SARAJEVO, Feb 28 (Hina) - Bosnian Franciscans in Sarajevo issued a statement on Friday warning that frequent incidents which have Catholic objects as targets had seriously undermined peace in the Bosnian Federation. The Franciscans
warned that peace in the Bosnian Federation in fact no longer existed.
SARAJEVO, Feb 28 (Hina) - Bosnian Franciscans in Sarajevo issued a statement
on Friday warning that frequent incidents which have Catholic objects as
targets had seriously undermined peace in the Bosnian Federation. The
Franciscans warned that peace in the Bosnian Federation in fact no longer
existed. #L#
Reports that unidentified persons had desecrated the Catholic cemetery
in Fojnica (about 40 kilometres south-west of Sarajevo), tearing down the
roof of the chapel and damaging several grave stones, the statement said.
The Franciscans especially warned about the peril of Catholics in
Bugojno (about 80 kilometres west of Sarajevo).
"After cemeteries in Bristovi, Kandija, Glavice and Drvetine were
devastated and desecrated, parish offices asked the local authorities for
protection, but new attacks ," the statement said.
The Franciscans also recalled that after the mining of the St. Ante
church tower in Bugojno on 25 July last year, the St. Terezija church in
Donji Vakuf had been mined recently.
"What is even more absurd, this church was one of the few not damaged
during the Serb occupation. The new residents of the area did not protect
it, but allowed it to be mined on 25 February.
There are only seven Croat families living in Donji Vakuf, and several
provocative, threatening telephone calls were forwarded to them, to the
parish office personnel in Bugojno and the nuns' house.
The answer of the local authorities has always been the same - 'the
investigation is underway'. Notwithstanding the investigation, the feeling
of sure peace in the Bosnian federation has long gone. There is only tension
and the game of endurance which must also once cease," the statement said.
(hina) lm jn
281443 MET feb 97