- VII -
TO POLITICIANS IN THE RS

Letter to the leader of the Bosnian Serbs, Dr R. Karadžić
(Prot. no: 578/92 dated 12 August 1992)
"WE CANNOT AND MUST NOT ASSENT TO ANY FORM OF ETHNIC CLEANSING NOR TO THE PERMANENT OPPRES­SION OF BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS"

Dr Karadžić!
As the Catholic Bishop of Banja Luka, i.e. the religious leader of more than 110,000 Catholic faithful who live in the north-west section of Bosnia-Herzegovina, I take the liberty to write to you.
This unfortunate war, which I am sure the majority of the faithful of ray Banja Luka Diocese did not want, has engulfed many of our parishes in the past three months and has caused enormous damages and misfortune with tragic repercussions.
Even though there was no reason or motivation, i.e. no armed attacks or battles which were commenced by the Catholics in any organised manner, nevertheless - as far as we are led to believe - more than 150 civilians have been killed, including women, children and elderly persons. Churches have been burnt and destroyed despite there not being any battles waged anywhere nearby: in Glamoč, Kotor Varoš, Bosanska Dubica, Bosanska Kostajnica, Bosanska Krupa, Donja Ravska, Prnjavor, the Greek-Catholic church in Kulaši, Briševo, Čatrnja, Kozarac and Liskovica, while a further 23 churches have been damaged to varying extent!
Without any guilt, as was even said to them, my parish priests have been detained in concentration camps, where they have been heavily abused (actually tortured!). One was detained for 12 days and another for 62 day. A third has been detained in a camp since IS June this year (!), while a fourth was taken from his presbytery on 16 June this year and we still know nothing of his whereabouts or indeed if he is still alive. Of the numerous cases of abuse against priests and nuns and a large number of faithful, I will only mention the latest continuous armed attacks against the convent in Bosanski Aleksandrovac as well as the sadistic orgying by armed, uniformed persons against the sisters in Nova Topola on 16 & 17 June this year.
Following several serious and unsavoury incidents which I experienced from armed, uniformed persons and some civilians in then- company, when they wanted to kill me, the commander of the 1st Krajina Corps, General-major Momir Talić offered me an escort of military police, so that I could visit a number of my parishes from which I have not received any news for quite some time. I managed to visit some ten parishes in the Prijedor, Kotor Varoš, Bosanska Gradiška and Prnjavor regions and can now say the following:

1. Catholics are quite frightened in all these regions due to the frequent cases of abuse and the not infrequent massive killings (Briševo, Kotor Varoš), as well as many people being carted off to concentration camps (Stara Rijeka, Vrbanjci, Kotor Varoš, Mrkonjić Grad, Sanski Most, Briševo), and the looting and arson of houses (Ravska, Briševo, Kotor Varoš, Vrbanjci).

2. Many people have been located in refugee camps for several months now (Šurkovac, Ljubija, Sanski Most, Liskovica, Vrbanjci).

3. As a result of the torture or the actions of violence and lawlessness many people are in a state of panic and are moving out or wish to re-settle anywhere just so they can save their own lives. This is the case hi Kotor Varoš, Vrbanjci, Sanski Most, Sasina, Šurkovac, Prijedor, Prnjavor, Dolina, Bosanska Gradiška, Kulaši, Dragalovci, Mrkonjić Grad, Liskovica, Ključ, Bosanski Novi, Mahovljani, Nova Topola, Bosanski Aleksandrovac, as well as a large number of faithful in the Banja Luka region where there are ten parishes. In some parishes (Dolina, Bosanska Gradiška, Bosanski Aleksandrovac, Kotor Varoš) various uniformed persons, who presented themselves as officials from the government issued the Catholics with an ultimatum to move out.

4. Feelings of complete insecurity, no rights and oppression of fundamental human rights have compelled too large a number of my faithful from the said parishes, as well as others, to feel like animals being hunted down and driven away from their ancient hearths. This the infamous Ottoman Empire did not succeed in doing.
I am obliged to inform you of the painful fact, which will have far reaching repercussions, that the majority of my Banja Luka Diocese (following the catastrophe of the Second World War, when more than one-third of our parishes were completely destroyed), will now all disappear if the current lawlessness and self-will of certain Individuals and gangs is not stopped in this region.
- You are surely aware of the extremely good mutual relations here in Banja Luka and the entire Bosanska Krajina region between the highest officials of the Catholic Church and the Serbian Orthodox Church as well as between the larger part of our faithful!
- I am sure that by now you have become convinced of the extreme peacefulness of the Catholic section of the population in this entire region, which has frequently been stressed by leading military and government figures!
- You will also easily comprehend that I, as the most responsible person in the Catholic Church in this region, and as a man as well, in addition to so many other Catholics in this region and beyond, can no longer remain indifferent to the fate of our parishes, i.e. the Banja Luka Diocese!
We cannot and must not accept any form of ethnic cleansing or permanent oppression of fundamental human rights not only for the Catholic faithful but also for the other peoples around us, particularly the Serbian or rather Orthodox people who could then easily be accused of imposing acts which reflect fascism, racism and genocide.
- I am convinced, based on my familiarity with my faithful, and 1 believe 1 am very familiar with them, that the majority of them truly wish for peace and are prepared and capable of living as they have until now with members of other nationalities and religions, respecting foreign beliefs, rights and specific qualities.
- The future of the faithful in my diocese is largely dependent on you and your humanity and providence. This has been confirmed often enough by my collocutors who are representatives of the local civil and military official bodies.
I take the liberty then, on behalf of tens of thousands of my faithful who expect a reply from me (all political activity of these people has been completely disabled!), to ask you to reply to the following:
1. What does the institution, which you represent, intend for us Catholics in the region under your authority?
2. What rights are guaranteed for Catholics (Croats, Ukrainians, Poles, Italians, Czechs and others) in the region under your authority?
3. What do you expect of me, as the bishop, of my parish priests, nuns and faithful to do, so that this horrific mess of a war in which we have taken no part nor want to, may come to an end as soon as possible. May some sense of equality and peace be established to calm the shaken human relations between our peoples?
I expect your reply and thank you in advance!
Respectfully yours!

