Key developments
since March 1999: A total of almost $24.4 million was spent on mine action
in 1999, an increase of 80% over 1998. Estimates of mined or suspected mined
areas have been revised down to 4,500 square kilometers. A total of 23.59
square kilometers of land was cleared of mines or declared not to contain mines.
The ICRC and Croatian Red Cross organized mine awareness programs in 1999 in all
fourteen mine-affected counties, reaching 66,612 residents in 3,165
presentations. CROMAC estimates that in 1999 there were fifty-one new mine
victims, compared to seventy-seven casualties in 1998. Croatia destroyed its
first 3,434 stockpiled mines in June 1999, but has reported no destruction since
then. It plans to retain 17,500 mines, apparently more than any other
nation.
Mine Ban Policy
The Republic of Croatia signed the Mine Ban Treaty
(MBT) on 4 December 1997 and deposited its instrument of ratification at the
United Nations on 20 May
1998.[1] According to the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the ratification process served to incorporate the
MBT into Croatian law and establish obligations on both national and
international levels.[2] In its
Article 7 report, submitted on 3 September 1999, the government reported on the
“Proposal of the Law on Anti-Personnel Landmines,” to be considered
after the summer break, noting that “part of the law specifically
elaborates on penal sanctions for violators, ranging from prison-terms of
approximately 10 years and fines of up to hundreds of thousands of
US$.”[3] The status of
that law is not known.
Croatia has helped to promote the treaty regionally, including hosting the
Second Regional Conference on Antipersonnel Landmines in Zagreb in June 1999.
Organized jointly by the Croatian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Croatian Red
Cross, the ICRC and the Croatian Campaign to Ban Landmines (CCBL), it was
attended by about 300 participants from thirty-three countries, fourteen
international organizations and fifty nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). The
conference was appraised as the most important multilateral event held in
Croatia in 1999. In the opening plenary session, Foreign Minister Dr. Mate
Granic stated:
The whole Ottawa process, this Conference also being a part of it, is not
only based on national interests of respective states, but primarily on the
noble goal to free the world of landmines. Many of the speakers will explain in
detail the evil and damage which antipersonnel landmines cause. Losses in
economic terms can be roughly calculated and are measured in billions of
dollars. Damage to the environment can also be calculated, and it is far from
being small. However, we cannot account for the loved ones lost forever. My
country was among the first to join the Ottawa process, being fully aware of its
far-reaching goals. Croatia has actively supported and participated in all
phases of the Ottawa process, and was the twelfth country to ratify the Ottawa
Treaty. Croatia is fulfilling its obligations in accordance with the Ottawa
Treaty.... [4]
Croatia attended the First Meeting of States Parties to the MBT in May 1999
and attended all of the intersessional meetings of the Standing Committees of
Experts (SCE) of the MBT, except one meeting on mine clearance. The SCE
meetings on stockpile destruction were attended by experts from CROMAC (Croatian
Mine Action Center) and the Croatian Army, where they reported on recent
experiences of mine clearance and destruction, and legal provisions related to
humanitarian mine clearance. Government representatives also participated in the
Regional Conference on Landmines held in Ljubljana, Slovenia, on 21-22 June
2000.
Implementation of the MBT in Croatia is the responsibility of the Ministry of
Defense,[5] which submitted its
initial Article 7 report to the UN on 3 September 1999, providing information as
of 31 July 1999. As of mid-July 2000 Croatia had not submitted its second
report.
Croatia voted in December 1999 in favor of the UN General Assembly Resolution
54/54B, which called for full implementation and universalization of the MBT; it
had also supported pro-ban UNGA resolutions in 1996, 1997, and 1998. At the
UNGA plenary session on 18 November 1999, Croatia’s Permanent
Representative declared, “The Republic of Croatia continues to welcome
all efforts leading towards the global ban on anti-personnel
landmines....Croatia shall work hard with all interested countries to support
the Ottawa Convention [MBT] in its next
phase.”[6]
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated also that the government would not
approve of either transfer or relocation of mines by another country on its
territory, and would oppose the use of AP mines in Croatia in any joint military
exercise or operation.[7]
The country is a party to the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW).
However, ratification of Amended Protocol II (1996) is still in
process.[8] Since January 2000
Croatia has a new government and parliament, which are changing many laws to
increase democratization of the country; at present, having already ratified the
MBT, further “mine-action laws” are not on the immediate agenda.
The government attended the First Annual Conference of States Parties to Amended
Protocol II in December 1999, as an observer. It supports efforts in the
Conference on Disarmament to address the landmine problem.
At the Regional Conference in June 1999, at the suggestion of the CCBL,
representatives of NGOs from Central and Southeastern European established a
Regional Network to increase coordination and cooperation of mine-related
activities, including assistance to mine victims, promoting the MBT within the
region and monitoring its implementation, strengthening NGO activity in the
region as well as increasing links with ban campaigns in Western European
countries and fundraising. NGOs involved in setting up this Regional Network
were the CCBL, Strata Research (Croatia), Landmine Survivors Network (Bosnia and
Herzegovina), Center for Strategic Research and Documentation (Macedonia),
Helsinki Human Rights Committee (Yugoslavia) and the Antimining Friends
Committee (Albania).
