The return to Pakrac

The Croatian "police action" to recapture Western Slavonia-- one of the three UN-delimited sectors claimed by Serbian militias after the 1991 Serbian-Croatian war--met with little resistance. Suspiciously little resistance, said many people who suspected a deal between presidents Franjo Tudjman and Slobodan Milosevic. But the war was not so simple for the people of the region, in particular the residents of the divided town of Pakrac.

>>> Pakrac, 11 May

Much of the work going on in the area around Pakrac revolves around the "evacuation" of Serbs wishing to leave to Bosnia. Many Serbs are frightened of what the future holds for them in Croatia, and rumours of human rights abuses do not help the situation. Although very little in the way of abuses has been confirmed, it appears as if the Croatian offensive may not have gone as smoothly as authorities have proclaimed. Many people are afraid to talk about it, however, fearing repercussions from the police or local military. One woman told us, "I'll tell what I saw when I'm safe in Serbia."

Volunteers from the Pakrac Reconstruction Project are beginning to return to Pakrac, and are trying to carry on the work which they were doing before. Some have resumed their work camp activities, while others are busy with community visits and support of the women's group. Contrary to earlier reports, Pakrac volunteers are not involved in human rights work, but are rather giving their local friends and contacts support during this time of change.

A group of women from Zagreb working with Oxfam arrived and immediately began making their presence known to women who may be in need of psychological counselling. Many Serb women remain alone or with their children while awaiting the return of their husbands or sons from the detention centres. Every night a bus arrives with a group of men, and the women never know if their husbands or sons will be among them. Therefore, they can do little more than wait. Now, with many international aid workers running around very busily, volunteers that take the time to stop and talk to people and listen to their concerns are much appreciated.

>>> Pakrac, 12 May

Last night another busload of men was returned from the detention centres. We do not know which one, the official number of men returned is 40. However, a court officer from Bjelovar stated that 100 men had been released last night, according to a UN source. This figure has not been confirmed. One man who was returned last night was badly bruised, and UN officials say that some men have needed help to walk upon leaving the buses. This has been attributed to beatings received while the men were in custody. We spoke to one man who showed us his bruises. Another said that prisoners were forced to crouch down with their hands behind their backs for long periods. However, a friend of the man who had been beaten claimed that beatings were an improvement over the `91-`92 period, when men were simply killed.

>>> Pakrac, 13 May

Many people are still waiting for the men in their families to be returned from the detention centres. No bus arrived to Pakrac last night with returned men. Many women in the area are unable to make a decision until they know if their husbands or sons are safe.

It appears as if a certain percentage of the people have decided to stay. Many elderly people in particular claim that they have no place to go. We spoke to one Serbian man who felt that Serbs in the area had been betrayed over the past three years by the authorities in Knin. He said that things might be easier for them under the Zagreb government.

Pakrac Project volunteers have been renewing their contacts with people from the south side of Pakrac, for whom the situation has changed drastically. More and more people are beginning to travel across the line to visit family members or view their houses. Some, however, are afraid to travel on the south side. Serbs from the north side, particularly, fear harassment by the police.

Many people say that this conflict would have been much worse were it not for the presence of internationals on the south side immediately after the fighting. People are beginning to worry about the future when, they fear, the press and international volunteers will leave the area.