The libertas diary

The battle is also being fought by certain groups. Today we have been addressed by the inhabitants of the islands of Mljet, Lopud, Šipan and Koločep. They are not being in position to obtain medical aid. Even when a ship arrives in Dubrovnik, so many things required are usually missing. It is hard to get to the islands. And there are some sick people there too. Board of Župa and Board of Konavle have been founded. Montenegrins, natives of Boka living in Dubrovnik, have started their own battle, they announced their letter to Mr. Bulatović, conveying the following: “You must know that people will survive this war. But the killed, wounded and suffering will be an everlasting memento as to why the war was waged, why it was so cruel, why it destroyed all the boundaries, roads, paths… Put your efforts into restoration of peace in this country so that people can recover from fears and suffering and trust their neighbours once again.”

At the moment, the hardest is the battle of Mokošica. I have just ended up my telephone conversation with people there. There are 1,600 of them. They are being constantly shelled. The suspension of talks has brought on a tragedy. They are listening to whizzing sounds made by bullets and shells, women are crying, children have no idea what to do, they are begging for mercy. They are telling me: “Doctor, they have told us that they have no protection plan whatsoever as far as we are concerned. We believe you and you only.”

GRATITUDE TO DR. BOSANAC

Last night when we were getting back to the hotel, the shooting was going on from the hill above. Dr. Kouchner, French Minister for Humanitarian Affairs, who had come to Dubrovnik, gave orders to his officials to stand behind him. For he said, what sort of man would I be if I were not at the head, what sort of man would I be if I did not say: follow my lead.

The worst, most tragic battle that night was to receive the very last message Vukovar had sent to Dubrovnik. Vukovar still trusted in Dubrovnik. And that lady doctor, Mrs. Bosanac, begged of Dubrovnik and Dr. Kouchner to help 2,000 children, 5,00 sick in great risk of a gas gangrene, epidemic, destruction…I had not yet met Dr. Bosanac but I knew I would always be grateful for what she had done, for having let Dubrovnik share the tragedy. Believe me, my colleague, we had done what we could. We were not aware of any goings on because we were not receiving any news, but Dubrovnik and Vukovar were twin towns. And the suffering of the people there imposed standards on overall Croatian dignity.

APPEAL OF THE EXPELLED POPULATION OF SLANO

Your today’s article under the title “There are many battles of Dubrovnik” inspired us, expelled residents of Slano, to address you with a request to find some room for our abandoned, seemingly completely forgotten, fellow residents in your future articles.

Our parents, brothers and sisters, mostly elderly and vulnerable, stayed in Slano. Thirty-nine people have been imprisoned there for 50 days already without any electricity, gas, water supply or food, without any news or any help whatsoever. Majority of them is in need of medical aid on daily basis, medical aid they probably have not had for a long time.

Dubrovnik is Dubrovnik. It has been well known all over the world, its name or image, its suffering and agony can be of help to us indeed, we wish that from the bottom of our hearts.

But for goodness sake! Let us not allow ourselves to forget the people, hundreds and hundreds of them abandoned in Slano, Trnova, Banići, Grbljava, Brsečine, Trsteno and other settlements in the west of Dubrovnik! We are not permitted to leave them out from our reports, never mention them in the course of infinitely long 50 days. Neither their hunger nor thirst is any milder than in Dubrovnik, nor is their need for medical aid any lesser than within the walled city. FOR GOD’S SAKE, LET US DO SO MUCH AS TO REPORT OR ANNOUNCE A PIECE OF BRIEF NEWS OF THEM AND THEIR SUFFERING. Let us say that we are thinking about them, trying to help them. Let us lie about alleged negotiations on their behalf – we can do at least that much.

How can we find any excuse for Mr. Poljanić, Dr. Burić, a number of responsible Dubrovnik citizens or journalists and TV reporters for not mentioning a word about those people’s suffering, of which we have not got a clue.Perhaps the honourable gentlemen do not know that Slano with its surroundings belongs to the Dubrovnik Municipality and is supposedly under its protection. Or, perhaps that is not the case any more?

We are only too afraid of wars following the war and we kindly ask you to dedicate at least a bit of room to the above mentioned things.

Thank you!

Rijeka, 20^th November, 1991

Expelled residents of Slano

PEOPLE DISAPPEAR

November 21, 1991
Fiftieth day of the blockade. Dubrovnik has started to break its chains on all sides. Margherita Boniver and Bernard Kouchner (French Minister for Humanitarian Affairs) have come up with a manifesto: Dubrovnik, Croatian city of peace, should be turned into a white city – an island of peace. Therefore we demand that Dubrovnik population should receive supplies, armed forces should leave the city, troops surrounding the city should be withdrawn, Dubrovnik and its surroundings should become demilitarized.

