Exiled Muslim family's 'gift' to Serbs

'I state that I possess in the area of the Municipality of Bosanski Novi real estate, marked with the house number 2430/2 in the land register of the Municipality of Bosanski Novi, but not recorded in the registration records, and the building on this estate, 8 x 9m in size. All of these I cede to the property of the Municipality of Bosanski Novi, and, along with my wife Asija and my children Semir and Demir who do not have personal real estate, I permanently leave the area of Bosanski Novi.

'I am giving this statement with full responsibility and not under coercion, and I am aware of all I have said in order to acquire the documentation for the permanent moving from and leaving the area of the Municipality of Bosanski Novi.'

CEHIC HAJRO, who is 33, is a typical victim of Serbia's policy of 'ethnic cleansing' of Bosnia-Herzegovina, writes Robert Fisk.

Summoned to the council offices of the border town of Bosanki Novi, western Bosnia, in early July, he was required by two officials working for the Serbian authorities to sign this document handing his home - free of charge - to the municipality, in return for safe passage for himself, his wife and his two sons out of Bosnia.

Tens of thousands of Muslims have been required to sign similar papers in return for their families' safe exodus.

Muslim refugees in Karlovac - the nearest Croatian-held town to Bosanski Novi - say that in many cases, Serbian policemen came to their homes and forced them to sign identical documents only minutes before expelling them and their families from their property.

The document signed by Cehic Hajro makes no attempt to pretend that the Muslim family was recompensed for their home, nor to hide the fact that in return they must 'permanently leave the area'. Ironically, one of the Bosanski Novi officials - Ferizovic Nijaz - has a Muslim name.

Mr Hajro and his family are believed to have made their way to Germany.

(Photograph omitted)