There is no safe place in Serbia for men refugees refusing to do military service in Bosnia, and perhaps the danger will soon be extended to women. The governments of Serbia and of the Serbian Republic of Bosnia have made an agreement under which the authorities of Serbia are issuing call-up papers for the Serbian Republic of Bosnia.
Women in Black Against War report that "there is a massive forced mobilisation of male refugees from Bosnia and Hercegovina and Croatia going on in Serbia and Montenegro". Men of all ages, even 16-year-olds, are being systematically picked up from the refugee camps in contravention of all international humanitarian conventions on refugees.
The UN High Commission for Refugees in Belgrade has had dozens of refugees asking it for help and advice after receiving draft [notices]. They are also receiving reports from Podgorica and Prishtina about large numbers of people losing their refugee status after receiving the draft.
The Civil Youth Alliance in Belgrade reports that people are being transported from Bubanj Potok, a kind of military camp near Belgrade, to the border with Bosnia, where they are handed over to the authorities of the Serbian Republic of Bosnia.
In preparation of its drive for "the successful finalisation of the war", the army of the Serbian Republic of Bosnia called for the mobilisation of the whole population either in the army or labour units, including forming special women's units, and threatening "draconian punishments for deserters and all others who avoid their military obligations".
Plans for the mobilisation of 70 women from the refugee camp of Deliblatska Pescara in Vojvodina were called off after they were publicised by Women in Black. In Krajina (Serbian-controlled Croatia), there are already two women's units — volunteers in a combat unit, women conscripts for a logistics unit.
[Peace News via Pegasus.]