Production and Transfer
Until 1992 Croatia was part of the Socialist
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) which manufactured AP mines. Upon the
break-up of the SFRY and formation of the Republic of Croatia in 1991 none of
the former production plants for AP mines or their components were located on
its territory. According to Brigadier Slavko Haluzan of the Ministry of
Defense, AP mines have never been successfully manufactured in quantity in the
country.[9] He states that
during the war Croatia tried to develop the production of two types of AP mines
at two state-owned companies. The PMA-3 blast mine was manufactured at the
Cetinka plant in Trilje and the MRUD directional fragmentation mine was
manufactured at the SUIS plant in Kumrovec. However, these mines never became
available to forces in the field and did not become part of the Croatian
arsenal, according to Brig. Haluzan. After abandoning attempts to produce AP
mines, the factories resumed their normal production
activities.[10]
Stockpile and Destruction
The number and type of AP mines stockpiled by
Croatian forces and scheduled for destruction are shown in Table 1. This data
was provided by the Ministry of Defense on 30 December 1999, but repeats the
information provided in Croatia’s Article 7 report as of 31 July 1999. The
Ministry of Defense added that, at present, these mines are stockpiled as found
at the end of war actions and have yet to be sorted out into separate
stocks.[11]
Table 1. AP mine stockpiles
Type of AP Mine
Total Stockpile
(Army + Ministry of Interior)
Quantity retained for permitted training (Army + Ministry of
Interior)
Quantity scheduled
for destruction
Pressure-activated
(PMA-1, 1A, 2, 3)
108,878
(96,908+11,560)
8,400
(6,000+2,400)
100,478
Tripwire fragmentation (PMR-2A, 2AS, 3;
PROM-1, 1P)
71,158
(68,538+2,620)
5,200
(4,000+1,200)
65,958
MRUD directional fragmentation
AP mines
18,613
(16,913+1,700)
3,800
(3,000+800)
14,813
Total mines:
198,649
(182,359+16,290)
17,500
(13,100+4,400)
181,149
Fuzes
34,243
(34,243+0)
0
34,243
[12] However, Croatia plans
to destroy all MRUD stocks with the exception of 3,800 retained for
training.
The retention of mines “for the development of and training in mine
detection, mine clearance or mine destruction is permitted” under the Mine
Ban Treaty (Article 3.1 of the MBT). However, the 17,500 mines to be retained
in Croatia appears to be largest number kept by any State Party, and is much
higher number than in most other countries retaining mines (quantities commonly
range from 1,000 to 5,000). Brigadier Haluzan of the Commission for Demining
Issues at the Ministry of Defense has responded that the testing of a single
demining item with 99.6 percent reliability requires a simulated minefield of at
least 400 mines.[13] At the May
2000 meeting of the Standing Committee of Experts on General Status of the
Convention, the Croatian delegation stated that the Army is re-evaluating the
number of retained mines
needed.[14]
The official start of AP mine destruction in Croatia was during the Regional
Conference in Zagreb, on 27-29 June 1999, when 3,434 mines were destroyed at the
military training range in Slunj. Since then, stockpile destruction has not
continued due to a shortage of funds and Croatia welcomes any assistance from
other countries or organizations, especially technical and financial
help.[15] The latest estimate
of mine destruction costs amount to US$ 3-5 per mine, assuming that military
personnel carry out this work as part of their daily duties and their salaries
are not included.
AP mine destruction will take place in specially prepared facilities at
Ostarski Dolovi near Ogulin and the military training ranges Gasinci in Dakovo
and Crvena Zemlja in Knin using the following techniques: explosion (PMA-2,
PMA-3, PROM-1, PMR-3), repackaging (PMA-1, PMR-2) and dissembling (MRUD).
Destruction will be conducted in compliance with all safety standards provided
by the International Standards for Humanitarian Mine Clearance and other
regulations enacted by the Croatian Government. The quantities of AP mines
stockpiled, retained, destroyed already or scheduled for destruction are
reported in detail in Croatia’s first Article 7 report, analyzed by each
mine-type, and the locations and methods of destruction are given in detail.
Brig. Haluzan’s comments suggest that the data has changed little since
July 1999.
Landmine Problem
The formation of the Republic of Croatia from the
disintegration of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the
widespread use of antipersonnel mines in conflicts related to this process were
summarized in the Landmine Monitor Report
1999.[16] According to the
Ministry of Defense, AP mines were last employed for military purposes in the
course of the war in
Croatia.[17] Since that time,
there have been ten terrorist or criminal incidents in which AP mines were used,
between October 1995 and October
1998.[18]
Estimates of the number of mines deployed ranges from 400,000 to 1.5
million.[19] Mined areas are
spread over fourteen of the twenty-one counties of
Croatia.[20] There is also a
high concentration of mines in wider areas of the cities of Sisak, Benkovac,
Knin, Karlovac, Osijek and Vukovar. The frontlines were stretched all over
these areas during the war. Slavonia is the eastern region of Croatia,
bordering Hungary, Yugoslavia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and includes four of
the heavily mine-affected counties noted above, which make up 18.5 percent of
Croatian territory. This fertile region has the most productive land in
Croatia. The county most affected by mines is Vukovarsko-Srijemska.