Dr FRANJO KOMARICA, Bishop of Banja Luka

c.c.
- Papal Nunciature - Belgrade
-Dr Branko Đerić, Prime Minister of the Serbian Republic of B-H
- Secretariat of the BC B-H
- Secretariat of the CBC

 

Letter to the President of the Autonomous Republic of Bosanska Krajina, Mr V. Kuprešanin
(Prot. no: 717/92 dated 11 September 1992)
 CONSTANT OPPRESSION AND GREAT UNCERTAINTY FOR CATHOLICS IN THE BOSANSKA KRAJINA - TILL WHEN?

Mr President!
A month ago, while the President of the Serbian Republic of B-H. Dr Radovan Karadžić and the Prime Minister of the Serbian Republic of B-H, Dr Branko Đerić were in Banja Luka, I submitted a request to your cabinet, that I, as the Bishop of Banja Luka, al least meet with the said two officials. I was assured that this meeting would be arranged, yet with no reason at all this meeting never eventuated. I was compelled to write to both these people who are largely responsible for the future or rather, fate of more than 100,000 Catholic faithful in my Banja Luka Diocese, in an effort to inform them of the serious and uncertain future faced by these people.
To this day, I have not received any official reply from either of these two people!
Mr Kuprešanin, you advised my office by phone (I was absent), that President Karadžić had authorised you to speak to me on his behalf regarding the contents of the said letter, i.e. of the current issues related to the religious community in the Banja Luka Diocese.
I thank you for your benevolence!
I take the liberty to inform you of at least a part of the huge nightmare which is bothering not only myself, but several tens of thousands of Catholics in my diocese in the region of the Bosanska Krajina.
Not being able to seek protection or their legitimate rights via their legally elected political delegates, because these have been prohibited from any political activity, or even killed in some cases (Kotor Varoš, Prijedor, Ljubija, Sanski Most, Bosanska Gradiška, Ključ, Mrkonjić Grad), these people as believers - Catholics, are asking me as their bishop, to protect them from this unbearable torture, looting, oppression and that I once again ensure their fundamental human rights. Rights which have mostly been taken away or violated (the right to equality regardless of national affiliation or religious confession, the right to the goods necessary for Me and personal upkeep, the right to employment and a fair share of the fruits of one's labour - more than 90 per cent have been dismissed from work! - the right to an education and upbringing of one's own children, the right to freely associate and co-decide in public life and order, the right to a good reputation, the right to a free conscience, as well as the right to freedom of thought and expression - which are just some of the rights which are guaranteed to every man in civilised circles!). In some parts of my diocese - Bosanska Gradiška, Prijedor, Ljubija, Sanski Most, Ključ, Kotor Varoš and more and more, Banja Luka itself - the faithful can no longer bear the ordeals and pressure which have continued for several months and the extensive social oppression and as such are asking me to help them leave no matter where - most often they go off to total uncertainty! They often still feel like hunted wild animals without any possibility of protection by the official bodies of law and order!
In the past month and a half, I managed, with great difficulty, to visit a large number of my parishes in the regions of Banja Luka, Laktaši, Bosanska Gradiška, Prnjavor, Čelinac, Kotor Varoš, Mrkonjić Grad, Sanski Most, Prijedor - and was able myself to witness first hand the true current situation faced by my faithful, religious officials and Church property. I did what I could to speak to the local authorities as well as speaking to the truly frightened population, in an effort to calm them down and ease their traumatic state. I was regularly told by officials that the Catholics were mostly peaceful and had not caused any real problems (...). We did everything we could, my priests and I, as well as the larger part of my faithful - to prevent the winds of war from blowing their evil in these regions and the Catholics in this region from feeling the increase in the horrific tragedy of war which has been imposed upon us all.
Despite our efforts, many civilians have been killed (more than 150 that we know of!) and they are still being killed (Ljubija, Šurkovac) without any trial or judgement. Houses are being burnt by armed, uniformed persons who then go looting property. Individuals are taken off and never heard of again (e.g. Mr Marijan Vištica, a church committee member in Bosanska Gradiška).
A special problem has arisen with the destruction and desecration of churches and other religious buildings. In the past three months, for no reason at all, and in places where there were no war conflicts at all, more than 40 per cent of the Catholic churches have been burnt or destroyed in the region while another SO per cent have been damaged to various degrees! Five priests, pastors, who were detained in various concentration camps for periods ranging from 12 to 80 days without trial or judgement, are now more or less, invalids. The parish priest from Nova Topola, Father Ratko Grgić, who was abducted from his home on 16 June this year, has not been heard of and despite my intervention on many occasions, we have no knowledge of his fate.
Mr Kuprešanin, as the man to whom a great deal of responsibility has been assigned to in these "warped times" in the winds of war, and in these regions of our centuries-long joint existence, I turn to you on behalf of my many faithful and once again ask the same question, I asked Messrs Karadžić and Đerić:
- What do you intend for us Catholics, both you personally and the institution you represent? When will we receive a clear answer?
- What rights do you intend to give us Catholics: Croats, Ukrainians, Poles, Italians, Czechs and others and when?
-What should I tell the many thousands of unprotected and rightless faithful who are on the edge of physical and psychological endurance and how should I act in the future?
- I am convinced that you have understood my woes, those of my faithful and that you will seriously attempt to resolve these problems, keeping in mind, of course, all the long-term repercussions of your actions.
I thank you in advance for your reply!
Respectfully yours! 

