Bishop Komarica’s appeal to politicians, church and humanitarian organisations following the destruction of the monastery and church in Petricevac, the church in Sargovac and the murder of Franciscan monk, Father Alojzije Atlija (Prot. no: 309/95 dated 7 May 1995)

DRAMATICALLY DETERIORATING SITUATION FOR THE CATHOLICS IN BANJA LUKA AND ITS SURROUNDS

Following the forceful expulsion of the remaining sisters from the ancient convents in Bosanski Aleksandrovac and Nova Topola on 4 May this year, the next day, 5 May, a fire erupted in the church in Vujnovici on the periphery of Banja Luka.

Fear and panic has struck the local Catholics because they are completely without any protection against the Serbian extremists amongst the locals and newcomers. They are currently being kept as hostages and are faced with the real threat of a pogrom or massive expulsion.

We beseech all politicians, local and international, as well as representatives of church and humanitarian organisations to most decisively prevent any new, serious atrocities, killings, ethnic cleansing of an entirely innocent and unprotected Catholic population.

Dr. Franjo Komarica,
Bishop of Banja Luka

Next: THE AGONY OF THE NON-SERBIAN POPULATION IN NORTHWEST BOSNIA HAS CONTINUED FOR THREE YEARS NOW