Bukovica engleski.qxd - Fond za humanitarno pravo

Bukovica engleski.qxd 15.3.2003 13:54 Page 86
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Bukovica
APPENDIX
Bukovica Refugees in Bosnia-Herzegovina
The Montenegrin government’s Trade and Information
Mission in Sarajevo contacted the inhabitants of Bukovica
villages who left their homes during the war in
Bosnia-Herzegovina and made a list of their property.
This list, said the Mission head Novak Kilibarda, ”can
serve as a basis for preparing a government decision
that is expected to resolve this problem.“ Hoping to
ensure full support for the return of these refugees, the
Mission in early February 2002 addressed the Montenegrin
President, Minister of Internal Affairs, and the Ministry
for Protection of the Rights of National and Ethnic
Groups.
Recalling the statements of the Bukovica refugees on
the large presence of Yugoslav Army troops, including
reservists, and police officers from Pljevlja in the area
from the outbreak of the war in Bosnia, the Mission said
in its letter:
„The searches of homes on a daily basis, accompanied
by verbal and physical abuse, killings, and looting of
property in fact put Muslims under pressure to leave
the area. The majority of Bukovica inhabitants had
moved out by the end of 1992, first to Pljevlja and then
to Turkey, Germany and other countries. Those who are
in Bosnia-Herzegovina came mainly after the end of the
war and continue living here without material means.“
In April 2002, Montenegrin Minister for Protection of
the Rights of National and Ethnic Groups Šaim Hajdinaga
informed the Sarajevo Mission that the setting up of
a commission comprising officials of the Ministry of