one of the raids
and sent off to battles who knows where.
3. The
latest report from the Mrkonjić Grad and Kotor Varoš regions, which
I received today from completely reliable sources, shows that inhumane
behaviour towards our people by the local authorities is still continuing!
It is truly urgent that something be done in the Mrkonjić Grad region,
so that the small number of people still remaining there be saved
from the sadistic orgying by the local powermongers who act towards
these people worse than they would to cattle. It is sad and undignified
of any civilised race!
I relay a report received from the Kotor Varoš region in its entirety:
"Attacks on family homes and people have increased in intensity.
Quite often serious injuries are inflicted, money is taken, or rather,
anything that can be moved is carted out of the house and is always
followed by death threats and demands that they leave the Republika
Srpska. The attacks are odd in that they are quite systematic; one
or two families in one village are attacked and then the attackers
move to another village and so on, thereby spreading fear in all
Croat Catholics.
- The phones to all Croat houses have been disconnected without
explanation.
- All are called up for compulsory labour duty without pay. They
must bring with them their own food, tools and clothing. Often they
are made to remove tiles and construction materials from abandoned
Croat houses.
- Robbery and looting is virtually legalised. In the middle of the
day furniture and construction material from houses is driven away
without any intervention from the police. Food - potatoes, greens,
wheat, cattle are regularly looted and to the owners this is better
than having the thieves enter their houses.
- The last case in Novo Selo: Marko and Ljubica Grgić were beaten.
During the night between 13 & 14 April, they were taken to hospital
in Banja Luka to have stitches to their heads. The bandits came
looking for money and demanded that the two vacate their house.
During the entire time the two were beaten with wooden planks and
metal hooks which left such serious wounds.
- Moving in to abandoned houses: they settle in the house, loot
it and then move on to another.
- They remove everything from the abandoned houses (tiles, construction
material) - everything is carted off (furniture, bathroom facilities,
electric wiling, parquetry, floor boards, coverings etc.)
- Cemeteries desecrated - stolen head stones (Rokovo Cemetery, Čepak,
Bilice). How long will this last? There is no protection from anywhere!"
4. I
managed to receive a report from the Bosanska Gradiška region for
the Dolina (parish) which is guaranteed as being reliable and dated
12 April 1994. Here are some excerpts:
"On Friday night, the 8th of this month, somewhere between
21:00 and 22:00 hours, Viktor Kalizan (Ivo's son, DOB 1957) was
killed in Gornja Dolina where he resided. The man was intelligent
and had finished school for the deaf and dumb in Sarajevo... This
is the fifth completely innocent victim in that parish! Fear and
panic have overcome the locals and it is necessary to offer them
some security, particularly as there have been no battles waged
in this area at all and during this entire war the people did not
take up arms. There are two hundred Catholic Croats in the parish,
mostly elderly and the sick.
Twenty-four youths, or rather young people, have been taken off
for labour duty. In the past few days four have fallen ill, yet
there is no medical assistance.
- There were robberies and looting before this already. However,
since the middle of January this year, this has escalated to the
point that it is no longer bearable. Every night and day, people
are robbed, belongings carted away, property confiscated, construction
material taken from abandoned houses. Relatively wealthy households
can now boast but a mere two or three chickens...
It has already become the norm that for every Croat Catholic that
receives aid from Caritas a further two Orthodox Serbs are helped
along the way. Aid is regularly handed out to the socially oppressed
in Laminci (a Serbian village). Significant aid is given hi medicines...
Despite these facts, the Red Cross in Bosanska Gradiška is protesting
that "we are behaving unjustly towards the Serbian population
with regard to the distribution of aid!... If we are unwanted in
our own homeland where we live from the fruits of our labour, then
the official authorities should say so openly and open the road
so that we can migrate and re-settle elsewhere. If we are guaranteed
the right to life and other basic rights then the military and civil
authorities should publicly announce this to the people so that
security, law and order can be established, to the extent which
is possible in these war circumstances. The people in this parish
as well as this entire region did not take up arms and according
to all international laws have the right to a peaceful life."
Mr President, this is just a small part of the everyday lives of
my Catholic faithful in these regions! For your information and
action! We still hold hope for the future but this, however, is
fading for most people! Please help!
Respectfully yours!
Dr FRANJO
KOMARICA, Bishop of Banja Luka
Letter
to the President of the Republic of Croatia, Dr F. Tuđman (Prot.
no: 689/94 dated 12 December 1994)
WE ASK FOR ONLY ONE THING - THAT OTHERS TREAT US AS HUMAN BEINGS
Dear
Mr President!