Certain events of the fiftieth day have pointed at certain future possibilities and challenges. I have met with the Croatian youth. Commander of Srđ, father of little Marin born aboard the “Slavija “ ship, has told me things about efforts and courage of Croatian soldiers in defence of Srđ.

Sailors from Mokošica are very worried about its defence. They do not want to leave it. Moreover, they would like to reconstruct and further build it.

In the night, we have set out for the islands of Šipan and Lopud - on board a hydrofoil are Vido and a second-year student of Electrical Engineering, and they have been making huge efforts in order to help people survive. I am accompanied by Andro Vlahušić, a young doctor from Dubrovnik, who is a coordinator of charitable organizations and responsible for overall “Dubrovnik – Healthy City” Project. It is very cold, the wind is blowing while we are rolling over the waves in the direction of Lopud, at the speed of 45 mph, flooded with light of the fool moon. I am fully convinced that Croatia simply cannot lose with a youth like this. Croatia should rely upon and trust its youth.

Lopud. I am back here after 35 years. The island has a population of 3,60, around 60 of them being children. A 1,00 elderly. And around 40 displaced. They have neither any children’s nor any tinned food. Situation is even worse on the island of Šipan. Any type of humanitarian aid is required: medical aid, food, clothes. Without these people on board, it would be practically impossible to help the children, sick and elderly on the Dubrovnik islands.

In the early morning, we are on our way back to Lapad. We are being shot at. How are we to shoot back? By using Lanitop (play on words – second part of the word, i.e. “top” means “cannon” in Croatian. It is the only “top”, that is to say “cannon”, that we know of. And it is no more than a kind of medicine. What may be wrong with medicines if they are also shot at? Why on earth should anyone shoot at medicines unless something is wrong with them?

We arrive in Dubrovnik in the early morning. Freezing from top to toe. Two hour resting and we are back on the road. This time to the east. In the direction of Cavtat.

NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE OCCUPIERS

We are told by many that people are disappearing. We have to look into this. One of the soldiers tries to say something about the “disgraced” army, and how he used to have been friends for 22 years with a man killed at Mokošica. Approaching us furiously, another soldier threatens us with starting to shoot in 10 seconds time. Next thing we know is a clash near Pelješac and an alleged JNA casualty. We are all ordered inside, keeping safe behind the closed doors.

There is a curfew in Cavtat from five p.m. to six a.m. Negotiators come in. It seems that the outcome has been the worst possible. If only an agreement had been reached with at least a slight movement toward peace, or a ceasefire of a bit more lasting nature. Alongside Mr. Kouchner we are going to Mokošica at 10 a.m. tomorrow. Civil life should be restored there. Some more tranquility yet seems to be in the air. Despite concern about quantities of food for just another day, whereas electricity and water supplies are only in the residents’ dreams…However, killing at least might have stopped.

A number of people come to see us in Dubrovnik, disturbed by the news from Mokošica. There are growing fears that the situation there is getting worse. What is the truth indeed? Time is still being measured by hours and days. We must wait.

November 24, 1991

What was the link between the fall of Vukovar and Dubrovnik? Was Vukovar a kind of message as regards our subsequent fate, or maybe a guarantee that something like that would never ever happen to Dubrovnik?

On the morning of November 21, we are headed for Mokošica. French Minister, negotiators and me as a Red Cross representative. I have been asked by the priests to look into the church situation, indeed there are ten holes made by the explosion of a shell right on the roof of the Rožat church. The Bishop is all ready and set to pay a visit to Mokošica and the area of Rijeka dubrovačka. Somewhere in the surroundings of Sustjepan we are picked up by a military vehicle.We are descending in the direction of Komolac, marina, Sorkočević summer house, springs, a power plant, Rožat… destruction can be seen everywhere. Not only the shells but breaking into and looting the houses. Almost no must in the upright position, all of them crossed as swords pointed at one another in the middle of a weird duel between death and oblivion.

We arrive at Mokošica. Yugoslav Army has entered the new residential area, and a number of people come to see us. People neither know their fate nor who delivers a speech or is their captain of further and difficult navigation. How to evaluate the recent authorities that have remained silent in the hardest times? And, how to evaluate the new “authorities”, coming down from the surrounding hills after so many days of heavy bombardment, burning forests, and even at this moment, destroying homes.