The latest estimate is that mined areas and suspected mined areas cover 4,500
square kilometers, or 7.95% of
Croatia.[21] Mined areas are
often marked inadequately in terms of the quality and visibility of signs, and
some mined areas have never been marked at all. As a result, there are many
mine incidents. Data provided by the local Osijek office of the Croatian Mine
Action Center (CROMAC) gives a more detailed picture of the landmine problem in
Slavonia.
Table 2. Mine-affected areas (confirmed minefields and
suspected high-risk areas) in Slavonia region of
Croatia[22]
County
Area
(km2)
Mine-affected
land (km2)
Percentage
of land
mine-affected
Number of minefields
Number of mines found
Average number of mines per mine field
Osjecko-Baranjska
4149
145.28
3.5%
1,016
43,598
43
Vukovarsko-Srijemska
2448
178.03
7.3%
878
45,551
52
Pozesko-Slavonska
1821
49.37
2.7%
310
4,959
16
Brodski-Posavska
2027
6.57
0.3%
378
7,422
20
All four counties
10,445
379.26
3.63%
2,582
101,530
36
Note: In addition, there are still large areas treated as ‘lower
risk’ for Osjecko-Baranjska County; for example, 220 square kilometers of
woods belonging to Hrvatske sume(Croatian Woods) and other public
companies.
In addition to the mined areas and suspected mined areas noted here, an
unknown number of mines remain on the border with Hungary.
Mine Action Funding
To deal with its landmine problem, Croatia has
allocated considerable financial resources to clearance operations, and has also
received international support, such as loans from the World Bank. On 8
November 1999 the “Croatia Without Mines” trust fund for
humanitarian mine clearance was
established.[23] A total of KN
182,863,864 (US$ 24.4 million), representing 0.123% of its GDP, was spent on
mine clearance operations in Croatia in 1999, 80% more than in 1998. Of this
amount, some KN 167,816,715 (US$ 22.4 million) went to demining companies that
carried out direct demining
operations.[24]
CROMAC estimates that KN 400 million ($53.3 million) per year is required for
demining operations in Croatia. Croatia has entered into a contract with the
Slovenian International Trust Fund for Demining and Mine Victims Assistance
aimed at doubling existing
funds.[25] In 1999, $2.6
million was received from foreign donors for mine action, as outlined in the
table below.
Table 3. Foreign donations for demining received in 1999 and respective
areas demined[26]
Donor
Amount (KN)
Amount (US$)
Area (m2)
HELP
1,345,344
179,379
53,900
UNOPS
8,444,040
1,125,872
778,340
ASB-EC
6,937,588
925,011
636,059
Federation Suise De Deminage
792,870
105,716
42,545
UNMAAP & British Embassy
575,200
76,693
35,000
French Embassy
1,586,000
211,466
130,000
TOTAL
19,681,042
2,624,138
1,675,844
Mine clearance activities supported with these funds have included demining
bridges, power lines, telecommunication networks, agricultural land, industrial
sites, recreation centers, and homes and
backyards.[27]
Research and Development
Several initiatives have been launched in Croatia related to research and
development of mine detection and mine clearance technologies, mainly through
the activities of the Scientific Council of
CROMAC.[28] These initiatives
include research on metal detectors, mine detection sensors, equipment for
pyrotechnists, a mini-thresher, remote detection from the air and satellite
digital mapping, and neutron methods of mine
detection.[29] A regional
center for furthering mine clearance technologies and cooperation has been
established at Obrovac, and is currently testing mine detectors.
Mine Action Coordination and Planning
The Croatian Center for Demining (CROMAC) was set
up by the government as the civilian operational body for demining activities.
It is based in the city of Sisak, with branch offices in Karlovac, Knin and
Osijek. The head of CROMAC is appointed by the Government, and the CROMAC
Council liaises with government. NGOs and other agencies involved in mine
action are not represented on its Council. Its duties include marking and
surveying of minefields, planning and assigning demining resources,
administering the tender and contract process, supervising projects and quality
control of demining activities, maintaining data on mined areas and all
operations, and financial management. All mine clearance agencies must be
registered by CROMAC.
CROMAC invites tenders for contracts to undertake mine clearance operations,
and in 1999, 131 contracts were concluded on demining operations, and each month
there were twenty-five to thirty work-sites in operation. Twelve local and
foreign commercial companies were involved: AKD Mungos, Ru-Ru, Termosolar,
TT-KA, TNT-35, Dok-Ing, Piper, Abcd, Exbel-Emcrom, Tamar Consulting, Mechem, Dr.
