BOSNIA: GRBAVICA: REFUGEES CONTINUE SCORCHED EARTH POLICY

(14 Mar 1996) English/Nat

Bosnian Serbs continue to flee the Sarajevo suburb of Grbavica, five days before control is to be transferred to the Muslim/Croat federation.

As they leave, many of the refugees carry out what some are now calling a "scorched earth" policy, setting fire to homes and other buildings.

The United Nations human rights representative in the area has now called for an increase in security to try to entice the Serbs to return.

Five days ahead of the transfer of power and the Serbs continue the exodus from Grbavica, the Sarajevo suburb.

But they're leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.

Carrying out what has been described as a "scorched earth" policy, they're torching many buildings, leaving returning Muslims, their former enemies, nothing but ruins.

On Thursday, Muslims entering the suburb tried found many buildings up in flames.

Helped by re-settled residents, they made desperate attempts to contain the many blazes.

One of the buildings set on fire was the local grammar school.

Although IFOR troops have been stationed in area, their presence has failed to act as a deterrent to the arsonists.

The United Nations human rights representative for the area thinks the cycle will be repeated until Serbs feel that they will be safe.

SOUNDBITE:
"I think that it was a disaster that so many of the Serbs have been leaving the city of
Sarajevo. I know that they feel very unsafe, those who are staying, and they want to have some kind of protection and security, at least promises about security. I talked with the foreign minister and he said he is of the same opinion - there should be the protection. My thoughts are that it should be at least until the elections. The elections perhaps can be a kind of other schedule or timetable where the Serbs who think they would return could come back."
SUPER CAPTION: Elizabeth Rehn, U-N human rights commissioner to the former Yugoslavia

The key to halting the fires seems to lie in convincing the Serbs that they will be safe in a Sarajevo run by the Muslim-Croat Federation.

So far, only up to three thousand Serbs have refused to follow the exodus from Sarajevo.

IFOR forces admitted Wednesday that local gangs are responsible for the widely-reported series of robberies and harassment of Serbs.

The NATO-led peace implementation force and unarmed international police have increased patrols in an attempt to prevent the lawlessness that has marked the hand-over of four other suburbs.

But developments such as Thursday's arson attack again raise doubts over whether Sarajevo can become the multi-ethnic city that the international community wishes.

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