I once again turn to you in these very dramatic circumstances for
the Croat Catholics in the Banja Luka region.
In our manifold discussions with you and your associates, since
the outbreak of the war in B-H, you always suggested that we persevere
and remain on our hearths - which we wished with all our might.
You also gave me firm assurances that you would not forget us and
would give us the utmost protection. You know that I truly wished
to believe you and that I did not want to doubt the sincerity of
your suggestions and promises.
Our people, who have extreme faith in their bishop and priests and
who have always valued our suggestions, were even prepared to sacrifice
themselves and face humiliation, lack of rights and other oppression
just so that they could remain on their ancient hearths. There they
could preserve their deep national and religious roots in this territory
where their forefathers have existed for centuries. They accepted
the belief that their peaceful stance, their sacrifices and suffering
would contribute to their Croatian people as a whole, as well as
to the Catholic Community in these regions.
You are surely aware of the clear attitude expressed by the Holy
Father and the Holy See that the Banja Luka Diocese must be preserved
in its largest possible form. I, as the current Bishop of Banja
Luka, and my priests, clergy and nuns were always prepared for the
greatest sacrifice, even to sacrifice our own lives, as our priests
who were actually killed showed, and which you are aware of. All
in the aim of fulfilling our duty which we received through Christ's
Church.
With our current behaviour, we who have remained in these regions
currently controlled by the Serbs, have shown our neighbours, you,
the Church and the whole world that we are peaceful and that we
are capable of coexisting with other peoples around us. The only
thing we expect is that our peace not be one of slavery, i.e. unbearable
torment marked with a complete lack of rights and no perspectives
for the future.
Our fate is being decided by others, without even asking us what
it is we want and how we are? Was it absolutely necessary for matters
to be resolved in this way? If our politicians, and the planners
of our future do not consider us as people, we still hope that we
are thought of as people by our politicians at least, at whose head
you stand! The behaviour of the Serbian politicians to date has
been such that they have undertaken all sorts of measures to make
life for the majority of our compatriots as wretched as possible.
It appears that not even this was enough for them! This can be seen
in the latest inhumane actions towards our people. Several hundred
of our compatriots were forcefully mobilised and taken to the most
dangerous front lines on the Doboj, Orašje, Bihać and Kupres battle
fields. Some have been there for the past twenty days, one hundred
days and some even for five hundred days where they have been physically
and psychologically exhausted. The majority of these will probably
be invalids for life, incapable of living independently. I begged
you and the local Serb authorities in my many appeals to Intervene
in the appropriate places so that we be treated more humanely. Unfortunately
until now, nothing effective has been done by anyone! Why? And what
in fact is intended for us by this callous behaviour?
The latest "hunt" for our people in the past week who
have become hostages on the Glamoč and Grahovo fronts, the horrific
and sadistic orgying towards them and their families even though
none of them are to blame for anything, has, I'm afraid brought
them closer to the decision to depart this region, where in fact
God's Providence determined they should live. The complete uncertainty
and fate of several hundred people literally abducted, including
the elderly and crippled, people who were half dressed and taken
away from their families in addition to the complete lack of interest
for this very dramatic and critical situation by our politicians
both in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia itself, will surely have
very negative consequences for the continued existence of our people
in these regions. One has the opinion that all this that is happening
to us has been well thought out in an effort to confuse us and simply
force us to leave, be it to a future of total uncertainty. We have
known for a long time now that some of our "neighbours"
have intended this for us and during the latest raid, when many
of our men (including my brother who was beaten in front of our
elderly mother!) were forcefully dragged off into the night to complete
uncertainty, they were followed by the words, "If you don't
finally move out and go to your Tuđman, then there is nothing left
for us to do but kill you all!” This, however, would be ever
so more painful if for one moment we thought that these "projects"
could possibly be supported by any of the official Croatian politicians!
Mr President,
I ask you as the most appropriate political figure in charge of
the entire Croatian nation - what do you truly intend to do with
us? Who will finally tell this section of the Croatian people, who
have not stained their Croatian name in any way, the complete truth
about their future and the intentions of this world's politicians?
Does this sector of our people have the right for someone amongst
the Croatian politicians either in Bosnia-Herzegovina or Croatia
to finally begin caring for them? How long will we need to feel
like adopted children within our own nation, strangers in our own
homes, unwanted even though we have been ideal neighbours to all?
How long will we be oppressed without any right of appeal to anyone?