Indeed, this is the time of Croatian tears.

After long-lasting and exhausting negotiations, an agreement has been reached on the next day’s bread supply route, the subsequent arrival of a medical team with medical supplies, as well as the very first steps toward getting life back to normal. We have even been granted permission to recover our dead, lying up in the hills for days. Between the two nations, we are trying to live up to the standards of paying respect to the dead and burying them decently. Could we have sunk any lower?

We are getting back to Dubrovnik alongside a hearse. Two dead bodies and two stories. One body is what was left of an old man, having died of a heart attack after he had been faced with the total destruction of everything around him at the end of his (in a way spent) life. The other one is what remained of a 25-year old young man, having tried to preserve the dream of Rijeka Dubrovačka, its sun, beauty, hills, laughter, children’s joy… His dead body is stretched with his hands tied. Were his hands tied after he had been killed, or he was killed after he had been tied? Who is to answer this question?

Women and children want to get away from Mokošica. There is not enough room. Some of them push into the hearse. Therefore, the young Croatian soldier yet one more time defends women and children with his dead body.

Upon our return to the City, a session of the Board of Human Rights has been held. We have secretly carried the Mokošica Christ into the City. The same Christ crucified once again, his heart containing new wounds inflicted by the man, the same one sharing Dubrovnik’s thousand shells, witnessing the destruction of the Stara Mokošica Cemetary, spending his days hopefully in the Nova Mokošica shelter, being there when Yugoslav Army stormed the place. His entrance into the City represents the entrance of a witness to human exile and suffering. That is Dubrovnik - reaching out to each and every displaced person, acquiring deeper sense of humaneness through suffering.

On 22^nd, we set off for Mokošica again. Today it is in fact the first convoy of return since “Libertas”. Small one. From Dubrovnik to Mokošica. But the road between Dubrovnik and Mokošica today represents one of the most difficult one in the entire Europe. We are loaded with bread, medical teams are with us, some people are on their way back. I also wanted to see a garbage lorry there. Still we have not got a permission for that. We are not in a position to ask for too much.

This time with us there is a car that is to pick up the dead at Brgat. We are to take children and husbands back to their parents and wives. Even if dead, this still means their home-coming. I pay my deepest respect to them, thus thanking them for having been there for Dubrovnik. For having stood up to the cannons and gunboats, with the following message: As long as we live, you in Dubrovnik will be able to explain it all to the world to the best of their understanding – Dubrovnik is unique. Dubrovnik is not only our fate. Dubrovnik is a humanistic message at the end of 20^th century. Have we or haven’t we learnt anything at all about how to give people a helping hand?

Again we are at Mokošica. This time I am not participating in the negotiations – alongside my professional colleagues, I am visiting doctors’ homes. Doctors are coming back to Mokošica. Among them, Dr. John, Head of the Dubrovnik Hospital. Their flats are intact. We are drinking a toast to that. People have come out of their houses, putting up plastic covers to protect their roofs destroyed by shelling from rain. They need construction material and glass. But nobody sets their mind on that and never sends any. Everyone send medicines and food only. Window glasses and a special type of bricks, the so called “kupa kanalice”, are in short supplies, and it takes a lot more imagination, as well energy, as in the case of Marija Ujević, who has started to manufacture these special bricks in Zagreb.

We have founded Red Cross at Mokošica. People are in charge of water and gas supply, house repair, negotiations with the JNA (Yugoslav Army), providing for the most vulnerable (children, new mothers, women, the old and sick). Today we have also visited Stara Mokošica. We still dare not go to Rožat on foot. Agreement has been reached on the departure of a ship from Gruž via Rijeka to Mokošica at 9 a.m. tomorrow. Departure at 9, arrival at noon. It is a small step but also the first in 50 days. The convoy of return might go on. We have founded an office for Mokošica, i.e. Rijeka dubrovačka, at the premises of “Atlantska plovidba” at Gruž. Members of the Committee for Islands gather together. Also women have started their movement to prevent people from abandoning Dubrovnik. Dubrovnik is not a military camp. It certainly would not help Dubrovnik if all but those fit for military service left it. Moreover, such a policy would definitely lead this City to destruction. Destruction of Croatian Dubrovnik and everlasting disgrace on Croatia.

