Speakers rally for Bosnians
By Daralyn Trappe
f mo'akl Associate FcMof
The roping of thousands of
women in Bosnia by Serbian
nationalists is part of an effort
to score Bosnian* into fleeing
the area, speakers at a rally
said Tuesday.
About 40 people attended
the event at Eugene's Federal
Building and listened to
experts on Eastern Europe
speak about why many Bosn
ian women have been taken to
camps, raped, and sometimes
killed
Ronald Wixntnn, a Universi
ty professor of geography, said
human rights alrot dies hove
been committed on all sides,
in all parts of the world,
throughout history, hut never
at the current level in Bosnia
Serbian right wing national
ists, known ns i hetniks. have
always wanted a greater Serbia,
extending to the Adriatic const.
VVixman said, and Bosnians
have thwarted those attempt <
"That's what this war is
really all about," said Wix
tnnn. who has traveled to
Bosnia 12 times "The diet
inks and their supporters have
adopted a polo y ol terror
Never has anyone attempted
such a policy where people
are mutilated in an attempt to
force others to flee
Carol Silverman. Universi
ty associate professor of
anthropology, said many of
the women and girls are afraid
to talk alxiut their experiences.
Humiliation, an attempt to for
get and fear of reprisals against
their families are the main rea
sons they fear speaking out.
Silverman said.
"All Bosnian villages,
whether Catholic, Eastern
Orthodox or Muslim, have u
strict moral code regarding
female sexuality.” she said.
"Especially among Muslims,
virginity is required for
PN*o ft) UKrm* Sr-***
April Higgins (left), a Junior In cultural anthropology, and Jed Thler
folder. a sophomore In architecture, hold candles at a rally protest
ing the systematic rape of women In Bosnia.
women al marriage."
Rape is used os power, as
retaliation, and as on instru
ment of control to destroy
whnt o society values and pro
tects. she said.
"Rape victims have suffered
a psychological death or per
haps a fate worse than death."
she said. "Many have said
they would rather die than be
in their present circum
stance."
Both Wixman and Silver
man denounced Europe and
the United States for not tak
iti)4 a more substantial stand
against the violence. and they
urged people to write to gov
ernment leaders on both conti
nents A petition that circulat
ed will be sent to U S. senators
asking that women's rights be
addressed at the United
Nations World Conference on
Human Rights in Vienna this
|une.
The rally was sponsored by
the University chapter of
Amnesty International. Islam
ic Network and Eugene Peace
Work*.
Bosnian airdrop likely;
Clinton says risks small
SARAJEVO. Bosnia-Herzegovina (AIM —
American pilots dropping foot! from high above
eastern Bosnia < ouid hi* hit by Serb missiles,
and their bundles could smash houses or be
lost, relief experts said Tuesday.
Serb commanders, suspicious of Western
ramed tin* airdrops could lead to an escalation of
the fighting.
But President Clinton said in Washington he believed "the risks
are quite small" and vowed that American forces would not be
drawn into the ethnic warfare.
The Washington plan, intended to reach about 100,000 isolated
people, utils for high-altitude drops to prater t U S pilots from anti
,nrt raft or missile fire Pakistan suicTit was rushing a planeload of
food and relief goods to Bosnia to be used in the airdrops
But some experts expressed reservations, saying packages released
at 12.000 feet, as disi ussed in the plan, could easily veer more than
a mile from designated targets, and about a quarter of the supplies
could lie expected to fall into the hands of Serbs liesieging the city.
"If ne can get food or aid in any way, I'm delighted, but 12.000
feet'" asked Cirry Hollingworth. the U.N. High Commissioner fur
Re fug operation* chief In Sarajevo. "They are going to be land
ing On people's heads and people's houses."
"Road i onvoys are more accurate, carry more tonnage and are far
more cost-effective." said Hollingworth. an intrepid man whose
bushy while tieard has become a common sight at Serb roadblocks,
where he fights to get supplies through to besieged towns.
Hollingworth also said the airdrops would feed Serb suspicions
that arms were being sent to the Muslims under the guise of human
itarian shipments.
In New York. Russia's U N. Ambassador Yuli Vorontsov said he
supported the airdrops, he insisted they should lie a temporary solu
tion Airdrops, he said, "cannot compete with the land convoys.”
Others, however, were more optimistic.
"II they think they can do it. then for goodness sake, let's go for it
ins ause the situation in some of these areas is really bad." said Syl
vana Foo. spokeswoman for the UNHCR, in Geneva.
U S military airdrops to Iraqi Kurds following the 1091 Gulf War
killed at least nine people on the ground, but Foa said Bosnian air
drops would be done in more spacious, rural territory.
Royal Air Force Vice Marshall Tony Mason, who helped coordi
nate relief drops in Ethiopia. Somalia and Iraq, said: "I think there
must lie a good chance of a fair proportion of supplies actually reach
ing the target."
Serbia-dominated Yugoslavia, meanwhile, warned the United
States not to violate its airspace, but said it would not interfere with
the drops.
(Jen Milan Gvero, deputy < ommander of the Bosnian Serb forces,
said the U S plans were a prelude to "the massive use of military
force and an es< alation . with unforeseeable consequences."
Flying at high altitude will not eliminate the threat of being shot
down. Bosnian Serbs have surface-to-air missile systems at fixed
sites around Banja Luka, their regional headquarters, as well as a few
Orao fighter-bombers.
The Serbs have shoulder-launched missiles "that can hit a big
target, like a transport plane, no matter how high it flies," said Paul
Beaver, editor of Jane's Defense Weekly in London.
intervention, also
SHAPE A COMMUNITY SHARE A VISION
VISTA VOL.UN IEERS
• serve tutfhme for one year in low-income communities
• help people mobilize lo overcome poverty m their
neighborhoods
• are assigned to local protects m the SO states Puerto Rico
and Washington OC
• set up protects to reduce hunger and homelessness
organize people to rebuild urban housing create
employment and literacy protects and much more
• are U S citizens ot permanent lesidents age 18 01 outer
VISTA VOLUNTEERS RECEIVE
• a modest Irving allowance plus a $*> monthly stipend paid
upon completion of service
• training before and during service
• unique eipenence and new skills which enhance careei
development
• possible determent or partial cancellation ot student loans
• easier access to federal employment after service
Recruiter on campus
MARCH 3, ERB UNION, 9AM - 5PM
INFO SESSION, 7-9PM, ERB UNION
VISTA
Volunteers in Service to America