OF 17,000 PRE-WAR CROATS IN BUGOJNO, THERE ARE NOW ONLY 4,000

BUGOJNO, Feb 12 (Hina) - In the central Bosnian municipality of Bugojno there are now 4,000 Croats as against 17,000 who lived there before the war in the last decade. According to the municipal Information Centre, 12,450 Bugojno Croat refugees have applied for the return to their homes in that part of Bosnia, expecting that they will be able to come back this year. One of the biggest hurdles in their return is that of 2,550 war- damaged houses only 572 have been reconstructed to date for the necessary accommodation. In addition, houses where Croat refugees can return now are usually occupied either by Bugojno Moslems or Moslems, reported the municipal branch of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ). Croats who live in Bugojno are being marginalised when applications for jobs in public and state firms are considered. Another problem is that municipal authorities fail to respect recommendations and decisions of the Office of the international community's High Representative concerning the allocation of adequate premises and building for the first Croat school in Bugojno. Lessons are now being given in the building of the Roman Catholic Church. The house which belongs to the Croatian Cultural Society called "Napredak" has not yet been returned to the owners. Infrastructure and public utilities in the pre-war Croat-populated Bugojno areas have been destroyed as well and this also affect the return of Croats, the HDZ party added. As Bugojno Croats are not able to solve the problems by themselves they appeal on relevant institutions of Bosnia-Herzegovina to help them soon, read a statement issued by the HDZ branch of this municipality. (hina) ms