Dr FRANJO KOMARICA,  Bishop of Banja Luka

c.c,
- Commander 1st Krajina Corps - Banja Luka
- Papal Nunciature - Belgrade
- Secretariat of the CBC - Zagreb
- Secretariat of the BC B-H - Sarajevo

 

Bishop's Appeal to the leader of the Bosnian Serbs, Dr R. Karadžić
(Prot. no: 591/93 dated 23 February 1993)
"DO NOT BE THE ONES TO BLAME FOR OUR MISFOR­TUNES"

Mr President!
I take the liberty to submit to you a long list of sacral buildings in my Banja Luka Diocese which have in the past few months been either completely destroyed or damaged to various degrees despite these buildings not being anywhere near any armed conflicts which is greatly thanks to the peaceful attitude and behaviour of the majority of my faithful. The list represents 93 per cent of all the churches in my diocese as well as 33 per cent of all other sacral buildings!
I have also enclosed a copy of my letter dated 19 February 1993, to the Mayor of Banja Luka, Mr Radić regarding the increasingly dramatic and unbearable situation faced by the Catholic faithful in this municipality. I have also enclosed a letter to the President of the Ključ Town Council, Mr Banjac dated 11 February 1993, about the vandalistic destruction of the parish church in the very centre of Ključ.
You may still not be truly aware of the information which I have regularly submitted to you and your colleagues about the catastrophic situation and complete rightlessness, lack of protection and calamities which have been faced by the Catholics for the past ten months or so in the Banja Luka diocese in some municipalities: Prijedor, Sanski Most, Bosanska Gradiška, Laktaši, Bosanska Dubica, Mrkonjić Grad, Kotor Varoš, Prnjavor, Bosanski Novi, Doboj, Glamoč. All the local politicians have constantly ascertained that the Catholics - who are in the minority in all these regions - are not involved in any conflicts with the Orthodox Serbs. Nevertheless, despite their innocence they are being killed, dismissed from their employment, losing their property, not to mention not having any human rights whatsoever! When I ask them why our human rights are being violated or taken away from us, I often receive the reply, "we have received our orders and are helpless in this matter!" (!?)
Mr President, who can and who may give such racist orders if you are the most responsible political figure for this entire region? If you are battling with your own conscience with regard to rights for your own people, then you can surely understand and agree that oilier people also have the right to maintain their own identity and dignity, i.e. the legitimate right to all fundamental human rights. I cannot believe that you, as an Orthodox Christian, can deliberately wish to destroy a larger part of one Catholic diocese, my - Banja Luka Diocese - which is in fact happening in the field! While I cannot personally, neither as a man nor as a Christian, approve the oppression of life and property of a single man, people or religious community, I can therefore not approve of this for our sister Orthodox Church and I have and will continue to raise my voice at every available moment against any vandalism and crime. I also expect all those responsible and influential people in the Serbian nation and Serbian Orthodox Church to raise their voices against the crimes being committed against other people, in this case against us - the Catholics in the RS.
The current situation in my diocese is truly dramatic! Virtually half of my faithful have already been compelled to leave their homes because of the crazy ideology of ethnic cleansing in these regions! The other half is at the edge of their tolerance because of the constant danger to their lives and the complete lack of rights or even the direct threat of hunger because the local authorities have stopped delivery of humanitarian aid via our diocesan Caritas! I'm afraid that neither I nor my priests will succeed in our tireless efforts to calm down these frightened spirits!
I assure you that as far as I know the majority of my faithful is truly capable and willing of living in peace, harmony and mutual respect with the other nations and religious communities including the Serbian Orthodox people. Do not allow yourself, as the most responsible person representing the Serbian people in B-H, to become marked with the stain and guilt of expelling and destroying several thousand Christian Catholics for no other reason than that you do not personally belong to this particular religious category. You will have no peace of mind nor God's blessing because of such a horrific crime against mankind!
At one time you assured me that you would personally undertake measures to positively resolve this problem which is bothering the Catholics in the area under your authority! I would be grateful to you for your efforts. Unfortunately, with the exception of a few worthwhile comforting actions, we have mostly experienced just the opposite to the promises and often in the worst possible form!
I once again beg you: do not at least in the future be the one to blame for our newest unforeseen and unfathomable misfortunes! It is your responsibility to stop the many types of crimes which are being committed against us everyday, especially in the municipalities of Bosanska Gradiška, Banja Luka, Laktaši, Prijedor, Sanski Most, Prnjavor, Doboj, Kotor Varoš and Bosanski Novi! In this way you will offer the best possible service to your own people!
May we, the members of my decimated diocese and I, still hold some hope that you will prove to be a man towards us as a fellow Christian believer "Fear God and do what is right and acceptable to him" (Acts 10:35)?
I expect your positive reply!
Respectfully yours! 

Dr FRANJO KOMARICA, Bishop of Banja Luka

1. Appendix (3)
2. c.c.:
- Papal Nunciature - Belgrade
- Secretariat of the Bishops' Conference B-H - Sarajevo
- Secretarial of the Bishops' Conference Croatia - Zagreb

 

Letter to the Prime Minister of the RS, Dr Vladimir Lukić
(Prot. no: 611/93 dated 25 February 1993)
ONCE AGAIN I MUST RAISE MY VOICE AGAINST THE LATEST CRIMES AGAINST CATHOLICS IN THE BOSANSKA GRADIŠKA MUNICIPALITY

