BOSNIAN SERBS CAUGHT FELLING CROAT-OWNED WOODS NEAR BRCKO

RAVNE BRCKO, June 11 (Hina) - Eight Bosnian Serbs have been caught felling woods owned by Croats of Ravne-Brcko area (north-eastern Bosnia), whereas another two have been caught taking down roofs from family houses. They were detained in the Bosnian Croat police station of Ravne Brcko to be interrogated in the presence of international policemen (IPTF). Two men who had taken down roofs, had a hand grenade on them when they were caught. The interrogation founded that all of them were Serbs whose place of residence was Smoluca in the municipality of Lukavac, but who were living in the Serb-controlled part of Brcko for the time being. The perpetrators denied that they had committed criminal acts, and explained that relevant forestry authorities of the Republic of Srpska and Serb police in Brcko had allowed them to cut down woods in the (Croat-Moslem) Federation claiming that the woods were Bosnian Serb state-owned property. According to (Croat) police sources, photos and evidence as well as relevant statements have been garnered in the IPTF presence. (hina) jn mš 111836 MET jun 97