Koehler and Maavarin. In some areas demining was also performed by Special
Police units. The biggest contracts went to the following companies: AKD Mungos
(KN 102,562,589, which was 61% of the total spent on demining in
Croatia),[30] Ru-Ru (KN
11,441,292), Dr. Koehler (KN 10,967,911) and Special Police forces of the
Ministry of the Interior (KN 10,214,748).[31]
Other aspects of mine action, such as victim assistance and mine awareness,
are currently carried out by NGOs without significant involvement of CROMAC.
This may change with the recent establishment of regional coordination centers,
which include NGO representation, in all counties of Croatia except Dubrovnik
and Zagreb. These regional centers will involve county representatives, the
Croatian Red Cross and the ICRC, Ministry of Education and Sport, mine victim
and returnee associations, international NGOs involved in mine action in Croatia
and other local NGOs in mine action planning and coordination. One of the aims
of this more integrated approach to mine action isbetter information
flow and integration of mine-awareness education.
The cost of running CROMAC (excluding mine clearance activities) in 1999
amounted to KN 12,368,905 ($1.6 million) in 1999, which represents 6.76% of
total funds for demining in Croatia. This amount was allocated from the state
budget. An additional KN 3,306,046 ($404,806) was spent on fixed assets such as
vehicles, technical equipment, and furniture. It has a staff of
sixty-seven.[32]
The government issues an annual “Plan for Demining of Croatian State
Territory” that seeks to reconcile priorities such as the repatriation of
refugees and reconstruction of residential and public facilities. Needs
considerably exceed the activities included in the annual plans, due to the
large areas still requiring survey and mine clearance. The official view is
that Croatia cannot solve the problem of mined areas in a short period of
time.[33]
However, the annual plans are implemented and even
exceeded.[34] The 1999 plan
envisaged that a total area of 19,316,029 square meters would be surveyed and
demined, but instead, owing to reduction in the areas suspected of being mined,
a total of 23,590,431 square meters was demined or declared
mine-free.[35] Records of
demined areas are publicly
available.[36]
Minefield Marking, Surveying and Clearance
Minefield records from the war are often
incomplete, with wrong coordinates and are generally considered useless for
demining operations. CROMAC began a survey to determine mined areas and those
suspected of being mined. Its Department of Central Records maintains a
database on mine-polluted areas that is updated, controlled and amended on a
regular basis. Maps of mined areas are designed and scanned; however, this is a
slow process.
On the basis of a Level I survey, previous estimates of the extent of
suspected mined areas in Croatia (6,000 km²) has been revised to 4,500
km² of land. CROMAC states that the suspected area will be further reduced
as a result of additional activities planned in
2000.[37]
Mined areas are usually marked with plastic tape, which is easily blown away
or damaged by rain and wind. Where there are metal signs, it has been observed
that local people and even tourists sometimes remove them as
souvenirs.[38] There is rarely
enough money to refurbish the signs, and minefields are often left unmarked and
accessible for lengthy periods. Some minefields have never been marked, and
fencing them off is rare. Signs are usually repaired or replaced only when
there has been a mine incident with
casualties.[39] Local people
occasionally set up improvised warning signs. In Slavonia only about 10-20% of
mine-affected and suspected areas are marked. Some were marked with standard
metal triangles or plastic ribbons, but most have been destroyed in recent years
by weather and vegetation. CROMAC has started systematic marking of
mine-affected areas, and plans to mark 400 kilometers (linear) throughout
Croatia in 2000 including the main tourist roads.[40]
Mine Clearance
Mine clearance is performed both manually and
mechanically, and with the assistance of specially trained dogs. Local
companies employ mainly Croatian citizens and foreign companies are staffed by
foreigners. Some companies employ women for demining jobs. Several cases of
deaths or injuries of deminers have been registered so far. In order to obtain
permission for demining, all companies must meet certain conditions and
procedures required by the Law on Demining and the Rules on Procedures of
Performing Demining Activities. CROMAC is not satisfied with the safety
conditions, and has suggested
amendments.[41]
A total of 23,590,432 square meters (23.59 square kilometers) was examined
and cleared of mines in 1999, of which 14,330,862 square meters was cleared and
the remainder (9,259,569 square meters) was “reduced upon pyrotechnical
survey” (i.e. discovered not to contain
mines).[42] The CROMAC report
gives data for areas cleared of mines or “reduced” in eleven of the
fourteen mine-affected counties, as shown in Table 7. Arable land and
infrastructure (roads, powerlines, waterworks, etc.) account for the highest
percentage of cleared areas.