Dear Sir!
I have recently been receiving especially alarming news from my parishes in Dolina and Bosanska Gradiška in the Bosanska Gradiška municipality. The remaining Catholics, who comprise one-third of the former Catholic population of this area and who have, despite the months long ordeal and abuse, remained in their homes, are now yearning for help and for some form of protection for their lives, honour and property.
Every day and night; armed uniformed persons enter the homes of Catholics, either individually or in gangs, and physically abuse the residents, often violently evicting the owners with the intention of moving in themselves.
Individual "heroes" actually go so far to rape women and girls. There have been several reports of these cases. The latest rape took place on the night between 16 & 17 of this month in the village of Gornja Dolina and the victim was an elderly lady, T.J. who is over 60 years old. The rapists were soldiers, she reported the account to their superiors. I am not aware of what they did regarding the matter. However, it appears nothing constructive was undertaken as only a few days later (19 February this year) another soldier attempted a similar crime in the same village against Š.J. It is only thanks to coincidence that the crime was not carried out to the end.
A week earlier (9 February this year) in Bosanska Gradiška, two armed, uniformed persons broke into the convent and threatened the nuns (elderly) in a most abhorrent manner - and after two hours of orgying they left taking two gas cylinders with them. Even though they threatened that they would return, once the sisters reported the incident, these same people never returned. However, other unidentified persons did, which certainly disturbed the sisters as these people intended to violently move into the convent.
During the night between 8 & 9 of this month, the subsidiary church of "St Anthony's" in the village of Mičije, in the Šimići parish, was mined and extensively damaged.
Once again during the night between 24 & 25 this month, the "Birth of the Virgin Mary" church in Čatrnja in the Bosanska Gradiška parish, was razed to the ground. In November 1992, it had been mined and seriously damaged and since then had not been fit for use. This time other surrounding sacral buildings were also damaged!
All these unsavoury events against the Catholic faithful are conducted as well thought out actions with the aim of ethnically cleansing these regions of members of the Catholic Church, here, whore they have lived for many a century and have during these most recent conflicts shown to be extremely peace loving neighbours towards all those around them. This is a well known fact to everyone in the civil and military authorities and has often enough been publicly announced.
Following these latest horrific crimes against the Catholics in this municipality - the abduction and merciless murder of an innocent priest, the parish priest in Nova Topola, Father Ratko Grgić, as well as the bestial attack by armed persons against our elderly nuns in the Nova Topola convent or the abduction and killing of a church committee member in Bosanska Gradiška, Mr Marijan Vištica, as well as some dozen other innocent Catholics, or the forceful expulsion of two-thirds of the Catholics which has taken place in the last year or so, or the latest "actions" either conducted self-willingly (or by orders!) are an evident continuation of the crimes against Catholics with the intention that they will continue as long as the Catholics remain here. We have often requested, both my community and I myself, as well as my deputies, parish priests, deans etc. for the protection of our rightless and unprotected people. Unfortunately, the local authorities cannot or do not wish to protect us - which is evident from previous practice.
Is there anyone who can effectively help these completely unprotected and helpless and blameless people. Can their lives and property be protected and are they allowed to have a dignified life? Is there anyone who can prevent the further intolerable oppression of Catholics in the Bosanska Gradiška municipality? Can you and will you, personally, or for that matter anyone in the government of the RS, listen to us?!
I cannot but once again raise my voice against the repeated crimes against my faithful and at the same time forward an appeal to you, Mr Karadžić and to all political figures and institutions which can effectively stop the heavy injustice against innocent Catholics - and others - in the Bosanska Gradiška municipality!
I still believe that reason and Humanity will be victorious, at least amongst the most responsible persons of our peoples amongst whom, of course, you yourself may be found! We all await your positive reply!
Respectfully yours! 

Dr F RAN JO KOMARICA, Bishop of Banja Luka

c.c.
1. President of the RS, Dr R. Karadžić
2. President of the RS parliament, Mr M. Krajišnik
3. Commander 1st Krajina Corps, Gen.-Colonel M. Talić
4. Papal Nunciature - Belgrade
5. Secretariat of the Bishops' Conference B-H - Sarajevo
6. Secretarial of the Croatian Bishops' Conference - Zagreb

 

Letter to the leader of the Bosnian Serbs, Dr R Karadžić
(Prot. no: 920/93 dated 26 March 1993)
DO OUR ORTHODOX BROTHERS TRULY WISH TO DE­STROY THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN THESE REGIONS?

Mr President!
I just received your letter which is the first reply lo my manifold official memorandums forwarded to you and your associates. Thank you! It is a sign of hope for me, but also for many others. It is an indication that our many dramatic cries for help and protection for the faithful in the Banja Luka diocese are in fact reaching your ears and the hearts of those who are currently responsible for the decisions regarding our future which of course includes you too.

1. In your letter you express regret that the reason for my writing to you at all is "the feeling of insecurity and fear for my own life due to the death threats and insults I have been receiving". You requested that I submit "more details about the noted incidents with the finest details in an effort to disclose the culprits of these incriminating events" in the "aim of protecting not only me, but all the citizens of the Republika Srpska". These details as you said "are also necessary as you cannot always distinguish from my letters whether these are cases of my subjective observations incited by the current enemy activities or whether they are a true reflection of the current situation as I have presented them, which would then be quite alarming". In the end you stress that "whether I submit these details to you or not, you would arrange for the matter to be investigated so that the guilty persons be disclosed and brought to justice and as such give us back our peace of mind and security".

2. With regard to your request forwarded to me, to submit actual details regarding various incidents, criminal activities and true atrocities against the civilian population in my diocese (as well as against other peoples in this part of the Republika Srpska), I take the liberty to relay the following facts for now:

