CONTEMPORARY EURASIA VOLUME VIII (1) ContemporaryEurasia81 | Page 109

BEATA BOEHM
and largely avoided any formal contacts. It was thus also impossible to
organize official contacts between Croat and Serb local politicians at the
community level. The UN Civil Affairs unit, however, found that the degree
of rejection between the opposing sides subsided relative to the distance
from the ceasefire line.
The RSK’s central government in Knin appointed the mayor of
Okucani as the President of Western Slavonia. Thus, it became necessary in
the Serbian part of the Sector to negotiate with two politicians, one from
Pakrac and one from Okucani. They had different viewpoints on matters
regarding Pakrac. The inexperience of the local politician in Okucani
regarding civilian matters and his fear of committing administrative errors
with potentially negative consequences from Knin thwarted any activities
being undertaken for a protracted period of time.
In the Serb-controlled part of Pakrac, the local authority consisted of a
team of experienced Serbian experts who had been dealing with civilian
issues already before the outbreak of the conflict. These local Serbian
community representatives showed a clear interest in the social and
economic improvement of the region. They had many constructive ideas and
prepared professional preliminary studies on the destruction that had
occurred in their respective communities and its possible remedy. Their
willingness to collaborate with UN Civil Affairs and various parts of
UNPROFOR to improve the population’s social and economic situation led
to numerous death threats and two arrests by the authorities from Knin. After
the “Blitz attack” of the Croat army in May of 1995, Croatian authorities
arrested them, too.
Local police were often the ones to bring activities to a standstill.
There were reports that Serbian police forces set fire to Croat houses or blew
them up, in addition to confiscating Croat properties.
It took major efforts by UNCIVPOL to lower the rate of destruction
through arson and detonation of empty houses on both sides. Especially
youth gangs from both sides were involved in these activities. Frequent
night-time patrols carried out by both sides together with police gradually
improved the situation. During the course of the mandate, however, it was
not possible to realize the multi-ethnic police force envisaged by the Vance
Plan.
The aforementioned UN concept intended to involve the entire UNPA
West Sector in the “Social Reconstruction Programme”. Over time,
however, activities increasingly concentrated on Pakrac as a result of
negotiations within the Sector.
UNPROFOR’s peace-building activities built upon capacities in the
population, linking both sides across the border. The following cross-border
activities for purposes of peace consolidation and social reconstruction
included the following topics:
109