DESTRUCTION OF CROSSES AND GRAVESTONES IN SERB CEMETERIES IS TERRORISM

SARAJEVO, OCTOBER 23 /SRNA/ – The destruction of gravestones and crosses in Orthodox cemeteries in the Federation of BiH after the war constitutes terrorism, not a war crime, the Committee for the Protection of Serb Rights in the Federation said.

The committee warned that the first aim of these acts of terrorism was to completely destroy Serb Christian cemeteries and erase traces of Serb presence; the second was to drive away any Serbs who might have returned to their land; and the third was to intimidate Serbs and deter them from attending memorial services and visiting graves on days of remembrance.

It said the acts were carried out to achieve political, ideological and religious goals, adding that the area had been under the control of the Muslim, so-called Army of BiH from 1992 to 1995 and is now entirely controlled by Bosniak Muslim parties.

As the latest examples of the destruction of Orthodox tombstones, the committee cited incidents last week at cemeteries in Vučinići, near Kladanj, and last month in Trnovac, near Novi Travnik.

The committee said that in areas under the political control of Bosniak political forces, no one had been arrested, convicted or punished for destroying Serb cemeteries.

"We once again call on Bosniak Muslim leaders to inform the public how many people have so far been arrested and convicted for destroying Serbian crosses in cemeteries. We know the answer - not a single one," the Committee for the Protection of Serb Rights in the Federation said.