3. As was the situation before, but certainly since the outbreak of this unfortunate war in Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1992, I have attempted to utilise every opportunity in my frequent meetings with my priests and faithful as well as my frequent contacts with representatives of the Serbian Orthodox Church and Islamic Community, and of course the legitimate local authorities, to contribute to preserving peace and to the untouched co-existence In these regions. In the meantime I conducted several meetings with representatives of the military in the 1st and 2nd Krajina Corps. With the good will and intentions of the military, I was able to conduct a visit to almost all the municipalities where my parishes are situated in this diocese. I personally witnessed the situation of the faithful entrusted to my spiritual care. In my many discussions with the most responsible representatives of the current authorities, I informed them of the actual situation faced by the Catholics in individual municipalities, their lack of rights and their oppression. They were usually aware of the disturbances occurring in their terrain as well as the misfortune which has befallen our Catholics about whom the officials themselves have said are peace loving citizens. My collocutors were mostly mayors of various municipalities and deputies of executive committees, presidents of crisis centres, chiefs-of-police and security commanders.
Here are just some of the names of my collocutors in individual municipalities:
1. Banja Luka: P. Radić, President Town Council (TC); A. Ružić, deputy president Executive Committee (EC); V. Tutus, head of Centre for Public Security (CPS)
2. Laktaši: S. Jović President TC/crisis centre; B. Kovačević, President EC; S. Dobrijević, head of CPS
3. Bosanska Gradiška: N. Ivaštanin, President TC; B. Todorović, President EC; V, Vesić, head of CPS
4. Prnjavor: N. Vasić, President TC; unnamed, head of CPS
5. Prijedor: M. Stakić, President TC/crisis centre; D. Kurnoga, newly elected president TC; N. Savanović, deputy president TC; S. Drljača, CPS; D. Taranjac, president crisis centre -Ljubija; D. Bajić, Chief-of-police - Ljubija
6. Sanski Most: N. Rašula, President TC/crisis centre; V. Vrkeša, President TC; M. Vrućinić, CPS
7. Ključ: J. Banjac, President TC; N. Tomić, President EC
8. Glamoč: P. Subašić, President TC; J. Herceg, CPS
9. Kotor Varoš: N. Đekanović, President TC(crisis centre); Z. Pejić, CPS
10. Mrkonjić Grad: D. Arežina, President TC; Lj. Vasalić, newly elected President TC
11. Bosanska Dubica: D. Krnjaić, President TC; unnamed, deputy president TC
12. Bosanski Novi: D. Kutlija, CPS; M. Vuković, Chief-of-police; unnamed, Chief-of-police - Bosan­ska Kostajnica
13. Doboj: unnamed, Chief-of-police - Stanari (for our parish of Dragalovci)
Apart from the frequent discussions I have had due to the climactic situation with my faithful especially in the municipalities of Banja Luka, Bosanska Gradiška, Prijedor, Sanski Most, Laktaši, Kotor Varoš, Prnjavor, Ključ, I was compelled to write to several responsible officers in these municipalities (Radić, Ivaštanin, Vesić, Stakić, Kurnoga, Rašula, Jović, Dobrijević, Đekanović, Vasić) requesting them to act more effectively towards the protection of rights for my oppressed faithful, religious officials and sacral building in the regions under their authority. After the nomination in September 1992 of Mr Vojo Kuprešanin (until then the President of the Autonomous Republic of Bosanska Krajina) as your deputy in resolving issues regarding the faithful in my diocese, I regularly verbally informed him of the actual events in the field, and also submitted several reports about the constantly deteriorating situation faced by my faithful whose peaceful behavior even Mr Kuprešanin praised on many an occasion. He must have, as I can only assume, informed you of my actual interventions, appeals and protests!

4. I also regularly informed the commander of the 1st Krajina Corps, General-major M. Talić about the actual danger to the lives and property of the Catholic Community, especially in some munici­palities (Prijedor, Sanski Most, Bosanska Gradiška, Laktaši, Ključ, Banja Luka, Prnjavor, Kotor Varoš, Mrkonjić Grad). I also reported to his deputies or rather assistants, Messrs Bogojević, Bogdanić, Tesić, Vejnović, Vukelić, Peulić, Arsić, Simić - requesting that they protect and help all those who were oppressed and stripped of their rights.
On several occasions, I also turned to the Chief-of-Security in Banja Luka, Mr S. Župljanin and the late S. Marković regarding the same issue.
All my written interventions to the noted persons were regularly sent by mail to the highest authorities of the RS: the government, parliament and yourself personally!

5. Therefore, when it comes to the Catholics in my diocese - all "the necessary information, including many explicit details relevant to disclosing the guilty parties of the incriminating events" which you requested from me, are held by the relevant persons and officials of the noted municipalities, as we pointed out to them the many and frequent cases where lives and property were In jeopardy, as were the lack of fundamental rights - the right to life, the right to a home, the right to equality regardless of national or religious affiliation, the right to a fair share of the fruits of one's labour, the goods necessary for life, the right to a free conscience, the right to educating and upbringing of one's own children, the right to the freedom of thought and expression, the right to health and welfare care, the right to freedom of movement, the right to a good reputation, the right to freely associate and co-decide in public life and movements (...) They are obliged to give these to you and are in a position to do so! -If I were to give you the necessary and already known details, these would take up several dozen pages! As this is not my duty, I leave this very significant task to the relevant authorities and organs of law and order.

6. All the competent government officials, both civil and military, as well as the thousands of my faithful and indeed their neighbours are aware of the manifold misfortunes and tragic fate of many Catholics (and other blameless civilians), their families, religious groups, villages, suburbs, entire parishes and deaneries in my diocese. Many are aware of the main perpetrators of these crimes and of those who give them their orders!
They are also aware of the locations and names of those who have been killed, mutilated, tortured, physically abused, all of whom were innocent citizens, particularly in the municipalities of: Prijedor, Bosanska Gradiška, Kotor Varoš, Sanski Most, Bosanski Novi, Prnjavor, Banja Luka, Laktaši, Bosan­ska Dubica, Ključ, Glamoč, Mrkonjić Grad, Doboj. They know the exact details of those who have been attacked, of the demolished and looted properties, where and who has been dismissed (in some municipalities these number in their thousands) because they or a member of their family refused to be drafted and sent to the front, or whose rights to health and welfare protection have been refused, or where an entire bus load of people was made to disembark or were not given bus tickets because they were Catholics or Croats, or whose children cannot enjoy their own Catholic religious instructions in school like their Orthodox counterparts, or all those thousands of people who have been compelled to depart from their ancient hearths - through no fault of their own - just because someone with a gun and a uniform felt that way at that particular moment and because no one in authority could be bothered to put an end to it, or where are those politically involved persons of Croatian or other non-Serbian nationality who were forcefully removed from office, or where armed men raped women and girls wherever and whenever they felt like it (...)
It is a well known fact that the officials and many ordinary citizens are aware of the entirely unprovoked attacks, which often enough ended in murder (Prijedor, Bosanska Gradiška, Doboj) as well as the confiscation of property from our priests, nuns and other religious staff, as well as the damages and destruction (conducted systematically!) of almost virtually all our sacral buildings in our diocese in the majority of municipalities in this region - 95 per cent of the churches and 40 per cent of other sacral buildings - despite the explicit prohibition of such acts issued by the Commander of the 1st Krajina Corps.
Following the atrocities against the lives and property of members of the Catholic Church (as well as other similar cases in this region), official commissions were supposed to conduct investigations and record the relevant details which should have been submitted to the authorities! The authorities, therefore, know very well of these incidents. The people know as well, and so do we. Everyday we hear of new incidents with the most dramatic repercussions! I once again wish to stress from this position that - differing to other regions in Bosnia-Herzegovina - there were no war conflicts in this region between the Catholics and other peoples except in a few isolated cases as you are more than likely aware of! We Catholics have not threatened anyone here! "We hold hope for peace, yet there is no goodness" (Is 8:15).
- Why is this happening to us, when we are not guilty of anything? Why are we being oppressed and banished without trial or justice?
- Can or will anyone finally put a stop to the anarchy, the law of violence, brutality and disregard shown by individual tyrants who have dragged tragedy upon their own people as well as others in this region?
These and many other questions of existence are forwarded to rue by my faithful and as such I forward them to you!