What and whose aim is it to cause our people to be killed and to
rot on the battlefield? When will the day arrive when one of our
official political representatives will finally ask what is happening
to my people in those regions? What are they lacking? What do they
need? What more do we need to do so that you, the Croatian politicians,
will finally accept us as your compatriots, no less worthy than
those in other regions wherever Croats may be found?
Please be aware that I am speaking on behalf of at least 35,000
rightless Croats, mostly Catholics, from my Banja Luka Diocese and
sections of the Vrhbosna Archdiocese, who still remain in those
regions currently controlled by the Serbs (where, as you know, there
was once a great deal many more of us!), who have no other spokesman
and whose cries cannot be heard in the distance. We demand just
one thing, which is certainly something you yourself desire, that
we be treated as people with a right to enjoy our fundamental human
and civil rights and liberties! We expect that future negotiations
about us and our future in these regions be treated unambiguously
and that our demands be taken into consideration. Do not say that
we are asking too much and that they who decide our future have
done what they can! God and history will judge us all and our actions
and neglects! We are trying to do our part so that this judgement
be as kind as possible!
I once again take this opportunity to express my gratitude for all
that you have done for us and for all that you will do in the future!
I trust that I will have something to thank you for in the future!
Respectfully yours!
Dr FRANJO
KOMARICA, Bishop of Banja Luka
c.c.
Msgr Francesco Monterisi, Papal Nuncio in B-H - Rome
Papal Nunciature - Zagreb
Cardinal Vinko Puljić, Archbishop and Metropolitan Vrhbosna - Sarajevo
Cardinal Franjo Kuharić, Archbishop and Metropolitan Zagreb - Zagreb
Bishop's
letter to the Prime Minister of the RC, Mr N. Valentić
(Prot. no: 4/95 dated 2 January 1995)
RECOMMENDATION TO ISSUE PREMISES
FOR THE TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION OF THE ZAGREB METROPOLITAN, MR
JOVAN (PAVLOVIĆ)
Dear
Sir!
In a recent conversation, you assured me that the Government of
Croatia was prepared to repair the demolished residence belonging
to the Metropolitan of Zagreb and return it to its original state.
I once again thank you for your promise!
Yesterday, New Year's Day, I had the opportunity to speak to the
Zagreb Metropolitan, Mr Jovan here in Banja Luka in the residence
of our Metropolitan, Mr Jefrem. We discussed our joint efforts as
representatives of both Churches to try and normalise the complete
situation faced by our people both in the Republic of Croatia and
in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Mr Jovan emphasised the more favourable atmosphere
which he found during his recent visit to Zagreb on the Feast of
St Nicholas (19 December 1994) and that he firmly hoped for even
greater improvement.
Amongst other things he expressed his desire and need for more frequent
visits to Zagreb or rather to those regions in the Republic of Croatia
where his Metropoly is situated. In the meantime, however, he said
there were no conditions for this as yet because his residence in
Zagreb was in such a state that he could not move in before extensive
renovations were carried out.
For this reason he offered another solution and asked that I suggest
it to the Government of Croatia and that this suggestion be seriously
considered.
The second floor of the building at Ilica no. 7 in Zagreb (which
belongs to the Serbian Orthodox Church) houses the headquarters
of the Zagreb Orthodox Community. The first floor of the same building
is currently being used to store sport's equipment. These premises
could once again be issued to the SOC in Zagreb, or rather be given
to the disposal of the Zagreb Metropolitan while his residence is
being renovated for normal use. This location - as claimed by the
Metropolitan – would be ideal because of its closeness to
the main Orthodox Church in Zagreb, especially with regard to his
own personal security and for the needs and obligations necessary
during his pastoral duties. In 1993 he forwarded a request to the
then president of the Parliament with this same suggestion, however,
he never received a reply.
In keeping with this request by the Most Eminent Metropolitan of
Zagreb, Mr Jovan and his further request that I recommend it to
the Croatian Government, I take the liberty to turn to you directly
because it was you in fact who assured me that your government was
prepared to co-operate with representatives of the SOC wherever
possible. Your positive decision to this request would be yet another
clear indication of the sincerity of your willingness as a high
official of the Croatian Government to normalise relations with
the SOC in the entire region of the Republic of Croatia. This will
surely not remain without positive repercussions for the Catholic
Church wherever such repercussions would be desirable and - with
your support - possible!
I am deeply convinced that you will send you urgent reply to his
Eminence with a positive solution to his request and I personally
wish to express my gratitude, hoping sincerely that this gesture
will contribute to a just peace for the people of Croatia (as well
as my decimated Banja Luka Diocese!)!
