Voice of America, 96-11-12

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From: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>

CONTENTS

[01] TUESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[02] BOSNIA FIGHTING (L-ONLY) BY LAURA ROZEN (SARAJEVO)

[03] BULGARIA POL (L-ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

[04] CHRISTOPHER/BOSNIA (S) BY DAVID GOLLUST (PARIS)

[05] EURO STOCKS (S-ONLY) BY PAUL FRANCUCH (LONDON)

[06] SARAJEVO'S SERBS BY PAMELA TAYLOR (WASHINGTON)

[01] TUESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: A VARIETY OF TOPICS, BOTH DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL, RECEIVE CONCERTED ATTENTION IN THE NATION'S EDITORIALS COLUMNS THIS TUESDAY. THE SEXUAL HARASSMENT SCANDAL IN THE U-S ARMY AND THE REVIVED MEDICARE DEBATE ARE THE KEY DOMESTIC ISSUES, WHILE THE REFUGEE CRISIS IN EASTERN ZAIRE IS DISCUSSED IN SEVERAL PAPERS. AMONG OTHER INTERNATIONAL CONCERNS ARE: NEW HARASSMENT OF DEMOCRACY ACTIVIST AUNG SAN SUU KYI IN BURMA AND THE QUICK RECOVERY OF BORIS YELTSIN FROM SURGERY. [OPT] ALSO, THE PALESTINIAN ECONOMY AND THE ELECTION DISPUTE IN NICARAGUA. [END OPT] NOW, HERE IS _________________WITH A CLOSER LOOK AND A SOME SELECTED QUOTES IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK, NEWSDAY IS WARNING THAT THE CRISIS IN ZAIRE MAY SPREAD TO ENGULF THE WHOLE OF CENTRAL AFRICA. THE PAPER SAYS A PERMANENT DISMEMBERMENT OF THE REGION COULD OCCUR UNLESS AFRICAN AND INTERNATIONAL LEADERS CAN "FIND A WAY TO FORESTALL IT."

VOICE: "THE MISERY OF THE HUTU REFUGEES IN EASTERN ZAIRE IS A SYMPTOM OF CENTRAL AFRICA'S PATHOLOGY. ZAIRE -- ITS DICTATORIAL PRESIDENT, MOBUTU SESE SEKO, ILL WITH CANCER IN FRANCE, ITS ARMY HUMILIATED BY INSURGENT TUTSI GUERRILLAS -- IS ON THE VERGE OF FALLING APART. WERE NEIGHBORING FORCES TO BREACH ZAIRIAN BORDERS, AS WEAK TODAY AS THEY WERE ARBITRARY WHEN DRAWN BY COLONIAL POWERS, THE ENTIRE REGION COULD BE ENGULFED IN WIDESPREAD CIVIL DISORDER... IT'S NONE TOO SOON FOR AFRICAN LEADERS AND THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL TO START DEVISING WAYS TO COPE WITH THIS DISASTROUS EVENTUALITY."

TEXT: THE WASHINGTON TIMES AGREES THE ZAIRE SITUATION IS "DESPERATE," BUT OPPOSES OUTISDE INTERVENTION UNTIL THE SITUATION CLEARS:

VOICE: "THIS IS A HORRIBLE TRAGEDY, BUT ALSO AN UTTERLY CHAOTIC SITUATION IN WHICH GUERRILLA FIGHTERS AND REFUGEES INTERMINGLE INDISTINGUISHABLY. SENDING U-N PEACEKEEPERS INTO THE MIDST OF ZAIRE WITH LITTLE CLEAR SENSE OF DIRECTION OR MISSION WILL ONLY PUT MORE LIVES AT RISK."

TEXT: TAKING THE OPPOSITE VIEW IS USA TODAY, WHICH SAYS IN PART:

VOICE: "A MULTINATIONAL FORCE IS NEEDED NOW TO STOP THE DYING. AND THE UNITED STATES MUST TAKE A LEADERSHIP ROLE... HOW LONG ARE WE GOING TO SHRUG THIS OFF?... WHAT'S NEEDED IS LOGISTICAL SUPPORT AND DIPLOMATIC LEADERSHIP. THE EUROPEANS, LARGELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MISERY OF CENTRAL AFRICA, DON'T HAVE THE REQUISITE LOCAL CREDIBILITY. THE AFRICAN STATES DON'T HAVE THE SKILLS. THAT LEAVES, PRETTY MUCH, US... WHY INTERVENE? ... IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO..."

