Photo credit: Paul Lowe
Before the war, we lived with our neighbors in harmony without any problems. We never had any disagreements or situations that would lead to conflict. We always helped one another, and this is why the war surprised us. We thought that there would be an agreement and that the conflict would be prevented. A Muslim man, from Rogatica, came with his wife and three girls. He had an aunt in the neighborhood, but he was afraid to stay there for the night with his family. They came and asked me, “Can we stay with you?” I said, “Sure, come on in.” I gave them a room, where his wife and children could stay, and they remained indoors for the entire day. All this happened before a house was burned down in the next village. My cousin and I went to the village to see what was happening and saw the army searching for the man who had been staying in my house. They asked his boss, “Where is he?” When I returned home, I said to him, “I’m really sorry, but they are searching for you, so I cannot continue to hide you. I will go with you wherever is necessary, but here it is dangerous, both for you and for me.” When night fell, three men from our village took him and his family through our territory. It was through the Muslim territory, and they escaped to Sarajevo.