bosnet-digest V5 #70 / Monday, 19 February 1996

From: John Bonham-Carter <johnbc@imaginet.fr>

Bosnia-Herzegovina News Directory

CONTENTS

[01] Gorazde - hunger strike

Article 3731 of misc.news.bosnia:

From: John Bonham-Carter <johnbc@imaginet.fr>

Moderator's notes:

- if you want to reply to this message, please send your mails to John Bonham-Carter (johnbc@imaginet.fr) directly

- to avoid character misconversions, all the accents and diacritics are removed from the French text. You can find the original text at: http://www.xs4all.nl/~frankti/gorazde.html

- an abstract in English is included after the French text

Roland BOURGEOIS Commission Terrain Bosnie nationale Collectif PAIX EN EX-YOUGOSLAVIE Maison des Tiers Mondes 27 Bd Louis Blanc, 34000 Montpellier tel: (+33) 67 72 55 08 (+33) 67 84 11 27 Email: (c/o) johnbc@imaginet.fr

Monsieur le President de la Republique Francaise

Monsieur le President,

J'etais a Gorazde cette fin decembre 1995 ou j'accompagnais dans un convoi Civil 53 delegues des associations et collectifs de France pour la Bosnie, venus signifier leur refus a l'indifference commune, venus dire leur attachement et leur solidarite a la population de Bosnie resistante.

Le 31 decembre, j'y rencontrais notre ambassadeur- le votre-, c'est pourquoi, j'en suis certain , les cinq points qu'il m'apparait important de souligner ici ne vous sont pas inconnus.

Le premier concerne les communications : Comment comprendre, admettre, qu'apres 14 semaines ou Gorazde est de nouveau relie a Sarajevo, qu'apres 14 semaines de delegations militaires, humanitaires, civiles et diplomatiques, les habitants , la municipalite continuent, comme lors des annees de siege, a ne pouvoir tenter de communiquer avec l'exterieur que par le biais de radio amateurs ?

La mise a disposition d'un telephone satellite et la prise en charge des frais y afferant permettrait a la ville de Gorazde d'etre a nouveau reliee en permanence avec le reste du monde.

Le deuxieme point concerne l'electricite : Aujourd'hui encore,apres 1 300 jours de siege et ces 14 semaines, elle reste produite par d'artisanales installations flottant sur la Drina, renforcees par quelques groupes electrogenes. Ces installations ne suffisent ni a la reprise d'une vie Civile ni pour rompre avec les innombrables semaines de siege ou, le soir venu, les tenebres se refermaient sur la Bosnie, particulierement a Zepa et Srebrenica.

La fourniture des generateurs et equipements necessaires permettant au moins la reprise de la vie educative, sociale et culturelle releve de la simple humanite.

Le troisieme point est le probleme de l'eau : Son approvisionnement reste toujours aussi precaire

Seule la mise en application immediate des dispositions contenues dans les accords de Dayton et donnant mandat =E0 l'IFOR pour la prise de controle des sources d'energies necessaires au r=E9tablissement d'une vie = " normale " peut y apporter une reponse.

Le quatrieme point concerne le chauffage: Le 31 decembre, le Maire de Gorazde me faisait savoir que les reserves affectees aux lieux publics ( ecoles, hopitaux, administrations ) ne depassaient pas 24 heures; Ce probleme empeche de loger nombre de refugies occupant actuellement les ecoles et retarde une normalisation de la vie scolaire.

Le charbon extrait a Tuzla ou Zenica ne peut-il etre achemine jusqu'a Gorazde, ce qui amenerait en outre une aide =E0 l'economie de ces deux villes ? Il est urgent d'en permettre et aider le transport.

Le cinquieme point concerne la securite de Gorazde : Declarer la ville "zone de securite " alors que sont exhumes les charniers de Srebrenica para=EEt a d'aucuns peu suffisant.

La mise en place de legations etrangeres permanentes a Gorazde parait une solution a privilegier.

Ces cinq points, de simple humanite, peuvent, Monsieur le President, etre regles tres rapidement. Vous qui etes tenu en haute estime par la population de la Bosnie, notamment a Gorazde, pour avoir su inflechir la politique de la France a son egard, vous aurez a coeur, j'en suis certain, d'etre l'initiateur du retour a la normale de la vie a Gorazde en engageant immediatement la realisation de ces actions.

Etant donne l'urgence de la situation, a defaut d'une reponse de votre part d'ici au 15 fevrier, je m'engagerais dans une greve de la faim qui ne trouverait son terme qu'avec une action concrete de la France sur le terrain de Gorazde.

Des a present, j'invite les collectifs et associations pour la Bosnie et tous ceux qui se retrouvent dans cette demarche a m'y accompagner sous quelque forme qui leur convienne.

Je vous prie d'agreer, Monsieur le President, l'assurance de ma tres haute consideration.

