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SPECIAL REPORT CRIMINAL ACTIVITY IN STOLAC IPTF AOR DURING BOSNIAK RETURNS MARCH
26-28, 1998 AND THE LOCAL POLICE RESPONSE

SUMMARY:
During the period of March 26-28, 1998 the Stolac IPTF area of responsibility
witnessed one of the most intense periods of criminal vandalism since the program
of Bosniak returns began. Several dwellings were destroyed by explosions and
many more were burned. There were no physical injuries in any of the cases as
the structures directly effected were uninhabited, however, the psychological
trauma to residents living in nearby dwellings must not be overlooked. The incidents
were concurrent with the return of Bosniak displaced persons to areas outside
of the pilot project area in Stolac town, which was in itself concurrent with
a highly visible SFOR military exercise. Their impact on the continuing return
process remains to be seen.

THE CASES:
26.03.98 - 98/STO/034 - Podglavica - (YH356-754) - EXPLOSIONS - IPTF
Stolac was notified by a LP patrol that there had been an explosion in the village
of Podglavica. Upon further investigation it was found that three uninhabited
Bosniak dwellings had been destroyed by two explosions. A further five structures
including two occupied Croat dwellings were damaged. Although damaged and looted
prior to the explosions all dwellings were structurally intact.

26.03.98 - 98/STO/035 - Kucista - (YH350-758) - ARSON - IPTF
Stolac was notified by Spanish SFOR of several fires in the village of Kucista.
Further investigation identified three uninhabited dwellings that had been recently
burned. All three dwellings were Bosniak owned, had been previously vandalized,
looted, and were not inhabitable. Burn patterns in the structures and on surrounding
vegetation indicate the use of an accelerant.

28.03.98 - 98/STO/036 - Pjesevac Greda - (YH356-784) - ARSON - IPTF
Stolac was notified by a LP patrol that there had been an arson fire to a dwelling
in the village of Pjesevac Greda. The fire brigade had been called to this fire
and extinguished it before the building was completely burned. The dwelling
was Bosniak owned, vacant, somewhat vandalized but structurally intact. The
odour of the building suggested the use of an accelerant.

28.03.98 - 98/STO/037 - Todorovici - (YH422-762) - STONING - IPTF
Stolac was notified by a LP patrol that a bus used by Bosniaks for return to
the village of Poplasici was stoned and vandalized as it attempted to turn around
near the black market on the Berkovici road. One suspect yelled at the driver
and damaged the rear-view mirror, and another threw a block of concrete through
a window on the left rear side of the bus. SFOR has since identified two suspects
and their names have been provided to the local police. One is believed to live
in the village of Borojevici near Podglavica.

28.03.98 - 98/STO/039 - Pjesevac Kula - (YH349-762) - ARSON - IPTF
Stolac was informed by Spanish SFOR that there had been an arson fire in the
village of Pjesevae Kula near the village of Kucista. One unoccupied, vandalized,
but structurally sound Bosniak house was damaged by the fire.

28.03.98 - 98/STO/040 - Kukawsa - (TH363-778) - ARSON - IPTF
was informed at the same time as case 98/STO/039 of an arson fire in the village
of Kukawsa in the area of Sveu Nikola. Again, one unoccupied, vandalized, but
structurally sound Bosniak house was damaged by the fire.
STRUCTURES DESTROYED BY EXPLOSION 3
STRUCTURES DAMAGED BY EXPLOSION 5
STRUCTURES DAMAGED BY FIRE 6
VEHICLES DAMAGED BY VANDALISM 1
TOTAL 15
Note that in all of the cases involving structures the villages, if occupied,
were occupied only by Croats.