Table 4. Areas cleared of mines or reduced upon survey in eleven counties
in 1999[43]
County
Area in square meters
Vukovarsko-Srijemska
6,985,431
Licko-Senjska
4,215,688
Zadarska
4,184,435
Sisacko-Moslavacka
3,101,892
Osjecko-Baranjska
3,032,391
Pozesko-Slavonska
557,470
Sibensko-Kninska
423,363
Karlovacka
412,921
Dubrovacko-Neretvanska
356,704
Brodsko-Posavska
299,136
Zagrebacka
21,000
TOTAL
23,590,431
Reconstruction and Development of Mine-Cleared Areas
Once cleared of mines, an area is made available to its pre-war
owners.[44] Although arable
land and infrastructure are the highest percentage of cleared areas, there is
still a shortage of arable land due to mine pollution, so farmers often work on
the uncleared and/or suspect land at their own risk. Local communities, mainly
returnees, also stress that, apart from speeding up the demining processes
(which in their opinion is too slow), it is also necessary to stimulate farming,
improve living standards and fully revive these areas (through communications,
social and cultural programs,
etc.).[45]
In many villages inhabitants who fled during the war have returned. Yards and
village streets have been priority areas for mine clearance. But their fields
are still mine-affected, and some villagers who relied on agriculture before the
war (as in Slavonia to a large extent) are now struggling to survive
economically, and many exist on state benefits. Mines complicate and worsen the
situation in many ways. When irrigation canals are mined, they are not cleaned
and water-flow slows or stops eventually. Then in spring and whenever there is
heavy rain, fields are flooded. Some agricultural land has now been out of use
for several years. Mine-affected land is sometimes the reason why people do not
return to their homes, especially young people who should ideally be leaders of
change and development of their communities.
Mine Awareness
The International Committee of the Red Cross
(ICRC) and the Croatian Red Cross (HCK) organized mine awareness programs in
1999 in all fourteen of the mine-polluted counties, involving forty-five local
Red Cross organizations, many civilian associations and initiatives by local
communities. These programs are financed mainly by the ICRC, although local
volunteers contribute substantial amounts of time. Similar programs were also
launched by the Ministry of Education and Sport in collaboration with UNICEF,
and other NGOs initiated numerous programs.
Mine awareness programs include presentations and training of instructors in
mine awareness. Local media and specialized radio broadcasts, fliers, brochures
and posters, notebooks and calendars with educational messages are all used. The
ICRC and HCK support programs initiated and conducted by local communities, such
as stage performances that carry educational messages, exhibitions of pictures
and photographs, rock concerts and sporting events in honor of mine victims and
a great many similar multimedia events. Each program is accompanied with
specific materials adjusted to a particular local community and is based on
experience acquired through fieldwork. Materials are designed in collaboration
with the volunteers from local communities.
From the beginning of January 1996 through 7 December 1999, 158 instructors
were trained to conduct mine awareness programs, twenty-eight of them in 1999.
At present there are seventy-five trained instructors still involved in mine
awareness programs. The approach of the ICRC and HCK is that instructors should
not just give lectures, but should also represent “the eyes of
community,” i.e. actively participate in finding solutions to mine-related
problems and educating local communities in a wider sense.
Between 1 January 1999 and 7 December 1999, some 3,165 presentations were
attended by 66,612 residents; since beginning the program in 1996, a total of
171,605 individuals have been reached through 7,974 presentations. Twenty-seven
ten-day long exhibitions were set up, which were visited by 30,000 people. One
single soccer tournament dedicated to the mine problem, held in the summer of
1999 in Vukovar, attracted 18,000 people. One of the stage performances that
carries mine awareness messages got into the regular repertory in the theater of
Karlovac and can be seen every day. Roundtables have been organized on mine
issues in local communities with participation of ICRC representatives. The
ICRC has given strong support to local NGOs involved in mine problems (such as
Strata Research, NONA, Studeni, A3) and has taken part in numerous similar
events related to mine
awareness.[46]
The mine awareness program conducted by the Ministry of Education and Sport
and UNICEF started in 1996. This program, initiated by UNICEF, is intended to
reach all children in Croatian schools and day-care centers, and includes
seminars, publications and advertising materials. In the last three years
UNICEF has provided schools with 150 TV sets and video systems. The program is
wholly financed by UNICEF, with a contribution from the Norwegian Government.
According to the Ministry, since 1996, 1,600 persons have been trained and
qualified as program coordinators in schools and day-care centers. As of 1998
the project encompassed secondary to and apart from the coordinators, 2,500
teachers and parents and 900,000 children in day-care centers, primary and
secondary schools attended seminars on mine awareness. In addition, the
Ministry of Education and Sport points out that the programs were attended by
three million people, school children’s family members, and that 950,000
fliers were distributed to children and their parents, 1,500 educational
packages containing brochures, posters and video cassettes were delivered to
schools, with an extra 150 packages in Serbian language and another forty in
Hungarian, for members of these minority
communities.[47]
The mine awareness program is incorporated in the school curriculum and
efforts are made to make it a part of all extracurricular activities that can be
related to the mine problem. The Ministry estimates that children have become
more aware of mine danger, based on the “changed behavior of children in
the outdoors and in threatening situations and also on the reduced number of
victims.”[48]
CROMAC’s annual report, however, states that the program has not been
systematically conducted, that teachers had not been trained to implement the
program and that certain elements of the program are not adequately adjusted to
age groups (for example, too many technical
terms).[49]
Nongovernmental organizations carrying out mine awareness programs include
the NONA association, which produced an educational video. The multimedia
association Studeni organized a humanitarian concert in Nova Gradiska, dedicated
to mine victims. Strata Research published an educational CD-ROM. A theater in
Karlovac gave a mine-related performance. The association A3 designed and
showed educational slides. Info-clubs in Slavonia organized exhibitions and
film projections, and six soccer tournaments were organized in eastern Slavonia.