TEXT: TURNING TO A MAJOR DOMESTIC ISSUE, SEVERAL NEWSPAPERS OFFER COMMENTS ON ALLEGATIONS BY WOMEN ARMY RECRUITS AT A TRAINING FACILITY IN MARYLAND THAT THEY WERE RAPED OR SEXUALLY MOLESTED BY THEIR INSTRUCTORS. THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION WRITES:

VOICE: "UNLIKE THE NAVY'S FEEBLE RESPONSE TO THE TAILHOOK SEX SCANDAL, THE ARMY IS AGGRESSIVELY PURSUING CHARGES AGAINST INSTRUCTORS ACCUSED OF RAPING AND SEXUALLY HARASSING MORE THAN A DOZEN FEMALE RECRUITS... SUCH A SWIFT RESPONSE IS IN STARK CONTRAST TO THE NAVY'S HANDLING OF THE 1991 TAILHOOK ASSOCIATION CONVENTION, WHERE 83 WOMEN SAID THEY WERE MANHANDLED OR SEXUALLY ASSAULTED... BUT THIS LATEST SEX SCANDAL SUGGESTS THAT A WIDESPREAD ATMOSPHERE IN THE ARMED SERVICES FOSTERS SEXUAL ABUSE. AND UNTIL THE MILITARY SYSTEM OF JUSTICE TREATS SEX CRIMES AS SEVERELY AS THE CIVILIAN SYSTEM DOES, MORE WOMEN SOLDIERS COULD BECOME VICTIMS."

TEXT: THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER ADDS:

VOICE: "IT'S A SHAME THAT ON THE WEEKEND THE NATION HONORED ITS VETERANS, A SCANDAL HAS SHAKEN THE U-S ARMY. IT IS ONE THING FOR FAMILIES TO FEAR ... THEIR SONS AND DAUGHTERS COULD WIND UP IN HARM'S WAY IN FOREIGN TROUBLESPOTS WHEN THEY VOLUNTEER FOR ACTIVE DUTY IN THE U-S ARMY. BUT IT IS QUITE REPREHENSIBLE FOR THEM TO FEAR THAT THOSE SERVING IN THE PEACETIME ARMY COULD BE VICTIMS OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR BY THEIR SUPERIORS."

TEXT: AND IN FLORIDA, THE MIAMI HERALD ADDS:

VOICE: "DIFFICULT AS TRAINING MAY BE ON THE PHYSIQUE AND PSYCHE, NOTHING IN ARMY REGULATIONS COUNTENANCES RAPE, SODOMY, BEATINGS, THREATS OF ASSAULT, OR OTHER ILLEGAL ACTIONS... FROM THIS OUTRAGEOUS SITUATION MUST COME A MESSAGE THAT IS LOUD, CLEAR AND CONSISTENT IN ITS CONDEMNATION."

TEXT: SEVERAL PAPERS ARE TALKING ABOUT RENEWED EFFORTS TO TRIM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S COSTLY MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR THE ELDERLY, CALLED MEDICARE, WITHOUT MAJOR CUTS THAT WOULD DEPRIVE THE MOST NEEDY OF CRITICAL CARE. SAYS THE SUN IN BALTIMORE:

VOICE: "REPUBLICANS HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO BE ANGRY ABOUT THE WAY PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS DEMAGOGUED THE MEDICARE ISSUE. THEY HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO DEMAND THAT HE COME UP FIRST WITH A DEFINITE PROPOSAL TO SAVE THE HOSPITAL TRUST FUND FROM EARLY BANKRUPTCY... NOTHING THE PRESIDENT HAS SAID ENCOURAGES A SUBSTANTIVE APPROACH TO A MEDICARE PROBLEM THAT WILL MUSHROOM [EXPAND] THROUGH THE YEARS AS THE POPULATION AGES."

