KiM Info Newsletter 17-12-05
From the
press
ORAHOVAC, ONE OF THE SMALLEST SERB
ENCLAVES IN KOSOVO AND METOHIJA
500 meters for 500 souls
The former small town with its own municipal assembly, court and secondary school has become a barbed wire-enclosed concentration camp for Serbs
Politika daily, Belgrade, December
14, 2005
Frequent Albanian attacks after the
deployment of NATO troops in Kosovo and Metohija forced Momirka Mojsic to change
her place of residence for the first time in 80 years. From her native Orahovac
she went, like many others, to Serbia. She settled with her two sons in
Obrenovac. But not for long. There was no work, living conditions were
difficult, and their heart remained in Kosovo. They did not think about it too
long. They returned to Orahovac to their dilapidated house in one of four
streets in town where Serbs still live today.
"We're accustomed to live here. We returned to our own house and we will accept whatever God has prepared for us," said Grandmother Momirka.
She is one of 500 residents determined to stay in her home despite the hostile Albanian environment. Located between Djakovica, Decane, Prizren and Pec, Orahovac is one of the smallest Serb enclaves. The former small town with its own municipal assembly, court and secondary school has become a barbed wire-enclosed concentration camp for Serbs. Their freedom of movement is limited to a circumference of 500 meters. In order to go outside this they need an armed escort. Twice a week they have organized transportation to Mitrovica, and twice a month to Gracanica. Even the ambulance cannot pass here without a KFOR escort.
The Albanians, on the other hand, are free to move around, including in the few hundred Serb-inhabited meters. Frequently they provoke and threaten. The KFOR troops (Swiss, German and Austrian contingents are stationed here) have their hands full. The Serbs do not complain about them. They say they are well with them for now. Their headquarters is located in the "main" square in front of the church. Many Serbs who fled from here have rented their houses to the police, and KFOR and UNMIK administration.
Among the few buildings still remaining to the Serbs is the church of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos. Today they come to this church to pray - and to bury their dead. The Albanians have usurped the old cemetery and so the churchyard is already full of new mounds. Because of the proximity of the graves, the church's foundations, built in the mid-18th century, have been dug out. Presently the church is being renewed with donations from the parishioners. Guarded in it as a holy relic is an icon of the Most Holy Theotokos said to be wonder-working, as well as a 500 year-old icon of Jesus Christ. The church in Orahovac is also unique in that it is probably the only Orthodox church in Serbia with a choir comprised exclusively of children.
"It's enough for just one child to come for me to be able to serve liturgy," said Priest Srdjan Milenkovic.
Even here, in the ghetto, children are born. This year there were four but Father Srdjan has baptized one. He would baptize the others, too, but the godparents are afraid to come here, he said. "As long as children are being born, we will survive here," he said optimistically. Once a year an occasional young couple marries in the church. Perhaps there would be more weddings but there is a shortage of young women, joked Grandmother Momirka. "No girl from Serbia wants to live here."
Nonetheless, this year there are 12 students attending the first grade of the Vuk Karadzic Primary School. That's three times more than last year. The school has a total enrollment of 50, while the secondary school, located in the same building, has 40 students.
They are most active during their computer class. They received three computers and a one-year Internet subscription from the National Office. Equally important is that they have a generator now so they can work on the computers when there is no electricity. Recently the power outages have been increasingly frequent. The adults are fearful because they have heard that soon they will have to begin paying electricity bills. They don't know how they will manage when they can barely make ends meet without this further expense.
Recently the Coordinating Center sent them some wood for heating. A young Albanian saw it as his opportunity to make some money. Eighteen year-old Gzim Cena uses his small motor trailer to deliver wood to his Serb neighbors. He charges two euros per cubic meter. He says he can make 20-30 euros per day. He claims he has no problems as a result of his enterprise with either his compatriots or with the Serbs. He is not bothering anyone; the important thing is for the job to be completed.
After all, the older residents of Orahovac say that once their life here in Metohija was humble but harmonious with the Albanians. They visited each other's homes. But the times have changed. Seventy-five Serbs from Orahovac have been kidnapped and few believe things will ever be like they were before.
Nevertheless, today in Orahovac they still
sing the traditional song, "Native land, rose of May, Orahovac, garden of
heaven".
Written by Jelena Cerovina