As of February 2000, national TV and radio started broadcasting (free of charge)
video clips and radio jingles on mine awareness, which were designed in
collaboration with the ICRC, HCK, UNMAAP and
CROMAC.[50] A survey of a
national sample to investigate what the residents of affected regions think of
and know about mines is being prepared by Strata Research, to give a clearer
picture of the extent and impact of mine awareness among mine-endangered
populations.
Mine Casualties
There is no central database of mine incidents and
casualties publicly accessible in Croatia. The Croatian Alliance of Physically
Disabled Persons’ Associations (HSUTI) estimates that the total number of
mine casualties (both military and civilian) since the start of the war is about
1,200, of whom 500 victims were severely disabled. The population of Croatia is
approximately 4.5 million. Casualties are higher among men (about 75%), and
child victims are relatively few (about 3%). Civilians usually get hurt while
logging in the woods, working in the fields, during hunting, fishing and
picnics. Immediately after the war, many returnees were killed or wounded in
their own yards and houses, as a result of booby
traps.[51]
The Croatian Mine Action Center (CROMAC) estimates that in 1999 there were
thirty mine incidents in ten of Croatia’s twenty-one counties, causing
fifty-one casualties, mostly male civilians. Compared with the estimate for
1998 of seventy-seven casualties, this suggests a reduction in mine casualties
of 33%. Of the fifty-one casualties in 1999, twenty-one were killed, thirteen
wounded severely and seventeen lightly. Of those killed, nineteen were men and
two were women; nineteen of them were civilians. Of those wounded, twenty-six
were men, one woman and three children; twenty-six were
civilians.[52]
Victim Assistance and Disability Policy
The Croatian healthcare system is based on the Law
on Health Care and the Law on Health Insurance (“NN” 1/97 - final
version). These laws ensure thorough, specific and available healthcare for the
entire Croatian population, including disabled persons. The country has 120
health centers, twenty-three general hospitals and many other health facilities,
which are evenly distributed over the country.
Medical rehabilitation of disabled persons is conducted in specialized
hospitals, and a special program of “active rest” is provided for
disabled persons during summer months in the orthopedic hospital in Rovinj. In
1991 the Rehabilitation Board was established as part of the Ministry of Health
to monitor implementation of rehabilitation programs, and in 1997 the Commission
for Disabled People was established to coordinate the activities of the
Ministry, other government agencies and NGOs related to the problems of disabled
persons, provide expert opinion and monitor
implementation.[53]
The Law on Croatian War Veterans regulates disability rights and benefits.
All Croatian citizens are entitled to primary medical care by law, and to
hospital rehabilitation once a year provided that their illness is listed in the
regulations, that they have functional disorders and that ambulatory
rehabilitation is unavailable. Disabled people using orthopedic and other aids
are exempt from payment for medical services if their monthly earnings are less
than three average monthly salaries. Supplemental allowances for assistance and
care are available to disabled people on certain conditions, and reduced
taxation and housing costs. Disabled survivors of the war (military and
civilian) who are more than 80% disabled are entitled to an apartment free of
charge; people not disabled in the war are entitled to only 20% discount,
provided they are in wheelchairs. There are widespread transport privileges, but
the law on access to buildings for disabled people is generally
disrespected.[54]
However, no specialized rehabilitation institute for mine victims exists in
Croatia. As a result, amputees often are not provided with proper care during
rehabilitation and their stumps tend to become atrophied. This renders normal
usage of orthopedic aids impossible, so that many disabled persons use their
crutches or remain in wheelchairs, although they could have become capable of
walking on their own had there been better rehabilitation programs. The
standard orthopedic aids supplied by the government tend not to fully meet the
needs of the disabled. Special orthopedic aids are sometimes four times more
costly, and the difference in price is not covered by the
government.[55]
Many amputees travel to Ljubljana, Slovenia, which has a center with
specialized rehabilitation program for amputees. Also according to HSUTI, there
are no programs of psychological/social rehabilitation for mine victims,
although the Ministry of Health claims that an initiative has been launched to
establish an integral specialized center for disabled persons, following the
World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.
At the start of 1996 the Center for Rehabilitation and Adjustment to the
Community was founded in Zagreb, to bring together experts in various fields and
assist disabled persons in finding solutions to their health, social, legal and
other problems. The Center is supported by the government body that provides
assistance to the survivors of the Croatian War of Independence, by the Ministry
of Health and WHO. Similar centers are being set up in Split and Osijek.
