Do not remove remains of Serb houses without owner's consent

BELGRADE - The Coalition of Refugee Associations on Serbia sent an open letter to Croatian President Zoran Milanovic in response to the recent decision of Zadar Mayor Bozidar Kalmeta who issued instructions for the remains of some 80 mined Serb houses and business facilities to be removed without the owners' consent.

The Zadar government had the intention to clear the remains back in 2010, but the then Human Rights Office headed by Luka Madjeric said that the removal of ruins from private estates could be performed only upon receipt of a written consent by the property owner.

Any debris clearance action implemented without the owner's consent would breach the principles of inviolability of ownership, states the release signed by Coalition President Miodrag Linta.

Linta called on Milanovic to ban ruin removal actions for the Zadar local authorities and a number of other local self-governments, and he also asked for the destroyed facilities to be reconstructed and for an agreement on damages to be reached. In the letter, Linta also asked for legal prosecution of individuals responsible for the destruction of Serb houses and business facilities.

In the letter, the Coalition also called on the Croatian government to launch the initiative to restore the provision into the Law on Obligations which makes it possible for Serb owners of damaged or destroyed facilities in Croatia to realize their right to damage compensation through court proceedings.

According to the data of refugee associations, over 10,000 Serb-owned houses and business facilities were mined in terrorist actions during the clashes even though the buildings stood outside the war territory.

The claim according to which this was the outcome of...