Montpellier, le 22 janvier 1996

Roland BOURGEOIS

- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------= - ---

Abstract in English: (thanks to Frank Tiggelaar & John Bonham-Carter)

This is a letter to the French President, saying that 53 delegates of French support org's went to BiH to show solidarity to the people. On Dec 31st they met the French Ambassador there, and hence they are convinced that the President is aware of the five important points that follow :

The first one has to do with communications. How can it be explained that after Gorazde has been reachable from Sarajevo, after 14 weeks of military, humanitary, civil and diplomatic delegations, the municipality, like in the years of the siege, can still only communicate with the outside world with the help of radio amateurs only.

Making satellite phones available and taking care of the running costs would connect Gorazde to the rest of the world permanently.

The second point has to do with electricity : today, after 1300 days of siege and those 14 weeks, electricity is still produced by improvised installations that float on the Drina, tended by some groups of civilians. These installations do not suffice to restart civil life and to break away from the situation as it was during the siege, when in the evenings darkness closed in on Bosnia, esp. on Zepa and Srebrenica.

Supplying generators and the necessary equipment would at least allow educational, social and cultural life to recommence, and bring back decent living conditions.

The third point has to do with water : Its supply also is still a problem. Only the immediate realization of the provisions of the DPA, which give IFOR control over utilities, can bring back 'a normal life'

The fourth point has to do with heating : On Dec 31st the Mayor of Gorazde make it clear to me that the fuel reserves allocated for public institutions (schools, hospitals, public service buildings) were enough for only 24 hours. This problem prevents the relocation of a large number of refugees who now occupy the schools and prevents normalization of school-life.

Could the coal which is mined at Tuzla or Zenica not be transported to Gorazde ? This would also be a stimulus for the economies of these two towns. It is urgent to put in place a system of transport and aid for this to be carried out.

The fifth point is about the security of Gorazde : to declare the town a safe zone while mass-graves at Srebrenica are being exhumed seems totally inadequate.

It would be a much better solution to station permanent foreign representations at Gorazde.

These five points, Mr President, could be settled very quickly. You, who are held in high esteem by the people of Bosnia, and of Gorazde especially for implementing French policy for their benefit, ought to be, I'm sure, the initiator of the 'return to a normal life' in Gorazde by carrying out the necessary actions immediately.

Given the urgence of the situation, I shall, if there is no response from you by Feb 15, engage in a hunger strike which will not end until concrete action in Gorazde is taken by France.

As from now, I shall invite groups and organisations working for Bosnia and interested parties to keep me company in whichever form is convenient for them.

Yours Faithfully,

etc.

Opinions expressed/published on BosNews/BosNet-B do NOT necessarily=20 always reflect the views of (all of the members of) Editorial Board,=20 and/or moderators, nor any of their host institutions.

Murat Erkocevic <ErkocevicM@aol.com>

Dzevat Omeragic <Dzevat@ee.mcgill.ca>

Davor Wagner <DWagner@mailbox.syr.edu>

Nermin Zukic <N6Zukic@sms.business.uwo.ca>

[02] Job Opportunity

Sender: Tribunal Watch List <TWATCH-L@UBVM.CC.BUFFALO.EDU>

From:    Tom Warrick <tom.warrick@HIS.COM>

(Cross-posting permitted)

Someone browsing the Coalition's Web page posted the following to us. Not being familiar with the group, I pass it on to anyone who may be interested in contacting them directly.

Tom Warrick Coalition for International Justice

Ran across your www site and wondered if it would be appropriate to post the following:?

MEDIA PROJECT MANAGER WANTED in Sarajevo, Bosnia

Internews, a non-profit corporation based in the United States, is seeking a Project Manager to be located at the Internews office in Sarajevo, Bosnia. The position will become available beginning 1 April 1996 and the Manager will be needed until at least 1 February 1997.

The project mission involves supporting independent, non-governmental local television and radio stations in Bosnia and training their personnel in journalism and station management.

The Project Manager position involves coordination of all project related activities, management of the office and supervision of local staff (about 4 people), financial oversight and reporting on grants expenditures, coordination of visits to Bosnia by individuals, coordinating training seminars to be held in various cities, the importation of equipment and the distribution of videotapes and other resources throughout the country, as well as possible travel to conduct research throughout the country.

Previous experience managing or coordinating overseas grants programs is essential; applicants with experience in broadcasting or journalism will be given preference; experience in Bosnia or the former Yugoslavia, or knowledge of the language, will be considered an important asset, as will knowledge of Russian or Czech. The ability to maintain good working relationships with all ethnic groups in Bosnia is essential.

Please respond with resume to: Kay Elewski

Internews Network

PO Box 4448

Arcata, CA 95518 USA

(707) 826-2136 (fax)

<kay@internews.org>

Internews Network is a an equal opportunity employer.

Opinions expressed/published on BosNews/BosNet-B do NOT necessarily always reflect the views of (all of the members of) Editorial Board, and/or moderators, nor any of their host institutions.

Murat Erkocevic <ErkocevicM@aol.com>

Dzevat Omeragic <Dzevat@ee.mcgill.ca>

Davor Wagner <DWagner@mailbox.syr.edu>

Nermin Zukic <N6Zukic@sms.business.uwo.ca>