Split human rights activists have been monitoring the return of the Serb population to Former Sector South. Together with Otvorene Oci, one village near Zadar was visited. The following report is an observation of the conditions for return.The village of Smilcic, before the war in 1991 had a population of around 3,500 of which Croats made up 8%. Since Operation 'Storm', there are only five remaining Serbs. Croats have begun to move back to the village, and in a meeting with local HDZ president, Mr. Zoran Arbanas, Otvorene Oci learned of the new village policy. Since many Croats have still not returned, Mr. Arbanas informed us that Bosnian Croats from Teslic, Bosnia would be 'imported' to re-populate the village and discourage Serbs from returning.
Mr. Arbanas, claims he speaks for the current inhabitants of Smilcic, when he says that this war had to happen and that different ethnic groups could not live together. He was angry that the remaining Serb population received visits and humanitarian aid from the International Committee of the Red Cross. His goal, he said, was a Croat village. If Serbs wanted to return, it would not be prevented, but strongly discouraged.
In an attempt to carry out this policy, on arrival in the village, the Split activist and Otvorene Oci were immediately offered a house and land, by Mr. Arbanas. Enquiries about the returning population, revealed that if correct and relevant documentation could be provided, people would eventually be allowed to return to their property. If their property was inhabited by someone else, those inhabitants would be offered alternative accomodation.
Mr. Arbanas claims to be acting with official permission. He stated that documents could be issued almost immediately for any Croat seeking a house in Smilcic. There are already a number of Bosnian Croats, from places such as Sarajevo, living in the village and he told us that there were a number of 'large and beautiful' houses if we wanted to live there. He did not seem perturbed that we already had accomodation in Split, simply stating that if we changed our minds we 'were welcome'. Furthermore, he felt that it was not a problem to 'import' a population to prevent the return of the rightful owners. He said that he used to have Serbs as friends, but this war had to happen before it was too late and now that it had, local HDZ policy was to discourage any return.
Local human rights activists are particularly concerned about this 'new policy' and the 'import' of Croats from Bosnian. These kinds of actions are being viewed as a second phase of ethnic cleansing and human rights activists feel it could escalate the fears of those wishing to return.
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