KOSOVO CROATS FORCED TO FLEE THEIR HOMES

ZAGREB, Nov 7 (Hina) - Croats from the southern Yugoslav province of Kosovo's villages of Letnica, Vrnavokolo, Vrnaz and Šašare, whose ancestors had lived there for seven centuries, have been displaced from Kosovo, and arrived in Croatia last Saturday. The pressure of local Albanians on Croats from neighbouring villages has increased, Croatian assistant Immigration, Reconstruction and Development Minister Marijan Perkovic told Hina, adding that the pressure was a consequence of the war. The Croats forwarded a letter to Croatian President Franjo Tudjman and the Croatian Government in September to inform them of their difficult position. The Croatian Government in late September passed a decision that those Croats immigrate to Croatia. Only 67 Croats remained in this part of Kosovo, Perkovic said, adding the 67 Croats were also planning to immigrate to Croatia in the near future. The Vrnavokole Parish priest, father Pasko Glasnovic, forwarded a letter to the Croatian Government in which he pointed to the pressure on Croat families, such as threats by Muslims, the murder of one Croat, an attempt of rape of a mother of four, whose husband was beaten by an Albanian only because he spoke Croatian, robberies, etc. Perkovic said it was necessary for those Croats to move to Croatia, because the Kosovo Force failed to give guarantees for their safety. The displaced Croats from Kosovo are placed in the refugee camp of Dumace, near the central Croatian town of Petrinja. They will permanently be placed in the southern Croatian region of Lika in the spring. (hina) it