7. In my previous correspondence I have informed you of that fact that many members of my diocese (as well as many others) have turned to then parish priests, or rather, to me - as their bishop and their only "comfort" seeking my intervention, assistance, protection with the local authorities as well as higher government levels because their legally elected political delegates have been killed, abducted, or detained, or have been forced to flee as is the case in Prijedor, Sanski Most, Bosanska Gradiška, Kotor Varoš, Mrkonjić Grad and Laktaši.
We are conscious of our eminent spiritual mission and activities amongst the faithful. However, the manifold misfortunes which have stricken our faithful and the heavy injustices which they have been suffering all these months through no fault of their own must not be left unseen and their cries for help and protection to save their bare lives cannot go unheard! After all, throughout the history of our Church, we too today, as the spiritual representatives of the faithful who have been entrusted to us, must and wish to share with them (and others) "joy and hope, sadness and fear" (Second Vatican Council GS 1). Jesus Christ himself obliges us to this, as does his example, his teachings and his commandments (Mt 28:20).
You were certainly aware even earlier that I regularly in my cited discussions (as well as on many other occasions) tried not to overdramatise the situation but rather to calm down the actual, very tragic situation faced by my faithful. I considered it necessary that I caution my collocutors that they would sooner or later need to be informed of every criminal incident and that these would be condemned, tried and so it would be better that these be prevented by legal means. The Holy Bible tells us, "They who do evil, breed evil!" (Job 15:35).
I believe that there were good intentions on behalf of my collocutors to stop the anarchy. However, this was not sufficient and certainly not expressed in the same manner everywhere! Evil such as this was not only not prevented, but in the past week or so has been significantly increased - in some regions - murder of the innocent (Prnjavor, Sanski Most, Bosanski Novi, Doboj, Banja Luka), in some places - the destruction of churches and homes of civilians or looting of property (Banja Luka, Bosanska Gradiška, Prnjavor, Ključ, Sanski Most, Prijedor) and everywhere - fear for one's own life and the oppression of being under the constant threat of massacre, displacement, ethnic cleansing, which has been perfidiously relayed over the public media, more recently with perfidious lies and slander on account of the Bishop and the Catholic Church, as though the Bishop himself and the Catholic Church (!) were preparing some form of scenario by which we wish to move all the Catholic faithful out of their ancient homes and take them somewhere completely unknown!

8. Experiencing and suffering the many calamities in all our parishes, not to mention the repression, displacement, being forced to flee also the frequent violation of human rights, many of the faithful in my decimated diocese urgently and desperately ask me, or rather you, the inevitable question, "in these conditions can there be any normal, humane, civilised life for the Catholics of the Banja Luka Diocese in the municipalities of Banja Luka, Laktaši, Bosanska Gradiška, Bosanska Dubica, Srbac, Prnjavor, Bosanski Novi, Prijedor, Sanski Most, Bosanska Krupa, Ključ, Bosansko Grahovo, Drvar, Bosanski Petrovac, Glamoč, Mrkonjić Grad, Šipovo, Jajce, Čelinac and Kotor Varoš, namely, in those regions where our forefathers preserved their hearths, roots, faith and identity - both religious and national, throughout the turbulent ages, living with the other nations and religious communities of this region?"
I do not personally believe that any human being could want to destroy us, we who have no guilt at all - and to banish us from our ancient hearths. I cannot accept this form of completely inhuman and uncivilised method of ethnic cleansing - not for anyone and certainly not for my Catholic faithful because this would mean accepting an atrocity not of this century but of this millennium, i.e. the complete destruction of the Catholic Church in this region, where it has existed for more than 17 centuries. The Church has lasted here despite the efforts to devastate it and to banish its members during the non-Christian battles and attacks by the Huns, the Avars, the Mongols, the Turks and most recently the Communists and now it appears it could truly disappear because this is what our Christian Orthodox brothers apparently want, i.e. our neighbours, friends and in some cases, relatives!?
As such I consider, and this is not only my belief, but that of my priests and nuns, as well as the majority of my faithful, that a negative reply by the current political leader in the Republika Srpska and beyond would be very painful for us all and horribly defeatist and deeply immoral and inhumane for those who would support such a negative reply or indeed defend it at the point of arms and lawlessness!

