Muslims Away On Business

Since the departure of JNA (former Yugoslav People's Army) authorities needed more soldiers, so they had to mobilize by force all those who didn't join voluntarily. Bozidar Vucurevic (leader of the Trebinje Serbs) decided to expel even completely loyal Muslims since the plan for sea-exit of so called East Herzegovina failed (direction Neum-Klek, and Molunat-Cavtat), and a part of the territory has been lost (Ravno, Cvaljina, Poljice, part of Trebinje Woods, Ivanice). "Authorities are not urging you to leave, but cannot guaranty you a safety," this was said to mobilized Muslims on the commune gathering. These last few weeks over 4.000 Muslims from Trebinje wander around Rozaje, Plav, Ulcinj and Podgorica like the scum of the earth, in their search for a better land.

Muslims from Trebinje, as opposed to Muslims from Bileca, and especially from Gacko (Herzegovina) were known as being "soft", and this was considered an inferiour characteristic, according to Sarajevo standards. Party of Democratic Action (SDA) didn't operate in Trebinje since the beginning of the war, and all communications with headquarters in Sarajevo dissapeared after April 4th last year, when unknown persons had entered premisses and demolished it. "Complete documentation, phone, fax-machine, typewriter and official seals were taken away" said Muhamed Zolovic (a forme leader of the party for Trebinje area), whose son Huso spent more days in combat than anyone from Trebinje. This was confirmed by Bahrudin Efendic, member of the Party Committee, and by Mustafa Hajdarevic, member of the Sub-committee in Hrupjela. They said that majority of Muslims were not molested and beaten by famous gangs of renegades. The ones that had been molested were also forced to sell out their property for peanuts (Catovic couple, both doctors, sold everything for 400 DEM). Some of them were forced to sign strange contracts saying, for instance, that they "give their property for indefinite period, and for humanitarian purposes". Smajo Cerimagic, an old age pensioner, received a voucher explaining that he is allowed to take away with him, from Serbian Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina his "cassette-player and telephone".

Whatever happens, Trebinje will still remain the town with a warm climate, average annual temperature of 16 C, the lowest mortality of the newborns, and with the drills from the Tool Factory. However, for a long time it will not have a theater festival, greens from Konavle, workers who goes to work in Dubrovnik, and sea that once belonged to people from Trebinje as much as it belonged to those from Dubrovnik. There will be no Muslims as well, without whom, this town is like house without a roof. The best people will not be there, since this unacceptable policy chased them away.