Refugees – 1996

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Refugees – 1996

1996

Minimum Implementation Minimal implementation

As of 31 January 1996, only 200 refugees had returned to Croatia through UN established channels. A summary statement in February declares that “[l]ittle progress has been made on the return of Croatian Serb refugees to Croatia”.1

UN Secretary General Boutros-Ghali reported that the return of refugees to Croatia was being obstructed: “Disturbing reports continue to be received that (Croatian) government offices responsible for expediting this procedure are conducting their work in an uncooperative and obstructive manner.” The report speaks of widespread abuses against the minority Serb population by the Croatian government that must stop.2

In February 1996, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Croatia issued a “Report by the Government of Croatia on the Implementation of Security Council resolution 1019” regarding issues such as refugee rights. The report by the GoC indicates that 5,000 people have filed requests to return to Croatia and 1,841 have been processed. The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia announced that approximately 80 percent of the Serbian refugees will likely choose to stay in Serbia or Montenegro.3

There are several reasons for such a slow initial return rate. Foremost is the security situation; many Serbs indicated that they are fearful of returning. In addition to security, the GoC is requiring returnees to gain permission to return to their homes, which has been criticized as being cumbersome. Before the Basic Agreement (in August 1995), the Croatian Parliament adopted a bill requiring refugees to reclaim their property within three months or have their belongings — both real and moveable property including furniture — expropriated. The UN special rapporteur for human rights fiercely criticized the bill. While the GoC later suspended the time limit, such a posture combined with cumbersome regulation undoubtedly signaled a weak commitment to the property rights of Serb refugees.4

The Secretary General’s report from June 1996 highlights the biggest problem unfolding in refugee repatriation. Large numbers of Croats who were displaced from Eastern Slavonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Yugoslav Federation have returned and/or migrated to Eastern Slavonia and have occupied the property of displaced Serbs, who have not yet returned. This population transfer is attributed in large part to the GoC’s issuance of the Decree on the Rights of Returnees, which terminated displaced status on 30 June 1996. The GoC also passed a law on 17 May 1996 that provides benefits and the possibility of gaining ownership of empty property to persons who move to the region; this caused a large migration of people, mostly Croats, to Easter Slavonia.5

International observers noted that the Croatian authorities governing the rehabilitation programs are favoring Croat beneficiaries. Government funding for home reconstruction, for example, has gone mostly to Croat recipients. International observers also report that Serbs are being denied identify documents that are required by the GoC to receive rehabilitation assistance and other benefits made available by donors.6

Calls for Croatia to increase the level of protection being offered to ethnic Serbs continued throughout 1996 in an effort to repatriate remaining refugees.7

Under pressure from the international community, the GoC offers amnesty to Serbs to facilitate their return.8

  1. “Further Report on the Situation of Human Rights in Croatia Pursuant To Security Council Resolution 1019,” United Nations Security Council (S/1996/109), February 14, 1996.
  2. “UN complains about slow repatriation of Serbs to Croatia,” International News, February 16, 1996.
  3. “Further Report on the Situation of Human Rights in Croatia Pursuant To Security Council Resolution 1019.”
  4. “UN rapporteur calls on Croatia to respect human rights,” Agence France Presse. December 4, 1995.
  5. “Further Report on the Situation of Human Rights in Croatia Pursuant To Security Council Resolution 1019,” United Nations Security Council (S/1996/456), June 21, 1996.
  6. Ibid.
  7. “Croatia under fire over treatment of Serb refugees,” Agence France Presse, July 4, 1996.
  8. “Croatia, Under Pressure, Extends Amnesty to all Serbs,” Associate Press Worldstream, September 20, 1996.