I am going back to the City where I meet a friend who has presented Convoy with a bird. He takes me to his flat near Stradun and he shows me some beautiful paintings by Mujezinović and other masters. There are many birds in his flat. Also paintings of Russian masters have been put safely. A person of so many talents says how helpless he is and how he cannot see the point.

Dubrovnik’s fate? Every person in this City asks themselves this same question. French Minister, Bernard

Kouchner, is still being with us and at risk of losing his own life or political standing, giving so much to help Dubrovnik residents out of this situation.

IS GOLD MORE PRECIOUS THAN PEOPLE?

November 27, 1991
I have not written a word to you for a few days because there have been so many events and encounters and a lot of suffering, fear and and hope in Dubrovnik. On 21^st November, we again had a meeting with the JNA representatives, paving the way for the JNA marching into Mokošica. We have founded the Mokošica Red Cross, bringing the most respectable people together. How far does the Red Cross Organization go? Indeed, I suggest that Red Cross Committee should be formed on time in any place because when it comes to a state of emergency, it simply might be too late. In recent days we have formed Red Cross and Human Right Committees for all of Dubrovnik region, Konavle, Cavtat, Rijeka dubrovačka, Župa, Dubrovnik Coast, as well as islands. They have been working all around the clock, and a number of residents have been involved. More and more people have been coming in.

There is a group of Montenegrins and people from Boka that is gathered around Convoy “Libertas”. I have talked with them and it has been painful to hear them say: “I could never have imagined it would feel so bad to be a Montenegrin for, of all the people, Montenegrins should have cared most about Dubrovnik freedom. Honour and integrity, humaneness and courage, any ideal of ours has come into question.”

My dear Montenegrin friends, I am quite convinced that you must be exposed to huge suffering while being forced into persecuting women and children. And I know you will say: Enough. And you will erase this page of Montenegrin history and stand up for freedom and respect among people. Montenegro cares so much about dignity that it will not let dignity be burnt in Dubrovnik forests, homes and shattered lives.
CONCERT IN THE CITY
Sunday was abundant of cultural events. A concert was organized by Đelo Jusić at Revelin and Franciscan Monastery, and at the same time Christ from Mokošica arrived at the Cathedral for Christ the Lord Mass. He arrived with his wounded heart and crucified yet again, and people were coming up to him one by one, kissing the wound in his heart.

There was a lot of symbolics about Dubrovnik citizens and their strength – they took over loads of suffering and at the same time obligation of love. Is Croatia going to be worthy of these people? Are they going to hear a word of love, not only threats?

A rumour has been going on around town that gold and Tizian might come into jeopardy, so there are plans to displace works of art from Dubrovnik. People are cheap, gold is precious. It cannot be so. People are worth most, not a painting or a gram of gold is to leave this town while there is at least one person in it. Does anyone think these people would separate from what they are? Shall we in Croatia at least finally understand that all the islands or valleys, forests or summer houses, walls, Stradun, Tizian, gold, are being a part of people and exist through people only? And if people disappear, nothing else should be in existence.

Please, do not make plans as to save Tizian and gold if not people. Not by taking people away, but by keeping them safe where they are. This idea has also been brought up by some women of Dubrovnik, signing thousands of invitations to other women not to abandon Dubrovnik. Dubrovnik is not a military fortification which should be freed from women and children, so that war can further go on.

Women refuse to leave Dubrovnik and it has been asked at their meeting how can Dubrovnik make it without its women and children. “Although I was among the last ones to have left Župa, I feel bad for the lack of information, I have abandoned Župa, but I won’t abandon Dubrovnik. First I want to know what to expect. That is how men feel. Only an organized family can expect prosperity. But we are running around in circles. I want to be a human being. I want to have dignity. Despite wearing somebody else’s sweater, I want to be a human being.”

One woman has published the following: “What are we to do? For as many as 55 days I have been fighting within myself in order to survive despite suffering and all, and see my son coming back from the frontlines, as well as my daughter, who is a refugee abroad. I am fed up being a refugee from Konavle and my heart would not let me go on this way. It feels only too hard to see people being taken away on board “Slavija”, and I have to look at all those tearful eyes and sad waving goodbye. All the goings away from the Libertas city have made me sick. Don’t go away, I feel like shouting.”

Perhaps the hardest battle of all is to stay in Dubrovnik. Go back to Konavle, Župa, Rijeka Dubrovačka, surrounding islands. We invite people to come to us in their thoughts, messages, and real convoys of freedom. Nobel prize winners and statesmen and artists and common people have made themselves heard. It is time to set off for Dubrovnik once again. Gruž is waiting for you.