Ten pictures of the refugees

1. At the Sremska Raca border crossing there is a ramp, three nervous police officers, two ambulance vans and a restaurant. Some two thousand refugees from Krajina are wondering confused on a nearby plain. There is no telephone, no water, no food- except in the restaurant, at restaurant prices. There is no one to greet the exhausted and bewildered people, to tell them where to go, to talk to them. At a nearby kiosk, some bloke sold them sandwiches and fruit juices at 5 German marks a piece, until the police chased him away. They are let in in small groups, twenty every hour, before being abandoned to find their own way.

2. They arrive on tractors, trucks, coaches and cars - there are signs of shelling on some vehicles. "We stopped for a short while near Brcko, to have a bite to eat", a young man in a torn camouflage shirt told us. "As soon as we stopped, we heard Croatian VBR's (multiple rocket launchers) from across the river. One of the cars in front was hit. I do not know if anyone survived - I just hit the accelerator".

3. "It was Friday, around three in the afternoon. A soldier drove in and told us to get the hell out because the Croats are on their way", Milica Stojakovic, from Knin, told us about the moment when her life changed irreversibly. "I had about half a minute to pack- I left the dishes on the table". After a three day long journey and many hours of waiting at the border crossing, Milica is so confused that it was only later that she remembered to mention that beside the dishes, she also left her children behind - her house is on the outskirts, and the children were in the town centre at the time. She does not know where her husband is either, since he was at the front when the flight began. She arrived with her sister and nephews to Serbia where she has neither relatives or friends. "Where will we go? We are without future", they all said in one voice.

4. On a field by the road, some boys are playing football. A woman is watching them, crying.

5. "Treason, treason", everyone repeats when asked who is to blame for what happened. Then argument begins: "Milosevic sold us", one of them says, and curses. "It was not Milosevic but Martic", another one cries. "The ministers fled with sacks full of money- they are all now in Belgrade", third one ads. "What money, stop imagining things", a fourth onlooker interferes. Then someone mentioned Milosevic again, and the argument goes back to the beginning.

6. "They should all be mobilized, all who can carry a gun", one of the people in the restaurant said, pointing at the refugees. "I hope you do not expect me and my fellowmen from Srem to fight for them". A woman objects, and a quarrel begins. At a nearby table, a group of refugees stares at their half empty glasses of juice. They are silent.

7. By the road, a rifle case lies empty.

8. "First thing we must do is find a Croatian village and chuck them all out" an ex fighter told us. "we must create room for ourselves". "The Hungarians as well, They are all Ustashi too", another one ads. They offered us a couple of hand grandees before leaving- just in case.

9. "They will of course all come to Belgrade. What the f... do we need them" a taxi driver from Belgrade grumbles on the way back from Sremska Raca. "Why don't they go to Subotica or Kosovo?". I try to oppose. "Don't be stupid, they will be mugging you in the street tomorrow. They would slit your throat for 5 German marks - just look at them". I said nothing.

10. In Belgrade, in the garden of a top class restaurant, a high official of an opposition party dined with a fellow party member. "Hey you, what are you going to do with all the refugees?", one of the guys from the adjacent table asked. "You are obviously not very well informed" , the politician addressed over his Tatar-steak. "We issued a statement two hours ago".

The Status of the Exiled

by Jelena Grujic

The people from Krajina who arrive in Yugoslavia are "officially" labelled as exiles, rather than refugees, the Serbian Commissariat for refugees told 'Vreme'. Refugees are people who "voluntarily left the territories which they inhabited", while the most recent case is not one of "refugees in the usual sense", but people who "have no right to return". They will receive the same treatment and rights as refugees and will all be allowed entry into the country, they added at the Commissariat.

The reply to the question why people are not offered elementary assistance (at least water) immediately on arrival, but have to wait until they get to Simanovci, 20 km away from Sremska Raca, was that immediate assistance would slow down the entry of the oncoming groups of refugees. As far as slow crossing of the border is concerned, it is necessary because of "detailed examinations" which are being carried out.

Two coordinating bodies have been formed (one in charge of receiving the refugees, other for assigning accommodation) to help the Commissariat deal with the situation (acquisition of fuel etc.) both at federal level (President Tomica Raicevic) and at the level of individual republics (Aleksa Jokic).

The news that the Serbian Commissioner for refugees Bratislava Morina said that "no status will be assigned to men capable of military service" has not been confirmed. She also told "Vreme" the following: "I saw a dead baby, I saw a newly born baby, I walked five kilometres with foreign journalists in 35 degrees centigrade, so I am too tired to give you a statement. Call me in the morning". On the following day, she was far too busy.