TEXT: WRITING ABOUT THE BURMESE GOVERNMENT'S LATEST HARASSMENT OF THE COUNTRY'S PRO-DEMOCRACY OPPOSITION LEADER, THE WASHINGTON POST SAYS:

VOICE: "OVER THE WEEKEND A BAND OF 200 THUGS ATTACKED THE OPPOSITION LEADER OF BURMA, AUNG SAN SUU KYI, PELTING HER CAR WITH STONES AND THREATENING HER WITH KNIVES AND CROWBARS... THIS LATEST, MOST BRAZEN ASSAULT WAS NOT ONLY BARBARIC, IT WAS FOOLISH AS WELL... PRESIDENT CLINTON WILL TRAVEL TO ASIA LATER THIS MONTH FOR MEETINGS WITH THE REGION'S LEADERS. BURMA, AND A STRATEGY FOR SUPPORTING ITS DEMOCRATS, SHOULD BE HIGH ON HIS AGENDA."

TEXT: THE BOSTON GLOBE IS AMAZED AT THE RAPID RECOVERY OF RUSSIA'S BORIS YELTSIN FROM HEART BYPASS SURGERY, EXCLAIMING:

VOICE: "CERTAIN HISTORICAL FIGURES, IT IS SAID, INCARNATE A SPIRIT OF THEIR TIME. BORIS YELTSIN, ERRATIC AS HE MIGHT BE, CONTINUES TO GIVE A RATHER GOOD IMITATION OF JUST SUCH A FIGURE. NO SOONER HAD THE RUSSIAN PRESIDENT COME OUT OF ANESTHESIA AFTER HIS QUINTUPLE HEART BYPASS OPERATION THAN HE ISSUED A DECREE LIQUIDATING THE MOST SACROSANCT HOLIDAY ON THE OLD BOLSHEVIK CALENDAR. [REVOLUTION DAY]"

TEXT: THE NEW YORK TIMES CONCERNS ITSELF WITH WHAT IT DESCRIBES AS "THE SINKING PALESTINIAN ECONOMY," NOTING:

VOICE: "THE PROSPECTS FOR PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST REST TO A CONSIDERABLE DEGREE ON THE ECONOMIC CONDITION OF THE PALESTINIANS. THESE DAYS IT IS BAD AND GETTING WORSE, A SURE PRESCRIPTION FOR UNREST AND ANGER. REGIONAL ECONOMIC MINISTERS AND BUSINESS EXECUTIVES MEETING IN CAIRO THIS WEEK CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT... [OPT] UNEMPLOYMENT RATES AMONG PALESTINIAN WORKERS HAVE SOARED OVER 50 PERCENT, FOLLOWING ISRAEL'S DECISION TO CLOSE ITS BORDERS TO MOST OF THEM AFTER TERRORIST BOMBINGS EARLIER THIS YEAR... [END OPT] INCREASED ECONOMIC ACTIVITY IN THE MIDDLE EAST CAN STIMULATE POLITICAL ACCOMMODATION BY PRODUCING EXAMPLES OF ARAB-ISRAELI COOPERATION AND TRUST."

TEXT: FINALLY, THE LOS ANGELES TIMES POSES A QUESTION ABOUT THE RECENT ELECTIONS IN NICARAGUA:

VOICE: "THE RESULTS OF THE OCTOBER 20TH NICARAGUAN ELECTIONS ARE OFFICIAL, AND ARNOLDO ALEMAN, A CONSERVATIVE, HAS BEEN DECLARED THE NEW PRESIDENT. SO WHY DOESN'T DANIEL ORTEGA CONCEDE DEFEAT?... INSTEAD OF DEEPENING THE WOUNDS OF TROUBLED COUNTRY, [MR.] ORTEGA SHOULD SEEK A MORE CONSTRUCTIVE ROLE."

