(28 Apr 1996) Eng/Serbo-Croat/Nat
NATO troops have prevented thousands of Muslims from returning to their home villages, now in Serb-controlled areas, saying it was a potential threat to civil order.
That follows Bosnian Serb threats of force if the Muslims crossed into Serb-held territory.
The Bosnian government has reacted by accusing I-FOR of appeasing the Serbs, and violating the Dayton Accord's guarantees of free movement.
Thousands of Muslims gathered near Doboj and Prijedor to tend their families' graves during the Muslim Bay ram festival which started at dawn.
But not all were able to visit graves and homes.
Muslims returned to Doboj in central Bosnia on Sunday for the first time since 1992, when they were expelled from the region.
As part of the Muslim Bayram festival, they were returning to their former homes and to pay respect to their dead, by visiting the graves of their families and friends.
They were escorted by the international forces all the way to Doboj -- which is to stay under Serb control.
Driven in two buses, a group of 60 Muslims entered the city following an agreement reached between Bosnian Federation government and Serb representatives.
The Muslims were met by angry Bosnian Serbs, who screamed insults at the mourners.
Serb police hastily stepped in.
All residents of Bosnia are supposed to be guaranteed free movement under the Dayton peace accord.
But Muslims who attempted to visit graves and homes in Prijedor were prevented from doing so.
These refugees had travelled all the way from Germany to join other Muslim refugees from Prijedor gathered near Sanski Most.
After a service, the 300 Muslims went to the former confrontation line to try to cross it and visit their homes and graveyards in Prijedor.
But they were told to turn back.
SOUNDBITE: (Serbo-Croat)
"We don't want any problems. This is our right according to Dayton, so we just want to visit our homes. We don't want fight or any barbarism."
SUPER CAPTION: Bosnian Muslim
Ironically, it was Bosnian police, not Serb officials, who stepped in -- apparently concerned for their safety.
The concern was apparently well-placed:
Bosnian Serb General Ratko Mladic, who has been indicted for war crimes, sent a letter three days ago to the Supreme I-FOR Command.
In it, Mladic warned NATO that his units would use force if I-FOR troops did not prevent Bosnian refugees crossing over the demarcation line.
In the event, refugees abandoned their attempt to cross the line and held a demonstration nearby, instead.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"And the United Nations - which was here for more than three years - who didn't act, and who looked at genocide and military aggression from Serbia, from Mr. Milosevic, and for one year of Mr Tudjman."
SUPER CAPTION: Tilman Zulch, President of Society for Threatened People
Prevented from revisiting their homes, these refugees were left to condemn a peace accord which they charge has failed to right the wrongs they have endured.
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