BRCKO: OWNERS OF LAND AT ARIZONA MARKET STAGE PROTEST

BRCKO, March 8 (Hina) - Some fifty owners of land located in the area of a local market gathered in the northern Bosnian town of Brcko on Saturday to protest against the nationalisation of their land by the authorities which today organised a reception on the occasion of the third anniversary of Brcko District. #L# The dispute between private land owners and district authorities started in autumn 2002, when the authorities announced they would nationalise land in the area of the Arizona market and reorganise it in order to prevent the escalation of smuggling and other illegal activities. The protesters carried banners saying "Ambassadors, Fight Against Bribe and Corruption in the District", "Protect Human Rights in the District and Arizona", "Property Rights for All or... Only the Privileged?", "We Are All Croats When It Comes to Expropriation". The protesters, who are organised in the Ravne association, issued a statement calling on the authorities to attend the last talks on the Arizona market on Monday. The land owners, mostly Croats from the former municipality of Ravne-Brcko, claim that once nationalised, their land will be sold to a private company from Italy. No one from the authorities wanted to comment on the protest. (hina) rml