TEXT: ON THAT ADVICE FROM THE LOS ANGELES TIMES, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIALS FROM TODAY'S U-S PRESS.
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12-Nov-96 10:54 AM EST (1554 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] BOSNIA FIGHTING (L-ONLY) BY LAURA ROZEN (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: VIOLENCE ERUPTED TUESDAY IN A VILLAGE IN NORTHEASTERN BOSNIA BETWEEN A GROUP OF RETURNING MUSLIM REFUGEES AND BOSNIAN SERB FORCES. THERE ARE REPORTS OF PEOPLE SERIOUSLY INJURED (USE LATEST C-N STORY FOR UPDATED FIGURES). LAURA ROZEN HAS MORE IN THIS REPORT FROM SARAJEVO.

TEXT: UNCONFIRMED REPORTS SAY THAT AS MANY AS 300 SERBS DRESSED IN BLACK UNIFORMS LAUNCHED MORTAR ROUNDS INTO THE BOSNIAN VILLAGE OF GAJEVI, LOCATED IN THE SENSITIVE ZONE OF SEPARATION BETWEEN THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION AND BOSNIAN SERB TERRITORY. THE VIOLENCE STARTED SOON AFTER A GROUP OF SOME 400 MUSLIMS MOVED INTO THE VILLAGE ON MONDAY.

WITNESSES SAY RUSSIAN PEACEKEEPERS STOOD BY AS THE SERBS LAUNCHED MORTARS INTO THE VILLAGE.

NATO SPOKESMAN MAJOR SIMON HASELOCK SAYS HIS ORGANIZATION HAS REASON TO BELIEVE THAT AT LEAST SOME OF THE MUSLIMS WERE SENT TO THE VILLAGE BY THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT AS A PROVOCATION. MAJOR HASELOCK SAYS NATO BELIEVES THAT SOME OF THE MUSLIMS ARE ARMED.

BUT THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY SAYS IT BELIEVES THE MUSLIMS ARE LEGITIMATE REFUGEES WHO WANT TO RETURN TO THE TOWN TO REBUILD THEIR HOMES. A SPOKESMAN FOR THE AGENCY (EDS: KRIS JANOWSKI) SAYS THAT THE GROUP OF MUSLIMS CONSISTED OF MANY WOMEN AND CHILDREN, CARRYING TENTS AND CAMPING EQUIPMENT, INDICATING, HE SAYS, THAT THEY PLANNED TO STAY IN THE VILLAGE WHILE THEY REBUILT THEIR HOMES.

THE VILLAGE OF GAJEVI IS IN A STRATEGIC AREA OF NORTHEASTERN BOSNIA CALLED THE "SAPNA THUMB." ANALYSTS HAVE SUGGESTED THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT MAY BE SENDING MUSLIM REFUGEES TO THE AREA IN ORDER TO SEPARATE THE TERRITORY UNDER BOSNIAN SERB CONTROL FROM THE DISPUTED CITY OF BRCKO. BOTH SERBS AND MUSLIMS WANT BRCKO, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN UNDER INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER YEAR. ABOUT 150 MUSLIM REFUGEES MOVED INTO THE NEARBY VILLAGE OF JUSICI LAST MONTH, AND 100 INTO ANOTHER NEARBY VILLAGE, MAHALA, IN AUGUST.

THE BOSNIAN SERB GOVERNMENT OPPOSES THE RETURN OF MUSLIM REFUGEES TO THEIR HOMES IN SERB-HELD TERRITORY. BUT THE MUSLIM-CROAT GOVERNMENT HAS ALSO SHOWN A LACK OF SYMPATHY FOR SERBS WHO HAVE FACED THREATS IN RETURNING TO THEIR HOMES IN THE BOSNIAN FEDERATION. (SIGNED)
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12-Nov-96 12:52 PM EST (1752 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] BULGARIA POL (L-ONLY) BY BARRY WOOD (PRAGUE)

IT IS BULGARIA'S FINANCIAL DISTRESS AND ECONOMIC MALAISE THAT HAVE LED TO CALLS FOR MR. VIDENOV'S RESIGNATION. THE BULGARIAN CURRENCY, THE LEVA, WHICH TRADED AT 70 TO THE DOLLAR NINE MONTHS AGO, HAS COLLAPSED TO 250 TO THE DOLLAR NOW. LIVING STANDARDS HAVE PLUMMETED. INFLATION AND ORGANIZED CRIME ARE ON THE RISE. AND PEOPLE HAVE A SENSE THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS WITHOUT A PLAN FOR MAKING THE SITUATION BETTER.

THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND HAS LED CALLS FOR A FASTER PRIVATIZATION OF BULGARIA'S STATE ENTERPRISES. BUT THE GOVERNMENT, WHICH HAS BEEN IN POWER FOR TWO YEARS, CONTINUES TO HESITATE. IN HIS REMARKS TUESDAY, MR. VIDENOV VOICED SUPPORT FOR THE I-M-F SUGGESTION TO ALTER THE METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE EXCHANGE RATE OF THE CURRENCY. WITH THE TREASURY RUNNING SHORT OF FOREIGN EXCHANGE, MR. VIDENOV SAYS HE FAVORS ESTABLISHING A CURRENCY BOARD WHICH WOULD TRY TO RESTORE BUSINESS CONFIDENCE BY LIMITING THE AMOUNT OF MONEY IN CIRCULATION. //REST OPT// CURRENCY BOARD SYSTEMS ARE BEING USED WITH SUCCESS IN THE THREE BALTIC REPUBLICS AND IN ARGENTINA. (SIGNED)
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12-Nov-96 1:30 PM EST (1830 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] CHRISTOPHER/BOSNIA (S) BY DAVID GOLLUST (PARIS)

INTRO: U-S SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER IS IN PARIS FOR TWO DAYS OF INTERNATIONAL MEETINGS ON BOSNIA. MR. CHRISTOPHER, WHO HAS ANNOUNCED PLANS TO LEAVE THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION'S CABINET SOON, WILL MAKE A FINAL PUSH FOR GREATER COMPLIANCE BY THE BOSNIAN PARTIES TO THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORDS. VOA'S DAVID GOLLUST HAS DETAILS FROM THE FRENCH CAPITAL.

TEXT: MR. CHRISTOPHER WILL MEET WEDNESDAY WITH THE THREE MEMBERS OF THE BOSNIAN JOINT PRESIDENCY ELECTED IN SEPTEMBER. AND AIDES SAY HE INTENDS TO LODGE SPECIFIC COMPLAINTS WITH EACH OVER WHAT IS CONSIDERED GRUDGING AND PARTIAL COMPLIANCE WITH THE DAYTON PEACE PROCESS.

OFFICIALS TRAVELING WITH THE SECRETARY SAY HE IS MOST DISSATISFIED WITH THE BOSNIAN SERBS -- FOR HARBORING INDICTED WAR CRIMINALS AND PUTTING UP ROADBLOCKS TO THE CREATION OF UNIFIED GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS.

BUT THEY ALSO SAY THE BOSNIAN CROATS HAVE BEEN FOOT-DRAGGING ON THE DISMANTLEMENT OF REMNANTS OF THEIR BOSNIAN MINI-STATE. AND MR. CHRISTOPHER WILL PRESS CROATIA TO HAND OVER INDICTED BOSNIAN-CROAT WAR CRIMES SUSPECT IVICA RAJIC, SAID TO BE LIVING OPENLY IN CROATIA.

MR. CHRISTOPHER WILL ALSO AGAIN DEMAND THE OUSTER OF THE BOSNIAN MUSLIM DEPUTY DEFENSE MINISTER HASAN CENGIC, ACCUSED BY U-S OFFICIALS OF HAVING INTIMATE TIES WITH IRAN. THE UNITED STATES IS HOLDING UP DELIVERY OF NEARLY 100 MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF MILITARY HARDWARE TO THE BOSNIAN GOVERNMENT TO PRESS FOR HIS DISMISSAL. (SIGNED)
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12-Nov-96 4:26 PM EST (2126 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] EURO STOCKS (S-ONLY) BY PAUL FRANCUCH (LONDON)

INTRO: A RECORD DAY IN PARIS AND GAINS IN FRANKFURT AND LONDON ... WITH A ROUNDUP OF MARKET RESULTS FROM WESTERN EUROPE TUESDAY, HERE'S VOA'S PAUL FRANCUCH IN LONDON.

