SERBS BEGIN LARGE-SCALE EXPULSION OF CROATS FROM BANJA LUKA

BANJA LUKA, May 28 (Hina) - A large-scale expulsion of Catholic Croats from the Banja Luka area of northwestern Bosnia began yesterday afternoon. About 55 Croats were forced to leave their homes in the Sargovac and Prijecani districts of Banja Luka. They were herded into a bus with an Okucani licence plate and taken to an unknown destination north of the town. Nothing has been heard of them since. Local Catholic Church officials said that the expelled Croats were not allowed to take anything with them and that even their IDs were seized. The Bishop of Banja Luka, Msgr Franjo Komarica, sent a letter to Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic asking him to prevent the latest expulsion of the Catholic population from the Banja Luka area. "People are being rounded up and taken away regardless of their age. No one is allowed to offer any resistance. People appealed to the Budzak police station for protection but were told that they had to leave. This a forcible eviction led by local municipal authorities," Komarica wrote. Komarica said that he had informed municipal chief P. Radic of the situation, who told him that official authorities were not behind the expulsion. Komarica called for an end to the "inhumane tratment of innocent and unprotected civilians." (hina) vm 281043 MET may 95