The Icelandic Canadian - 01.04.2001, Side 11

Vol. 56 #2
THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
49
Letters from Bosnia
by Len and Karen Vopnfjord
Len and I have had an interesting year,
making some important decisions, which
have resulted in a major move from our easy
laid back west coast lifestyle to choices which
give a whole new meaning to “career”. For
Len the decision was easy as he had over a
year, after retirement from his Director of
Planning position at Victoria City Hall, to
determine which option to choose. For me the
decision was more difficult as I was more
than happy with my work as a reporter / pro-
ducer with SHAW TV and as a Municipal
Recycling Coordinator. But the bottom line
was that this was what we had planned for
years, and when the opportunity came from
the Canadian Urban Institute to move to
Bosnia to assist them in the aftermath of war,
in a Canadian International Development
Agency funded program, the decision was
practically made for us. Working with this
team, who had sent us, on short term assign-
ments, twice to the Philippines, to Hungary
and most recently Len to Paraguay, was
something we knew that we could do.
Our mission here in Bosnia is basically to
assist the Tuzla region in preparing a master
town plan and, in so doing, to transform its
practices from the old top-down communist
style of planning to that of a democratic, mar-
ket driven economy. Previous plans have
been implemented under the old communist
style system without any public input. This
time the plan will be done Western style with
the public being involved throughout. It will
be the first one of its kind in the country and
our Bosnian colleagues are somewhat ner-
vous. But they need not be because they are
very competent people and will do just fine.
In fact, most of the people we’ve met are very
well educated, European oriented and well
aware of the need to change. The assignment
calls for us to work with the Urban Institute of
Tuzla, with Len in the capacity of Project
Manager. I will be responsible for communi-
cations, utilizing local TV well as newsletters.
Funding is for three years, which began last
August, but of course we are not here for that
length of time. This is our first long term
placement with CUI and the exact length is
yet to be determined. We have rented out our
house in Victoria for a year, with the option to
renew. We will be scouting out local profes-
sionals to take over our positions, and when
that is done we will return home. So at this
time, we can’t exactly say how long our stay
will be here.
Bosnia emerged as an independent country
as early as 1180, but was conquered by the
Ottoman Empire (modem day Turkey) in
1463 and then by the Austro-Hungarian
Empire in 1878. In 1918 they became a part
of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes
(Yugoslavia). World War I began in Bosnia in
Sarajevo with the assassination of Arch Duke
Ferdinand. After World War II, Yugoslavia
was created under Tito and lasted until early
1990’s when ultra-nationalist Serbs attempted
to retain control over Bosnia and Croatia thus
causing the war that went on from 1992 until
the end of 1995.
In the first instance, the thought of moving
to this war torn country, was a bit intimidat-
ing. From 1992 to 1995+, these people were at
war and the evidence is obvious, from shell
holes in buildings, blown up homes in the
countryside and new graveyards on the hill-
sides. We are very aware of the devastation
that took place. Over a million people are
refugees and a quarter of a million were
killed. The people here are mostly Muslim,
but of course they look like the average
Canadian, as they are of Slavic background.
Our understanding is that the Serbs under
Milosovic’s orders did his best to “ethnically
cleanse” Bosnia. We have heard some very
sad stories from people that we have met and
tears fall easily as the stories unfold. It will
take generations for this to end, if it ever will.
The peacekeepers will be here for a long time.
The Americans are in Tuzla, driving around in