Please accept my expressions of respect!
Dr FRANJO
KOMARICA, Bishop of Banja Luka
c.c.
- Cardinal Franjo Kuharić, Archbishop and Metropolitan Zagreb, President
of the Croatian Bishops' Conference - Zagreb
- Mr Jovan, Metropolitan Zagreb - Ljubljana and Italy
- Holy Synod of the SOC - Belgrade
- Mr Jefrem, Episcope Banja Luka
Bishop's
letter to Mr K Zubak, President of the Presidential Council of the
CR of H-B
(Prot no: 24/95 dated 7 February 1995)
"WHAT HAVE CROATIAN POLITICIANS ACTUALLY DONE TO ENABLE
US TO REMAIN ON OUR HEARTHS"
Dear
Mr President!
The latest news which, is arriving from my parishes in the Banja
Luka region especially from Šimići and Ivanjska compel me to once
again rum to you. The people from quite a number of villages in
these two parishes, located on the periphery of the Banja Luka municipality
(as well as many other surrounding parishes) wish to leave and abandon
their ancient hearths. Until now they have somehow managed to put
up with it, all in the hope that it will be better. Now, it seems,
panic has struck many of them as a result of the complete lack of
protection and the exposure to robbery, physical attacks and threats
by armed gangs, in addition to the consistent silent wall put up
by the Croatian politicians regarding our highly dramatic circumstances.
Often enough our leading Croatian politicians (in the Republic of
Croatia) have assured me that the general option set by our Croatian
politicians is that the people in B-H remain on their hearths. I
ask you with unmasked pain, as I have often enough asked my other
collocutors, what have the Croatian politicians effectively done
for our people to enable them to remain on their hearths which is
their right and which is your obligation before the face of your
nation and that of the international community?! How many times
in the past three years did you raise your voice to protect our
completely unprotected people? Who is it that in fact represents
us and who are we supposed to listen to? In the most recent times,
it appears it is you! Thank you!
It is not my intention to pose questions to you for which I already
know you do not have the answers to. As the local bishop (and member
of the Croatian Nation) I have not given up in spirit and do not
intend to stop raising my voice nor to stop praying to God or to
stop writing appeals to all people of good will so that they may
help us achieve our fundamental human rights! That is why I once
again turn to the leading politicians in the CR o! H-B, so that
they fulfil their promises which were made through Messrs Bender,
Marković and Kordić during my recent visit to Mostar, all in the
hope of arranging for an appropriate delegation to come and visit
us here in Banja Luka and to discuss our current situation and our
future with the local Serbian authorities.
I naturally expect that you will not turn a deaf ear to my appeal
and request, as it is a matter which truly concerns the fateful
destiny for our Croatian Catholic population!
Respectfully yours!
Dr FRANJO
KOMAR1CA, Bishop of Banja Luka
c.c.
- BC B-H- Sarajevo
- Papal Nunciature - Sarajevo
Bishop's
letter to the President of the RC, Dr F. Tuđman
(Prot. no: 332/93 dated 22 May 1995)
IS IT WITH YOUR APPROVAL THAT WE ARE FACED
WITH THE DEFINITE DESTRUCTION OF THE REMAINING TENS OF THOUSANDS
OF CATHOLIC - CROATS (& OTHERS) IN THE WIDER BANJA LUKA REGION?!
Dear
Mr President!
From my many conversations with you personally and your closest
associates over the past three years, as well as in the messages
and appeals which 1 have forwarded to the state leadership of the
Republic of Croatia and to the political representatives amongst
the Croatian people in B-H, via my closest colleagues, or in writing
since 1991, you have been continually informed of the actual situation
faced by the Catholics - Croats and others in the region of my Banja
Luka Diocese. Our situation, especially in those regions in which
the Bosnian Serbs have been in control the entire time and which
is the major part of my diocese, as well as the Bihać region which
is under the control of the Muslims, has been uncertain throughout
and at times quite dramatic. And now the drama is reaching its climax!
You are aware that the local Croats, some 80,000 of them, were left
without the majority of their legally elected political representatives
and with this they were left without any practical protection or
orientation. Those political representatives, who have not been
killed, banished or who have not fled, as far as I am aware, had
no contact, let alone support, from any other party, political or
state bodies or institutions representing the Croatian people, neither
from the region of the CR of H-B or rather B-H, nor from the Republic
of Croatia (!)
