LINTA: INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY MUST URGENTLY REACT AND PROTECT SERB RETURNEES FROM MIGRANTS

BELGRADE, APRIL 16 /SRNA/ - The intrusion of migrants into the Serb village of Trubar near Drvar is one of many examples showing that the basic human rights of Serb returnees in the Federation of BiH /FBiH/ are being severely violated, and that the international community must urgently react and demand accountability from the competent authorities, Miodrag Linta, President of the Alliance of Serbs from the Region, told SRNA.

Linta said it is unacceptable that a small number of Serb returnees live in fear and uncertainty about what might happen to them. He believes that one of the key problems is the decision to allow a migrant centre to be opened in the Serb village of Lipa near Bihać. “Here it is obvious that there is a deliberate intention to establish such a centre, which is always a potential source of problems for Serb returnees,” Linta said. He also pointed to the lack of reaction from the authorities in the FBiH towards the Croatian authorities, who, he said, are returning migrants from their territory in an unacceptable manner, and to the fact that they are being allowed to do whatever they want in returnee Serb villages along the border. According to him, permanent monitoring should be established in that border area, which would guarantee the security of the small number of Serb returnees. He said that full control over the movement of migrants should also be implemented, and that Croatia should be prevented from returning migrants to BiH if they cross its territory unlawfully, without an agreement with the authorities of the FBiH, where they move without control and enter Serb villages. He also called on international organizations in BiH to demand from the authorities in the Federation of BiH, as well as in the Una-Sana Canton, to ensure that Serb returnees are guaranteed basic human rights, including the right to the safety of life and property. “The competent authorities are washing their hands of it, claiming they are not responsible, although full responsibility lies with them. The authorities in the FBiH, i.e. cantonal authorities, are calmly watching what migrants are doing,” Linta said. Around twenty Serb returnees in the village of Trubar, some thirty kilometres from Drvar, spent Easter in fear and uncertainty, as migrants, after an unsuccessful attempt to cross the border with Croatia, broke into the local Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Mother of God and robbed several returnee households.