9. Your words towards the end of your letter, when you promised that you would do "everything in you power to investigate the entire matter of the possible (?!) culprits and that they be brought to justice and to return peace and security to us" are truly comforting! I sincerely thank you for them! Without any true reason or motivation there has been too much evil and injustice committed against our faithful, priests, nuns and surely this cannot be allowed to continue. As far as I am concerned, as the Bishop of Banja Luka, and the threats to myself and the slander via the public media which is certainly not as you stated fictive, but rather real, ugly and infamous, and well known to the civil and military authorities in Banja Luka, 1 do not personally wish to comment. This is just further evidence of the immorality of those who stand behind these actions. I believe that you have no part in these deeds and as such I just wish to caution you of the possible negative repercussions for you and others around you, if these actions - God forbid - were to continue!
In this case I share your sentiments that it is truly high time that a joint commission be established to investigate the entire situation in which the Catholics are in the said regions - each municipality and local community at a time, and if need be from one parish to another, from individual repre­sentatives of religious communities to perhaps individual families and individuals themselves. I soundly expect that the competent authorities in the Republika Srpska will finally give us reliable assurances that we too have a say in our future and are worthy of respect and fundamental human and civil rights and liberties. We are not merely subject matter, things or goods as we are, unfortunately, thought of even by some of the ministers in your cabinet R. Bođanin ("Glas Srpski", Banja Luka dated 20 March 1993. pa. 1). This is some thing I ask for all of us who still remain here on our hearths, also for those who through no fault of their own have had to leave their homes and flee from the lawlessness which has existed in this past period and now yearn to return to their homes! All the people of this our only homeland, surely have the right as civilised people to a just state and a life worthy of a dignified civilisation.
Once again as I have each time until now, when I legitimately looked for help and protection for my faithful and the nation I belong to, I raise my voice so that the rights we have had stripped away from us be reinstated, which are the rights of every human being and every member no matter their religion or nationality, including members of the Serbian Orthodox Church and Serbian nation!
As a Christian, you must surely be aware of Christ's words, our Saviour and the Judge of all men, "Treat others as you would like them to treat you!" (Lk 6:31)
We justly expect that these words of Christ be taken into consideration and be shown in action amongst us and with you too!
As you managed to once again allow free delivery of humanitarian aid - via our diocesan Caritas - for which I sincerely thank you on behalf of several tens of thousands of people who depend on this help, I also believe that you will try and stop this evil which has overcome us ah1, and of which I was obligated and took the liberty to advise you of, and as such to attempt to comfort the blows and as such confirm love for humanity according to the Gospel!
Respectfully yours!

 Dr FRANJO KOMARICA, Bishop of Banja Luka

c.c.
1. Papal Nunciature - Belgrade
2. Secretariat of the BC B-H - Sarajevo
3. Secretariat of the CBC - Zagreb
4. Synod of the SOG - Belgrade

 

Letter to the deputy Prime Minister of the RS, Dr Vitomir Popović
(Prot. no: 1081/93 dated 11 May 1993)
UNDERTAKE EFFECTIVE MEASURES TO STOP THE KILLING OF BLAMELESS PEOPLE!

Dear Sir!
During our last conversation about the current situation faced by the members of my diocese in the territory of the Republika Srpska you requested that I submit a written report about the most urgent and most difficult problems.
I now take the liberty to do just that.
I have already informed you about the murder of several innocent civilians in their own homes across several of our parishes.
Here are their names (during the period following my meeting with Mr M. Krajišnik, president of the RS Parliament held on 10 April 1993):  

DOLINA (Bosanska Gradiška):

1.Matković Ilija
2.Matković Julka
Both elderly folk - killed during the night 18/19 April this year in their home. Before that Ilija Martinović was murdered and burnt in his home.

PETRIĆEVAC:

1. Barušić Juro (church committee member) - killed 26 April 1993, in his own home; before this incident the following were also killed in their own homes:
2. Jerković Marko - killed 15 December 1992.
3. Jerković Borka - killed 15 December 1992. Marko and Borka were husband and wife.
4. Kezić Adolf - killed 14 April 1993.
5. Anto Josipović - 8 January 1993.
6. Marić Miroslav - killed 7 October 1992. 

ŠURKOVAC:

1. Jurić Mirko
2. Jurić Ana
Ana and Mirko were husband and wife.
3. Šolaja Ana
4. Tukarić Stipica
5. Jurić Ilija
6. Gavranović Mande
All were killed in their homes.

 BARLOVCI:

1. Bumbar Janja, an elderly lady aged 80, killed in her own home on 25 April 1993, at about 01:30 hours.
2. Vidaković Stjepan
3. Vidaković Marija
Stjepan and Marija were killed on 25 March 1993 at about 16:00 hours in their own home, more precisely, their yard.
4. Bartulović Ivo
5. Anušić Tomo
6. Anušić Vid
Killed on 24 March 1993.
7. Lukenda Stipo
Abducted 2 February 1993 - killed and his body was burnt.
8. Lipovac Anto
9. Anušić Joso, mutilated in his own home on 1 November 1992 - he died a month later from his injuries.

 JAJCE:

1. Šimunović Drago
2. Pranjko Vilma & Franjo, elderly people - killed on 10 April 1993.

 MOTIKE:

1. Kovačević Manda, mother
2. Kovačević Niko, son
Killed on 8 May 1993 (!) in their home.

These are the latest murders which have disturbed the local population.
Apart from these killings, the shooting at houses and apartments is continuing especially in some particular regions of the Banja Luka municipality, which is an added factor contributing to our people making the decision to leave this region.
I therefore ask that in keeping with your beliefs as well as the Constitution of the RS and that of your promises which you gave me (or rather Mr Krajišnik), please undertake more effective measures so that the innocent, peaceful people, members of the Catholic Church may truly feel as worthy citizens whose human rights are also guaranteed.
This will surely be to the benefit of everyone in our town and entire region. Respectfully yours!