HSUTI established a mine victim section on 31 May 1999. Its operation
includes research on the number and status of victims, assistance to its
members, organization of meetings, education (optimization of self-help),
seminars, and cooperation with other NGOs in Croatia and elsewhere. HSUTI has
been active for more than twenty years and has centers in thirty-six cities all
over the country. There are forty member-organizations, members of which
acquire certain privileges, such as half-price telephone subscription and one
hundred free phone units per month, half-price television subscription, free
transportation in Zagreb and entrance to some cinemas, theaters and sporting
events.[56]
Although Croatia has extensive legal provisions for the rights and
entitlements of disabled persons, which include mine victims, many are not fully
implemented, partly because mine victims and other disabled persons have poor
knowledge of their rights. Research conducted among mine victims revealed that
one third (100 out of 300 respondents) are not familiar with benefits available
to them. Mine victims have to pay for medicines not on the list of the Croatian
Health Insurance Bureau, and for everything that exceeds the limits determined
by national standards. Nationally, there is the Operational Headquarters for
the victims of the Croatian War of Independence and the governmental Board for
Persons with Impairments. However, there is no specific body to focus on issues
related to mine victims.[57]
[1] Croatia ratified the Mine Ban Treaty by
enacting the Law on Confirmation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the
Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Antipersonnel Mines and on Their
Destruction, passed by the House of Representatives of the Parliament at the 24
April 1998 session, and published in the official journal Narodne novine (NN) as
International Treaties No. 7 on 15 May
1998. [2] Interview with Mario Horvatic,
Head of Department for Peace and Security, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Zagreb,
19 January 2000. [3] Mine Ban Treaty
Article 7 Report, submitted 3 September 1999, information as of 31 July 1999.
No starting date for the reporting period is
given. [4] Statement of Dr. Mate Granic,
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Croatia, at the Regional Conference on
Antipersonnel Landmines, Zagreb, Croatia, 27-29 June 1999, in: Zagreb Regional
conference on Landmines, Summary Report of the Proceedings, p.
18. [5] Interview with Mario Horvatic,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Zagreb, 19 January
2000. [6] Statement by Ambassador Ivan
Simonovic, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Croatia, United Nations
General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Plenary Meeting, Agenda Item 35:
“Assistance in mine-action,” New York, 18 November
1999. [7] Interview with Mario Horvatic,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Zagreb, 19 January
2000. [8]
Ibid. [9] Interview with and written
responses from Brig. Slavko Haluzan, President of the Commission for Demining
Issues, Ministry of Defense, Zagreb, 12 December
1999. [10] Landmine Monitor Report 1999
included information supplied by the Ministry of Defense which identified two
other state-owned mine as producing companies, Vlado Bagat in Zadar and Rapid in
Virovitica (p. 573); according to Brig. Haluzan this information was incorrect
and these factories have never had the capacity to manufacture
mines. [11] Interview with and written
responses from Brig. Haluzan, Ministry of Defense, Zagreb, 30 December 1999.
Also, Article 7 Report, 3 September
1999. [12]
Ibid. [13] Interviews with Brig.
Haluzan, Ministry of Defense, Zagreb, 13 March 2000 and 2 May
2000. [14] Oral remarks of Croatian
delegate the SCE on General Status of the Convention, Geneva, 30 May 2000. He
also said Croatia is in favor of clear limits placed on the number retained by
nations, and clear explanations of why mines are retained. He indicated Croatia
needed mines more for testing new technologies than for training, and that
Croatia would use live mines to test the ELF system and to help train mine
detection dogs. [15] Interview with
unnamed high-ranking officer of Ministry of Defense, Croatia, Zagreb, 26 April
2000. [16] For information on mine use
and types deployed, see Landmine Monitor Report 1999, pp. 573-574; see also:
Marijana Prevendar, “Notes From the Field: Croatia,” Journal of Mine
Action, 1, 4.1 (Spring issue) 2000, pp. 44- 47, and “Croatia,” p.
78. [17] Interview with and written
responses from Brig. Haluzan, Ministry of Defense, Zagreb, 30 December
1999. [18] Letter from Ivan Stanko, Head
of Police Department, Ministry of the Interior, Zagreb, 18 January
2000. [19] Landmine Monitor Report 1999,
pp. 574-575; the higher estimate is from Marijana Prevendar, “Notes From
the Field: Croatia,” Journal of Mine Action, 1, 4.1 (Spring issue) 2000,
p. 44. [20] These include
Bjelovarsko-Bilogorska, Brodsko-Posavska, Dubrovacko-Neretvanska, Karlovacka,
Licko-Senjska, Osjecko-Baranjska, Pozesko-Slavonska, Sisacko-Moslavacka,
Splitsko-Dalmatinska, Sibensko-Kninska, Viroviticko-Podravska,
Vukovarsko-Srijemska, Zadarska and Zagrebacka
counties. [21] Izvjesce o radu hrvatskog
centra za razminiranje (Report on the operations of CROMAC), supplied by Damir
Gorseta, Head of CROMAC, Sisak, 19 January 2000; analysis of mined areas by
land-use remains unchanged from 1999, see: Landmine Monitor Report 1999, p.