TEXT: THE MOST BUOYANT NEWS CAME FROM PARIS TUESDAY WHERE THE IMPORTANT BLUE-CHIP "CAC-40" INDEX CLOSED THE DAY UP ALMOST 24 POINTS, SETTING A NEW RECORD HIGH FOR THAT STOCK EXCHANGE.

STOCK PRICES WERE UP AS WELL ON WESTERN EUROPE'S OTHER TWO MAJOR MARKETS TUESDAY. THE GERMAN 30-SHARE "DAX" INDEX IN FRANKFURT CLOSED SLIGHTLY FIRMER -- UP JUST ABOUT SIX POINTS. HERE IN LONDON, THE BELLWETHER FINANCIAL TIMES INDEX OF 100 STOCKS GAINED ALMOST 20 POINTS FOR THE DAY -- MAKING UP FOR LOSSES OF A WEEK AGO.

GOLD HERE IN LONDON FIRMED AS WELL TUESDAY, CLOSING UP ONE DOLLAR AT 381-DOLLARS-75 CENTS AN OUNCE. (SIGNED)
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12-Nov-96 1:38 PM EST (1838 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] SARAJEVO'S SERBS BY PAMELA TAYLOR (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE BOSNIAN SERB ARMY HAS REFUSED TO ACCEPT THE DISMISSAL OF GENERAL RATKO MLADIC AND MAINTAINS HE IS STILL IN CHARGE. ON SATURDAY (11/9) BILJANA PLAVSIC, THE PRESIDENT OF THE SERB ENTITY, DISMISSED GENERAL MLADIC WHO IS UNDER INDICTMENT BY THE HAGUE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL. MS. PLAVSIC SAID SHE WAS FORCED TO ACT UNDER INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE. AMONG THE CHARGES IN THE INDICTMENT AGAINST GENERAL MLADIC IS THAT HE ORDERED THE FOUR YEAR SIEGE AND SHELLING OF THE CIVILIAN POPULATION OF SARAJEVO. V-O-A'S PAMELA TAYLOR TALKED WITH SOME BOSNIAN SERBS ABOUT THE DIVIDED LOYALTIES OF SARAJEVO'S SERBS TODAY.

TEXT: VOIJKA DIJKIC IS ONE OF THOUSANDS OF SERBS WHO REMAINED IN SARAJEVO THROUGHOUT THE SIEGE AND THE SHELLING AND EVEN THE VIOLENT DEPARTURE OF OTHER SERBS WHEN THE CITY CAME UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE BOSNIAN (MUSLIM-LED) GOVERNMENT. IN A CITY WHERE MOST INHABITANTS ARE STILL INSULTED WHEN ASKED ABOUT THEIR ETHNIC ORIGIN, MS. DIJKIC SAYS THAT THROUGHOUT THE WAR THE PEOPLE OF SARAJEVO REFERRED TO THOSE WHO SHELLED THEM -- INCLUDING GENERAL RATKO MLADIC -- AS THE MEN IN THE HILLS -- NEVER AS 'SERBS'.

DURING THE WAR I NEVER HAD THE FEELING THAT SERBS WERE SHELLING ME. WHEN I THOUGHT ABOUT THEM I THOUGHT THEY MUST BE FIRST OF ALL MONSTERS AND THEN SOME STRANGE PEOPLE WHO CAME FROM THE MIDDLE AGES -- TO BE ABLE TO SHOOT AT CHILDREN, OLD PEOPLE, THOSE IN A QUEUE FOR BREAD OR FOR HUMANITARIAN AID. I NEVER THOUGHT OF THEM AS SERB, FOR ME THEY ARE NOT SERBS.

ANOTHER SARAJEVO SERB IS MIKI KURILIC, WHO RISKED HIS LIFE DURING THE WAR DRIVING JOURNALISTS AND HUMANITARIAN WORKERS OVER MOUNT IGMAN, THE MOST DANGEROUS ROUTE OUT OF THE CITY SINCE IT WAS UNDER CONSTANT SHELL AND SNIPER FIRE.

