SARAJEVO, Feb 5 (Hina) - The bridge connecting the centre of Sarajevo with the suburb of Grbavica, formerly called "Bratstvo- jedinstvo", is one of the busiest parts of town. Although both parts of town have been integrated into the
Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina on February 4, there are no signs that the situation from when Serbs held control over the town has changed in any way. On the building of the former "Energopetrol" gas station a sign says "Republika Srpska - Novo Sarajevo border" and Serb policemen are still carefully watching the passers-by with frowns on their faces.
SARAJEVO, Feb 5 (Hina) - The bridge connecting the centre of
Sarajevo with the suburb of Grbavica, formerly called "Bratstvo-
jedinstvo", is one of the busiest parts of town.
Although both parts of town have been integrated into the
Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina on February 4, there are no signs
that the situation from when Serbs held control over the town has
changed in any way. On the building of the former "Energopetrol"
gas station a sign says "Republika Srpska - Novo Sarajevo border"
and Serb policemen are still carefully watching the passers-by with
frowns on their faces. #L#
All those who want to cross over to the other side of the
bridge first have to wait for hours and then show their
Identification cards in order to be put on special lists.
"It is for their own safety..., in case somebody does not return,
so we can establish his whereabouts," the policemen on both ends of
the bridge explain.
According to IFOR and under the Dayton Peace Accord, this
behaviour violates the freedom of movement because nobody has the
authority to check up on people.
It is mostly older people who wait to cross the bridge. Also,
more Bosnians want to cross over to the Serb side than vice versa.
They want to visit their friends or families in Grbavica and on
their return, talk about how the Serbs are packing all valuables
getting ready to leave for good.
Those who want to stay live in constant fear of burglars, as
do the few remaining Croats and Bosniacs.
"They climbed onto my neighbour's balcony, pulled a black hood
over her head, tied her up and robbed her," a woman from Grbavica
said, not wanting to give her name.
"I am scared. I want to stay, but I am not sure whether the
Serbs will chase us off when they realize that they cannot stay,"
she explained.
UNHCR knows of the incidents and warns people that the only
way they can protect themselves is if they lock themselves in their
apartments. However, this did not help a doctor who has been
working in Grbavica since the beginning of the war. "They banged on
her door saying that their child was ill. When she opened the door,
they robbed her of everything she owned," said a woman from
Grbavica.
Local Serb authorities claim not to know anything about the
incidents, but have imposed a curfew after 9.00 pm. People living
in Grbavica can rely only on Italian IFOR soldiers.
What the unarmed international policemen can do about the
situation, nobody knows, not even the countries which sent them.
According to an IFOR source in Sarajevo, the international police
troops are not a good example of effectiveness. So far, 117
international policemen have arrived in Sarajevo and 37 had to
return to where they had come from because they did not own a
driver's license.
051930 MET feb 96