Description
Object description
UNTV spends time with the 5th French Battalion as they patrol the demilitarised zone on Mount Igman overlooking Sarajevo.
Content description
Panning shot of snow-covered mountains outside Sarajevo. The Bosnian Government army began an offensive least year into the zone around Igman and it was not until January that they finally pulled out. Shot of a UN jeep driving up snowy roads. The UN are surveilling the area to make sure that the current ceasefire holds.
Shots of four soldiers making their way through thick powder on skis. Mountain troops of the 5th French Infantry Battalion are monitoring the region from three points: Razašlje, Brezovača and Malo Polje (title). Shot of the UN jeep driving into Malo Polje, which is ten kilometres south-west of Sarajevo. Interview with Captain Dominique Orsetti who points out the former Olympic ski jumps behind him. He explains that two platoons, or about fifty soldiers, are stationed here. He points out on a map the area controlled by Bosnian Government troops and the area controlled by Bosnian Serbs. He says that the aim of the 5th French Battalion is to prevent either side using this zone to their advantage.
Shots of FREBAT 5 patrolling on skis. This is one of the two daily patrols. There is always one patrol out, even during the night. At one of their Observation Posts one soldier explains to another that they are observing Bosnian Government army bunkers and command posts as in the course of a day there will be between fifteen and thirty Government soldiers posted inside the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ). Shot of patrol arriving at the Observation Post.
Brezovača (title). UNTV travels in jeep with Captain Marc Frigiere. He says that although Brezovača is a more populated part of the DMZ, the Company is more isolated as they are halfway between Hadzici and Malo Polje. Shots of FREBAT 5 soldiers splitting logs at the base and travelling in an APC. One soldier explains that they are very close to the confrontation line between Bosnians, on the mountain sides to his left, and the Bosnian Serbs, on his right.
Razašlje (title). Interview with Captain Loic Repellin who explains that their job is to stop the Bosnian Government army infiltrating this part of the zone. Shots of FREBAT 5 on patrol receiving instructions by radio. Repillin explains that this part of the zone has been partially emptied of inhabitants and during the winter months, only two families stay in Gradina. Shots of FREBAT 5 delivering humanitarian aid to those families during a blizzard. Soldiers are received by one of those families and share some food. Inside a jeep, a soldier explains that they are going south of the DMZ to Sabici to meet with Bosniac authorities.
FREBAT 5 arrived in September last year and has successfully prevented either side using this zone to their military advantage. This success continues to rely on daily patrols. Closing shot of soldiers on patrol in bright sunlight.
Physical description
Beta-SP