WHEN WE PASSED OVER MOUNT IGMAN AFTER A SHOOTING, I SAID TO MY FRIENDS, YOU SEE MY BROTHERS ARE SHOOTING AT ME. AND SOMETIMES THEY MADE JOKES ABOUT ME AND SAID YOU'RE GOING TO BE KILLED BY YOUR BROTHERS. I SAID FINE. I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT WHO IS WHO, WHAT'S HIS NATIONALITY. I THOUGHT THAT THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SHOOTING EACH OTHER WERE JUST IDIOTS, NOT SERBS, MUSLIMS OR CROATS, JUST IDIOTS.

MR. KURILIC SAYS BEFORE THE WAR HE THOUGHT OF HIMSELF AS A SARAJEVAN, NOT AS A SERB. AND AT THE BEGINNING OF THE WAR, HE SAID, THE MEN IN THE HILLS WERE NOT FROM SARAJEVO BUT REGULARS FROM THE SERB-LED YUGOSLAV NATIONAL ARMY (J-N-A). LATER ON HE SAYS, MANY SARAJEVO SERBS WERE INTIMIDATED INTO JOINING GENERAL MLADIC'S MEN IN THE HILLS OR BE CONSIDERED TRAITORS TO THE SERBIAN CAUSE.

MR. KURILIC SAYS THOSE WHO BECAME SOLDIERS NEVER KNEW FOR SURE WHO THEY WERE KILLING -- UNLIKE THOSE WHO BECAME SNIPERS:

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE EVER SEEN A SNIPER WITH AN OPTIC (SNIPERSCOPE). YOU CAN SEE CLEARLY, CLEARLY WHO IS IN FRONT OF YOU. YOU CAN MAKE A CHOICE WHETHER TO SHOOT HIM IN THE HEAD, IN THE LEFT OR RIGHT EYE SO THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT THEY SAW WHO WAS THEIR TARGET. I CAN'T CALL THEM SOLDIERS, THE ANIMALS WHO WERE SNIPERS, THEY KNEW WHO WAS IN FRONT OF (THEIR) GUNS. THEY ARE NOT HUMAN BEINGS. THE SOLDIERS WERE HUMAN BEINGS, DESPITE EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED IN SARAJEVO, THE SHOOTING AT CIVILIAN TARGETS, WHATEVER. BUT SNIPERS ARE SOMETHING TOTALLY, TOTALLY DIFFERENT.

AS FOR THE SERBS WHO FLED THE SARAJEVO SUBURBS AFTER THEY CAME UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE MUSLIM-LED GOVERNMENT, BURNING THEIR HOUSES BEHIND THEM, VOIJKA DIJKIC SAYS THEY WERE NOT SARAJEVO SERBS BUT REFUGEES FROM OTHER PARTS OF BOSNIA. SHE SAYS THESE SERBS BECAME CONVINCED BY PROPAGANDA THAT THERE WAS A REAL THREAT OF A RADICAL ISLAMIC SARAJEVO, AN IDEA SHE DISMISSES AS ABSURD:

IF SOME -- SOME MUSLIM PEOPLE NOW HAVE THIS IDEA, NOT THE MAJORITY, IT IS ALMOST NATURAL AFTER THIS WAR AND AFTER THIS ABSOLUTELY CLEAR PROOF FROM THE CROAT AND SERB SIDE THAT THEY WANT TO DIVIDE BOSNIA. BUT NO, I DON'T THINK THERE WAS EVER AN IDEA AMONG THE MUSLIM INTELLIGENSIA TO MAKE A MUSLIM STATE IN BOSNIA.

MS. DIJKIC HOPES ALL THOSE SERBS WHO LIVED IN SARAJEVO BEFORE THE WAR WILL RETURN TO THE CITY SOMEDAY. BUT MR. KURILIC SAYS THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN AS LONG AS EXTREME NATIONALISTS LIKE RATKO MLADIC REMAIN IN POWER. (SIGNED)
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12-Nov-96 1:34 PM EST (1834 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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