 Dr FRANJO KOMARICA, Bishop of Banja Luka

 

Letter to the Ministry of Religion of the RS
(Prot. no: 1220/93 dated 25 August 1993)
PARISH CHURCH IN SASINA NEAR SANSKI MOST MINED – ARMED ATTACK ON CHURCH BUILDINGS IN THE BANJA LUKA MUNICIPALITY

Dear Sirs!
It is with great regret that I must inform you of yet another series of vandalistic, destructive acts against sacral buildings in my diocese.
In the morning hours of 28 June 1993, the large parish church of "St Peter and Paul" in Sasina near Sanski Most was virtually razed to the ground. This happened despite the repealed assurances by government authorities that our sacral buildings would be given the utmost protection and despite the military check point in the immediate vicinity. This is the fourth church to be destroyed in the Sanski Most municipality, an area where, according to statements by the local authorities, there were no conflicts between the Catholics and members of other religious communities or nations, nor had the Catholics troubled anyone.
It should be easy for you to understand the great sorrow and uneasiness of the remaining faithful in the area. They have suffered much even before this event and quite a number of them have been killed without any reason or guilt!
I am turning, once again, to all the official bodies in the territory of RS demanding that they take more decisive steps to protect the completely unprotected faithful in my diocese as well as to protect the property of the Catholic Church.
I am doing this on behalf of my constantly threatened people, especially in the regions of Stara Rijeka (Sanski Most municipality), Dolina and Bosanska Gradiška, as well as Barlovci and Petrićevac (in the Banja Luka municipality) where, in the past ten days, the churches in Kuljani and Novakovići have been destroyed.
May I, along with my priests and faithful, nevertheless hope that this horrific destructive anarchy being displayed by individuals and particular gangs who have also destroyed or damaged virtually 90 per cent of our sacral buildings and who have directly threatened and endangered the lives of thousands of faithful, be finally put to an end by the actual authorities. Only this will give us a sense of security and feeling that we may be able to exist in this region within our own Catholic community, where our religion has existed throughout the long turbulent ages?!
I expect your effective reply!
Respectfully yours! 

Dr FRANJO KOMARICA, Bishop of Banja Luka

 c.c.
1. G. J. Turanjanin, Assistant Minister of Religion - Banja Luka
2. Centre for Public Security - Banja Luka
3. Papal Nunciature - Belgrade
4. Secretariat of the EC B-H - Sarajevo
5. Secretariat of the CBC - Zagreb

 

Letter to Dr V. Popović, Vice President of the RS Government
(Prot. no: 1389/93 dated 25 August 1993)
CONSTANT PERIL TO THE LIVES AND PROPERTY OF CATHOLICS – THE LAW OF VIOLENCE AND THE STRONG­ER STILL REIGNS!

Dear Sir!
In my many conversations with you in the past few months I relayed to you, amongst other things, the actual suffering and misfortunes faced by the Catholic population of the Banja Luka Diocese in the territory of the RS. You readily listened to me and valued my comments, assuring me of definite help and protection for all my oppressed faithful, priests, nuns and sacral buildings. You also requested that I report to you in writing of any possible incidents associated with the people and property of the Catholic Church in these regions.
With this memorandum I wish to once again request on behalf of my faithful, greater protection of their lives and property also a guarantee that they will be granted other fundamental human and civil rights and liberties.
I soundly hope that you will be more decisive in this matter, in keeping with your authority and that you will establish a just state in these regions.

1. In the past few weeks, armed attacks (unfortunately) took place against my Church staff in the Šurkovac parish presbytery located in Mrkonjić Grad, also in Vrbanjci, Kotor Varoš, as well as at the convent in Nova Topola. Thank God there were no serious consequences! The local authorities and police were immediately informed in each case. I trust that they will undertake the necessary measures to arrange for better protection for these people in our regions.

2. Unfortunately, every day we receive tales of woe from our unprotected faithful, who are physically being abused by armed gangs. These gangs go around attacking people for their own purposes and interests. Sometimes the attacks end in deaths especially in the Kotor Varoš, Bosanska Gradiška, Laktaši, Prijedor, Banja Luka and most recently in the Mrkonjić Grad and Ključ municipalities. We have details as do the official authorities.

3. The uncalled-for destruction of our churches and other sacral buildings is unfortunately still continuing. This is most usually accompanied with abuse against our faithful. You are aware that in the past year or so, even though there were no battles waged here, more than 40 per cent of our churches have been completely destroyed. A further 50 per cent have been damaged lo various degrees. Thirty per cent of other sacral building have been destroyed or damaged. More recently this number has increased dramatically with the following churches being added to the list, Sasina (Sanski Most) and Kotor Varoš, the subsidi­ary church in Drenova (Prnjavor), Mačkovac (Bosanska Gradiška) not to mention the ex­tensively devastated churches in Mahovljani (Laktaši). The pastoral centre in Nova Topola (Bosanska Gradiška), which was renovated two years ago, was burnt down and the convent was damaged as were the surrounding farm buildings; the parish church in Barlovci (Banja Luka) and in Tm (Laktaši) as well as the demolished pastoral centre in Šurkovac (Prijedor) and in Ma­hovljani (Laktaši).

4. More houses and material goods belong­ing to Catholics are being tampered with and destroyed. This includes those houses which are currently vacant because their owners are off working abroad. This though is not a criteria, because houses where the residents are still inside are more frequently being targeted. This is especially true in Bosanska Gradiška, Laktaši, Banja Luka, Pri­jedor, Sanski Most, Kotor Varoš, Mrkonjić Grad and Ključ.

5. Even though there appear to be signs of a calm in the storm on the global scene, out in the field the law of violence is still too often the case! This is creating a constant feeling of unrest for a large number of the popula­tion, members of minority nationalities in these regions! Knowing your stance, as well as the official one of the government of RS, regarding the future of every individual citizen in these regions where we have existed for centuries, I once again wholeheartedly appeal to you on behalf of my oppressed faithful that you, as the person in power, to more decisively put your word into action, i.e. those attributes that civilised Europe has proclaimed and which you should wish to establish while you are in a position to do so!
I thank you for your contribution towards establishing peace and justice as well as returning dignity to every man!