575. [22] Interview with Dubravko
Krusarovski, Coordinator, CROMAC, Osijek, 19 April
2000. [23] Report on the activities of
CROMAC for 1999, Damir Gorseta, CROMAC, Sisak, 19 January
2000. [24] Telephone interview with
Nikola Pavkovic, CROMAC and fax from Damir Gorseta, Head of CROMAC, Sisak, 18
February 2000. [25] Report on the
operations of CROMAC for 1999, Damir Gorseta, CROMAC, Sisak, 19 January
2000. [26] Fax from Nikola Pavkovic,
CROMAC, Sisak, 26 April 2000. [27]
Ibid. [28]
Ibid. [29]
Ibid. [30] In June 1999, some twenty
fully-equipped deminers from AKD Mungos demonstrated at a protest rally outside
the Regional Landmine Conference over low and irregular pay. Eventually they
left after they were promised that their problem would be looked into by the
government. There has been no change in the low and erratic pay of the
deminers. [31] Fax from Nikola Pavkovic,
CROMAC, Sisak, 26 April 2000. [32] Fax
from Damir Gorseta, CROMAC, 18 February
2000. [33] Fax from Milan Vukovic,
Assistant to the Head of the Department of Reconstruction, Ministry of
Development, Immigration and Reconstruction, Zagreb, 29 December
1999. [34]
Ibid. [35] Report on the operation of
CROMAC for 1999, Damir Gorseta, CROMAC, 19 February
2000. [36] Fax from Milan Vukovic,
Ministry of Development, Immigration and Reconstruction, 29 December
1999. [37] Report on the operations of
CROMAC for 1999, Damir Gorseta, CROMAC, Sisak, 19 January
2000. [38] Interview with Igor Kmetic,
UNMAAP, Knin, November 1999. [39]
Interview with Ivan Cvitkovic, a farmer who witnessed a mine incident in
Maljkovo village, Splitsko-Dalmatinska County, November
1999. [40] Interviews with Dubravko
Krusarovski, Coordinator, CROMAC, Osijek, 19 April 2000, and Per Kvarsvik,
Regional Mines Advisor, UNMAAP, Osijek, 23 May
2000. [41]
Ibid. [42] Report on the operations of
CROMAC for 1999, Damir Gorseta, Sisak, 19 January
2000. [43]
Ibid. [44] Areas that were inhabited by
Serbs and then deserted after Croatian Army operations are at present inhabited
by several thousand Croats, mainly refugees themselves, which complicates and
inhibits repatriation of the Serbs who fled their homes. The new Croatian
government gave assurances that all Croatian citizens of Serbian nationality
will be able to return to their homes and land, and other housing and
agricultural land will be provided for the Croats currently occupying Serbian
property; see: “Racan backs up cantonization of Bosnia and
Herzegovina,” Jutarnji list (daily newspaper), 25 February 2000, pp. 3,
and as reported on Hrvatska danas (Croatia Today, on HRT-Croatian National
Television) when Foreign Minister Tonino Picula visited Banja Luka in Republika
Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 9 March 2000; also interview with Ivan Grdan,
Civil Guard of Viroviticko-Podravska County, Slatina, 14 September 1999, and
Peter Leskovski, UNMAAP, Knin, November
1999. [45] Interview with Mr. Ivica
Maric, expert in agriculture, economy, reconstruction and demining of Sunja
municipality, Sisacko-Moslavacka County, 19 November
1999. [46] Interview with Ms. Maja
Stanojevic, ICRC, Zagreb, 15 December
1999. [47] Interview with Ms. Marija
Ivankovic, Department of Education, Ministry of Education and Sport, Zagreb, 7
January 2000. [48]
Ibid. [49] Report on the operation of
the CROMAC, Damir Gorseta, CROMAC, Sisak, 19 January
2000. [50] Damir Gorseta, the head of
CROMAC, on the promotion of radio and TV spots, Sisak, 22 February
2000. [51] Interview with Dr. Mirjana
Dobranovic, President of the Croatian Alliance of Physically Disabled
Persons’ Associations (HSUTI), Zagreb, 9 December
1999. [52] Telephone interview with
Nikola Pavkovic, CROMAC, Sisak, 23 February 2000; this data was later included
in a Croatian government press agency report 11 June
2000. [53] Letter from Zeljko Reiner,
Minister of Health, Zagreb, 12 December
1999. [54] Mini katalog prava za zrtve
mina (Mini catalog of the mine victims’ entitlements), Mine Victims
Section, HSUTI, Zagreb, 2 October
1999. [55]
Ibid. [56]
Ibid. [57] Interview with Dr.
Dobranovic, HSUTI, Zagreb, 9 December 1999.
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