Yugoslavia: Information on the situation of Muslims in Montenegro, specifically with respect to "ethnic cleansing"

A UN report states that "the leadership of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, which comprises the Republic of Serbia and Montenegro, does not openly endorse the policy of ethnic cleansing," which is a policy designed to restructure the ethnic component of the population of a given area often through the use of force (United Nations 28 Aug. 1992, E/CN/1992/S-1/9, 6). However, the report further states that "there is some evidence that ethnic cleansing may be imminent in certain parts of Serbia and Montenegro where there are large communities of persons not of Serbian origin" (Ibid., 7).

According to one of the attached documents, the Muslim populations in the Montenegrin towns of Pljevlja, Bijelo Polje, Podgorica and Berane have been "terrorized" in the last few months (BBC Summary 25 July 1992). Harun Hadzic, the chairman of the Party of Democratic Action of Montenegro, reportedly stated that Muslims are being killed by various extremists, Chetniks and nationalists and that their houses, businesses and cars are destroyed in order to spread fear and uncertainty among the Muslims (Ibid.).

The Christian Science Monitor reported that Muslims are "being bullied away" and are leaving Pljevlja (20 August 1992). The BBC reported on 10 September 1992 that about 70,000 Muslims have fled from Sanjak, Montenegro, running away from Serbian military terror.

For further information on this subject please refer to the attached documents.

Additional and/or corroborative information on this subject is currently unavailable to the DIRB.

References

BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 10 September 1992. "Serbia and Provinces in Brief; About 70,000 Muslims Have Fled from Sandzak, Says Muslim National Council." (NEXIS)

. 25 July 1992. "Serbia and Provinces in Brief, Montenegro in Brief; Party of Democratic Action Calls for Protection Measures Against Terror." (NEXIS)

The Christian Science Monitor [Boston]. 20 August 1992. Louise Branson. "Ethnic Purges Spread to 'Sister Province' of Montenegro."

United Nations, Economic and Social Council, Commission on Human Rights. 28 August 1992. (E/CN.4/1992/S-1/9). Report on the Situation of Human Rights in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia Submitted by Mr. Tadeuzs Mazowiecki, Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights, Persuant to Paragraph 14 of Commission Resolution 1992/S-1/1 of August 1992.

Attachments

Agence France Presse (AFP). 22 September 1992. "Arrestation au Montenegro d'un chef paramilitaire du Parti radical serbe." (NEXIS)

. 18 September 1992. "Les minorites de Serbie denoncent la 'purification ethnique' serbe." (NEXIS)

BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 10 September 1992. "Serbia and Provinces in Brief; About 70,000 Muslims Have Fled from Sandzak, Says Muslim National Council." (NEXIS)

. 25 July 1992. "Serbia and Provinces in Brief, Montenegro in Brief; Party of Democratic Action Calls for Protection Measures Against Terror." (NEXIS)

The Christian Science Monitor [Boston]. 20 August 1992. Louise Branson. "Ethnic Purges Spread to 'Sister Province' of Montenegro."

Le Monde [Paris]. 21 November 1992. Florence Hartman. "Le Sandjak aux frontières de la guerre."

The New York Times. 13 September 1992. Roger Cohen. "Montenegrin Town, All but at War, Shows Danger."

United Nations, Economic and Social Council, Commission on Human Rights. 28 August 1992. (E/CN.4/1992/S-1/9). Report on the Situation of Human Rights in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia Submitted by Mr. Tadeuzs Mazowiecki, Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights, Persuant to Paragraph 14 of Commission Resolution 1992/S-1/1 of August 1992, pp. 6-7.