All the burden and responsibility concerning our people, unprotected
and deprived of their rights has been taken over by the priests,
nuns and the local Bishop. With their persistent sacrifice for their
faithful and citizens, despite the direct threats to their lives
and oppression (the first priest to fall victim was on 16 June 1992,
while the latest and sixth hi total was on 12 May 1993), as well
as their tireless preaching about peace, non-violence and forgiveness,
our priests have saved many lives and not only amongst the Croats,
but the Serbs and others.
Despite our exceptionally peaceful behaviour, of which our neighbours
are quite aware, as are our compatriots in other parts of B-H, hi
the Republic of Croatia, and you yourself, this entire time since
the attack on the Republic of Croatia in the Summer of 1991 until
now, we here, as Croats and Catholics, have been exposed to the
most varying and brutal terror, ranging from tremendous pressure
to go into battle against our brothers in Croatia, to being shipped
of our fundamental human rights: the rights to life, a home, to
work, social and health benefits and others. As a result of great,
frequent and unbearable pressure, some 55,000 Catholics have temporarily
left their homes, homeland and gone not only to Croatia but elsewhere
in Europe and abroad. Many of them wish to return to their ancestral
hearths, via the Banja Luka Vicarage in Zagreb, keeping a close
watch on the developments in our region and the right opportunity
to return.
By means of our diocesan Caritas, we have invested maximum effort
to supply the local people who have remained (and others) with the
most basic necessities and medical assistance. Thanks to the extraordinary
efforts of those few Croat doctors and nurses remaining (for whose
work not one state or political institution of the Croatian people
has been prepared to pay!) we made room in the Bishop's Ordinary
for a medical clinic where over 70,000 people were treated in the
past year.
- Our situation has, nevertheless, dramatically declined through
no fault of our own but rather due to the well planned pressure
placed upon us by the local Serbian authorities to totally eradicate
us from these our ancient lands!
- Many a time indeed I cautioned the Bosnian Serb authorities, as
well as the political representatives of the Croatian people in
B-H, Croatia and leading European and world politicians and representatives
of humanitarian organisations of their obligation to humane and
civilised behaviour toward the exceptionally peaceful local Croatian
people. At the same time I pleaded with them not to allow atrocities
to be committed against us, against mankind, against our fundamental
human and civil rights and liberties.
- The most understanding and support we have received has come from
the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, the Holy See and representatives
of the Catholic Church in other individual countries. Everyone else
until now has offered only promises rather than effective action,
which, we believe they could and should have done.
- Unfortunately, the dramatic, stormy history of Catholic Croats
in this region is being repeated! Due to indifference and their
own personal interests, our ancestral neighbours from the second
half of the fifteenth century (1460's) turned a deaf ear to the
dramatic pleas for help from the leaders of our people before the
onslaught of the invaders and exterminators of the Catholics from
this entire region.
This had, as your are aware, tragic consequences for the Croatian
people and the Catholic Church. We were almost completely annihilated
from these regions. This directly affected the general situation
of the Croatian people and the Catholic Church in Croatia as well
- from those ancient times until the present.
- Some 22,000 remaining Catholics (mostly Croats) in the wider Banja
Luka area have in the past few months - due to being totally without
protection and due to the merciless pressures on them to leave,
in an effort to destroy the small remaining number of our churches,
convents, monasteries, shrines, in fact, any traces of the religious,
national and cultural past and identity and in an effort to banish
and kill their only true leaders, breadwinners and defenders - the
priests and nuns, are now faced with forced re-settlement and departure
from these centuries-old hearths. Their persistent, peaceful presence
till now has given hope to all those who had been banished earlier
on and who yearn to return to their own homes. Now that hope is
rapidly fading and there is the added threat of the far-reaching
and fatal destruction of the Catholic Church and the Croatian National
Corps in the region of my diocese, i.e. northwest Bosnia, which
until recent centuries was referred to as "CROATIA TURCICA"
-Turkish Croatia.
We still wish to remain on our hearths in Banja Luka and the surrounding
regions as people – equal to others around us enjoying all
our human rights and liberties, i.e. our religious - Catholic and
national identity. We consider this one of our inalienable rights
which cannot and should not be brought into question by any political
decision or order! If we are not assisted in establishing these
rights by our brothers in faith, blood and language, we fear that
no one else will help!
Mr President, after the first horrible, pre-meditated coup against
our existence in these regions (in 1992), I did not come to you
nor to anyone else at the head of a column of refugees consisting
of my compatriots and diocesan colleagues. They who were then already
banished from their ancient hearths were accepted by my closest
associates who helped them and recommended them to other brothers
in faith and blood - to go to you there in a free Croatia and other
circles.
