Serbs seek freedom of movement and compensation of damages

Serb living close to the administrative checkpoint of Brnjak in northern Kosovo have submitted a request seeking urgent restoration of freedom of movement. The demand was sent to the NATO troops in the province, KFOR. The roads in question lead to their homes. Serbs seek freedom of movement and compensation of damages In addition, the villagers are asking to be compensated for the damages caused when KFOR members on Saturday routed and destroyed an alternative road that local Serbs used to reach central Serbia. This was the result of a meeting held at the municipal building in Zubin Potok on Tuesday. The meeting was attended by representatives of the Banja village, local self-administration officials and members of KFOR's liaison team. Zubin Potok Deputy Mayor Srdjan Djurovic told reporters that the villagers who live in the Brnjak area are being cut off from the world, and blamed KFOR members, who on Saturday behaved "needlessly arrogantly": "The villagers have submitted a written request demanding that KFOR allows them freedom of movement. They cannot reach doctors, elementary school students have not been able to take final exams today, and they are unable to go shopping for basic food items." The compensation claim pertains to the fact that KFOR damaged local waterworks, as well as crops and woods. According to Djurovic, the locals in the Ibarski Kolasin wish to solve problems by peaceful means, "and expect that barricades will be removed by those who set them up": "People will be forced to - unless KFOR members do it themselves - remove the roadblocks and make roads passable, in order to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe in this region." The deputy mayor also said that KFOR "promised to establish freedom of movement today", while any compensation of damages "will take time". KFOR members and Serbs are seen at Brnjak last weekend (Tanjug) Beta

Serbs seek freedom of movement and compensation of damages

In addition, the villagers are asking to be compensated for the damages caused when KFOR members on Saturday routed and destroyed an alternative road that local Serbs used to reach central Serbia.

This was the result of a meeting held at the municipal building in Zubin Potok on Tuesday.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the Banja village, local self-administration officials and members of KFOR's liaison team.

Zubin Potok Deputy Mayor Srđan Đurović told reporters that the villagers who live in the Brnjak area are being cut off from the world, and blamed KFOR members, who on Saturday behaved "needlessly arrogantly":

"The villagers have submitted a written request demanding that KFOR allows them freedom of movement. They cannot reach doctors, elementary school students have not been able to take final exams today, and they are unable to go shopping for basic food items."

The compensation claim pertains to the fact that KFOR damaged local waterworks, as well as crops and woods.

According to Đurović, the locals in the Ibarski Kolašin wish to solve problems by peaceful means, "and expect that barricades will be removed by those who set them up":

"People will be forced to - unless KFOR members do it themselves - remove the roadblocks and make roads passable, in order to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe in this region."

The deputy mayor also said that KFOR "promised to establish freedom of movement today", while any compensation of damages "will take time".