FARMING IN EASTERN SLAVONIA [Main Title]

Eastern Slavonia is the last rebel-Serb held territory in Croatia. Uncertainty over its future does not stop ordinary farmers from seeking an existence. Farming on the frontlines is an everyday part of life.

Shots of UNPROFOR soldiers (RUSBAT) in a frosty dawn landscape, driving their tank back to the UNPROFOR Command Post in No Man's land outside Vukovar. They are stationed here to help the farmers work on their land without being shot at by snipers. Footage showing first Croat civilians leaving in 1991 and then the Serbs leaving in 1995. Eastern Slavonia is the only remaining Serb populated area in Croatia. Shots of a bustling market. Shot of new peace agreement being signed at Erdut by Milan Milanović, Head of Serbian Negotiation Delegation and witnessed by Thorvald Stoltenberg and Peter Galbraith. This will result in the further integration of Serbs and Croats. Footage of Serb and Croat police officers meeting in No Man's Land, mediated by an UNPROFOR officer. This is the first time they have allowed these meetings to be filmed. Pero is a Serb farmer. He returns home from guard duty with a rifle slung over his soldier. He is in far greater danger as a farmer than as a soldier because much of his land has been mined or is occupied by Croatian soldiers. He says that he has had to go on working even though he knows the risks. Pero crosses the square to ask the village leader for UNPROFOR protection as he is about to plough land only 400 metres from Croatian snipers. The leader then goes to the Russian Command Post to ask for their assistance. Colonel Tolkachev collects information about farming activities by both Croats and Serbs from the Command centre in Klisa. Colonel Tolkachev, RUSBAT Liaison Officer, explains that they will shelter farmers from either side in their armoured vehicles if they come under fire. He says that if the firing continues, UNPROFOR can retaliate. He informs the men at the Serb checkpoint that Croat farmers will be ploughing take tomorrow. Footage of RUSBAT leaving the Command Post. On this occasion though the RUSBAT vehicle is not allowed through Croatian lines and they are unable to reach the Croatian farmers. Colonel Tolkachev drives to Osijek to ask the Croatian Army representative why they were not allowed through the Croatian Army Checkpoint. Shot of the Colonel explaining the situation to his interpreter. After a twenty minute discussion, the RUSBAT vehicle is allowed through and the farmers begin work. Anton is a Croat farmer. Shot shows him leading a white horse out of the stables. He says that on both sides of the line, farmers are just ordinary people cultivating the land. The blame for this conflict, he says, lies with politicians. Pero agrees. He says that workers did not start this war and that Serbs and Croats did not quarrel amongst themselves in the village. Currently eighty percent of the farm land in this area is controlled by the Croatian side. This means that Anton feels more secure about his future than Pero. Anton believes that this land will form part of Croatian territory. Footage of Pero ploughing a field, watched over by three RUSBAT soldiers, standing on top of their APC. Pero says that though the situation is tough for him, as a man of a land, he watches the plough, makes the furrow and enjoys it.

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