I did the rounds to turn to you and others around you, also into
the wide world in an effort to look for bread and clothing for those
"Poor souls" left behind. My primary aim though, was to
find some understanding and support for our persistent wish to remain
on our ancient hearths, not as slaves nor in our graves, but as
people worthy of dignity, rights and liberties which are guaranteed
to all people in the civilised world.
I do not want anything more for them now! The helm of my ship of
life is here and I do not intend to leave it unless a higher power
determines differently. Only death or something to that effect will
remove me! Together with my priests and nuns we will share in the
fate of my suffering people stripped of their rights as we have
until now. We will continue to spread love, forgiveness and a multi-cultural
and multi-religious spirit which is inherent in our Croatian people
and particularly amongst members of the Catholic Church. We will
continue to be with our people, our faithful of clear conscience
and unbreakable spirit!
However, all this is no longer enough at this particular time! The
scales of serious and consistent injustice, dissatisfaction and
uncertainty are overloaded! We URGENTLY need correct and effective
assistance to regain our fundamental human and civil rights and
liberties! Someone competent amongst the Croatian politicians needs
to tell these people what is to become of them, are they to be sacrificed
or salvaged!
I once again plead; HELP US! We only have a matter of days left!
Find some way for the authenticated Croatian political leaders to
take over our case and to take into consideration our fate: present
and future! Do this before, God forbid, it is too late for us and
for you!
I believe that you will help us, not only in words but with actual
positive measures! I and my colleagues thank you sincerely!
With respects!
Dr FRANJO
KOMARICA, Bishop of Banja Luka
c.c.
Papal Nunciature - Sarajevo (Rome)
President of the Croatian Bishops' Conference, Cardinal Franjo Kuharić
- Zagreb
President of the BC B-H, Cardinal Vinko Puljić - Sarajevo.
Bishop's
letter to the President of the Presidential Council of the CR of
H-B, Mr K. Zubak
(Prot. no: 152/95 dated 23 October 1995)
"WHERE ARE THE PROTECTORS OF BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS THE INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNITY BOASTS OF?"
Dear
Sir!
1. You
have probably already been informed through my diocesan Vicarage
in Zagreb of the forceful abduction and house arrest of one of my
priests together with his parents. The parish priest from Prijedor,
Father Tomislav Matanović was taken from his presbytery during the
night of 24 & 25 August by the official police of the RS. Since
19 September this year, we have lost any trace of Father Matanović
and his parents. All of our attempts and manifold interventions
with the appropriate authorities and representatives of international
humanitarian organisations have come up with fragmented replies
by the authorities in the RS (Jovo Turanjanin and Srđo Srdić) such
as "the parish priest is safe and sound", or "the
priest has been exchanged", i.e. he was handed over to the
Croatian authorities. Since we have not been informed of any such
event, I once again ask that the next time you conduct negotiations
with the authorities in the RS regarding the exchange of prisoners,
you once again insist on our priest being released.
We still have no knowledge regarding the fate of the abused priest
from Nova Topola, Father Ratko Grgić who was forcefully taken from
his home on 16 June 1992! I often appealed to representatives of
the Herceg-Bosna authorities that they demand the Serbian side to
release our priest. I never received any replies however! Therefore
I once again turn to you with the cases regarding Father Grgić and
Father Matanović! I am sure that you are in a position to better
resolve these issues than I have been able to. You are after all
in a position to negotiate the fate of Catholics, Croats and others
currently situated in those regions controlled by the Bosnian Serbs!
2. I
also wish to request that you keep in mind the current uncertain
circumstances surrounding several hundred of our faithful, Catholics
- Croats, in the region of Sanski Most and Prijedor, who were still
in their homes during the recent battles in that region. We have
received news that a certain number of these poor people are currently
located in concentration camps in Omarska and Bronzani Majdan and
are being kept in the most horrific state. Some of them are also
being kept in several locations around Banja Luka itself. As we
priests, or rather Caritas, do not have access or contact with these
people, we requested the local representatives of the international
humanitarian organisations to see what their state was and to care
for them. We still have not received any feedback from these institutions.
I am especially concerned for the fate of the remaining faithful
hi the region of Sasina, Sanski Most, Stara Rijeka, Ljubija, Ravska,
Šurkovac, Prijedor and Bosanski Novi. I therefore ask that during
your official contacts with the Serbian side regarding possible
exchanges of prisoners, you undertake the necessary measures so
that these poor people can be saved. No one else, unfortunately,
can help them if you do not do something!
3. The
forceful evicition from apartments and homes for the remaining small
number of people in the Banja Luka region itself in the past few
weeks he ed, another three were actually killed amongst them a 17
year old youth! We’ve managed to house a few dozen of these
people in the remaining Church property at our disposal, which gives
them some form of security (which we ourselves do not have in fact!).
What can we do with the rest of these poor people who have no protection
whatsoever, nor do they have anywhere to go to save themselves in
these dramatic circumstances!? I requested that international humanitarian
organisations do something! There has been no action!
Where
are the actions of the world-wide protectors of human rights who
are supposedly cruising B-H and the Republic of Croatia? Why aren't
they officially demanding to visit these regions so that they can
themselves witness the agony we have been exposed to for so long
now? When will they recognise that we too are human beings, whose
only fault is that we happened to be here where our homes are and
are still trying to preserve ourselves and not do any harm to anyone?!
Please
do something positive and constructive so that the local remaining
people - Catholic Croats (in the wider area of Banja Luka there
are still 7,500) are effectively helped! If you truly wish to, you
can help. We do not wish to doubt your readiness to help us here
in these regions, so that we can survive this hell and finally await
more peaceful times. Then perhaps, we will enjoy a greater degree
of law and order, as well as having our fundamental human and civil
rights and liberties reinstated! Thanking you in advance! Respectfully!
Dr FRANJO
KOMARICA, Bishop of Banja Luka
P.S.
With the negative experiences to date, I ask that as a measure of
security you do not give this correspondence to the public media!
c.c.
Deputy Prime Minister of Croatia, Dr Ivica Kostović - Zagreb
Papal Nunciature - Sarajevo (Rome)
Secretariat of the BC B-H - Sarajevo
Secretariat of the CBC - Zagreb
Bishop's
letter to the President of the Presidential Council of the CR of
H-B, Mr K. Zubak
(Prot. no: 172/95 dated 15 November 1995)
"DEMAND THAT WE BE GUARANTEED THE
RIGHT TO LIVE AS HUMAN BEINGS!"
Dear
Mr President Zubak!
I once again ask you, as the most competent politician in B-H, to
more decisively and effectively intervene on our behalf as we are
still persevering in our efforts to remain on our centuries-old
hearths currently controlled by the Bosnian Serbs.
1. Two of our priests (apart from the five killed and one sister)
have been abducted from their homes and taken to whereabouts unknown
and there is still no trace of them! These are the parish priest
from Nova Topola (Bosanska Gradiška) Father Ratko Grgić and the
parish priest from Prijedor, Father Tomislav Matanović. The Serbian
authorities know where these priests are and they are responsible
for their fate. Both we and the Serbian authorities know that these
priests are entirely innocent and were people of good will towards
everyone and were quite well known as peacemakers! All my efforts
to date to do something in this regard have remained fruitless!
2. Our remaining faithful are still continually being evicted from
their homes and apartments (mostly elderly folk). The authorities
are not doing anything effective to stop this practise! Last Sunday
we buried yet another victim of this senseless violence. The victim
was a well-known citizen of Banja Luka! He is the eightieth civilian
victim in the Banja Luka municipality alone and just one of the
several hundred killed in a region where there was no war! What
can we do with our people here in Banja Luka who have now found
themselves on the street and there is just nowhere to put them?
Included in this predicament are several dozen of our people who
were recently expelled from Sanski Most and Prijedor and for whom
we are also caring!
Please help us! Please demand that we be guaranteed our rights to
live as human beings in these regions which we consider our homeland
and where we do not wish to harm our neighbours in any way, but
even more than this, to help them whenever we can even if they do
us harm!
Please accept my expressions of due respect!
Dr FRANJO
KOMARICA, Bishop of Banja Luka
Bishop's
letter to Dr M. Granić, Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of
Foreign Affairs of the RC
(Prot. no: 182/95 dated 25 November 1995)
THE FUTURE OF CROATS (CATHOLICS) IN THE
BANJA LUKA DIOCESE IN THE REGION OF THE REPUBLIKA SRPSKA FOLLOWING
THE PEACE ACCORD
Dear
Sir!
Based on the latest peace accord signed in Dayton (USA) which is
shortly to be officially ratified, more than two-thirds of the parishes
in my Banja Luka Diocese will definitely remain {until some future
possible accord) under the direct control of the Bosnian Serbs.
You are well aware that our consistent peaceful behaviour until
now has resulted in a very worthwhile end for our Serb neighbours
because not for one moment did they experience any danger from us,
not for their lives, property, their shrines, nor their identity.
We were determined in our efforts in practise to show that we are
capable of living with other people, with full respect for the differences
they may have, as well as full respect for their rights and liberties.
Nevertheless, what has been the result of our attempts, how has
this been reciprocated? We have been treated like sheep in a pen,
or rather like cattle condemned to extinction not only biologically,
but to the point that no trace will be left behind which could possibly
show that we ever existed here as an organised Church Community
or as part of our Croatian entity!
Before departing to attend negotiations in Dayton, the Deputy President
of the RS, Dr Nikola Koljević rang me (for the first time). In a
brief conversation, I asked him, amongst other things, what they
intended for us, what we Catholic Croats had to do that we already
hadn't and how we should behave so that our fellow citizens and
Serb neighbours finally considered us as human beings with whom
it would be favourable to live. He promised to reply upon his return
from the USA. The foreclosed accord foresees, as far as I have managed
to find out, a high level of human rights and liberties for the
entire area of Bosnia-Herzegovina", which includes the territory
of the RS. If we in the RS until now have been denied the right
to be human beings, then it could be very easy that this accord
will not be applied to this particular region! I truly consider
all political factors, both local and international, to be relevant
and that they guarantee the reinstatement of all our human rights
and liberties. However, logical reason gives me cause to question,
on behalf of all the rightless and based on our bitter experience
to date, who will now be capable of actually putting words into
practise? If not one Croatian politician bothers to do something
for the Croats in this region (Bosanska Krajina) as well as in the
RS on the whole, who will then do so? Perhaps some Bosniac politician
or some international commission or perhaps even our Serbian neighbours?
Our people here tell me that they are still prepared to remain peaceful
and forgive and are even prepared for more sacrifice. They, however,
do not consider themselves obliged to be "kept in a pen as
cattle for the slaughter and possible annihilation". They ask
me to turn to the leading politicians of the Croatian people to
ask what is to happen to us now? Who will represent the fundamental
interests of those people still remaining in these regions, as well
as the interest of the even greater number of our people who have
been banished from this land but still desire to return to their
homes, parishes and towns?!
I feel free to ask you to let us know who to ruin to amongst the
current Croatian politicians and who will truly be capable of protecting
and representing us in our most fundamental rights. The assurances
we have been given by renowned and influential politicians in Europe
and further, who understand our situation and wish to help us, are
praiseworthy and valuable. However, this help can only be realised
effectively through out Croatian politicians. Will we finally after
this accord be allowed to live normally and in peace? Even though
we have our doubts, our hopes are much greater! Please do not destroy
this hope and don't allow anyone else to do so! Thanking you for
all that you have done and will do for us in the future, I express
my due respects!
Dr FRANJO
KOMARICA, Bishop of Banja Luka
Bishop's
letter to the Presidential Council of the CR of H-B in Mostar
(Prot. no: 184/95 dated 28 November 1995)
I MOST DECISIVELY RAISE MY VOICE AGAINST INJUSTICE NO MATTER
WHO THE PERPETRATOR
Dear
Sirs!
These days the public media in Banja Luka have released news taken
from foreign press agencies that "Croatian military formations
are destroying abandoned properties owned by the Serbs in the regions
of Mrkonjić Grad and Šipovo currently under their control".
We have no opportunity here in Banja Luka to verify these claims.
However, consistent to our peaceful behaviour and decisive attitude
lo respect and protect all people and their property, regardless
of who they be, once again we decisively raise our voice for the
benefit of our Serbian neighbours, so that they themselves and their
property be protected – if indeed they are in any danger of
being violated.
You are aware that the Catholic Bishops in Bosnia-Herzegovina and
Croatia have until now clearly and actually most decisively raised
their voices against any atrocity or crime no matter who the perpetrator,
as well as protecting any oppressed individual or ethnic or religious
community.
I trust that you too wish to prevent any violation of human and
civil rights and liberties in those regions under your authority.
As such I ask that you most decisively take the necessary steps
to prevent irresponsible individuals and gangs who are hiding behind
the cover of Croatian military formations and who are staining our
good Croatian name with their irresponsible actions.
Respectfully yours!
Dr FRANJO
KOMARICA, Bishop of Banja Luka
c.c.
Government of the CR of H-B - Mostar
Government of the RS - Sarajevo (Pale)
Public Media sources
Secretariat of the BC B-H - Sarajevo
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