By Mohd Adli Shahar
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 29 (Bernama) -- Witnessing firsthand the devastation and aftermath of the war between Croatia, Serbia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina over three decades ago profoundly changed the perspective of Colonel (Retired) Mohd Yasin Usop, 69, on the value of the peace enjoyed by Malaysians.
Mohd Yasin, 69, said serving as a United Nations (UN) military observer in Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1994 exposed him to the harsh realities of a conflict driven by ethnic and religious divisions, including mortar attacks, armed threats, and gunfire.
The experience, he said, deepened his appreciation for the peace, harmony, and unity that Malaysians continue to enjoy despite living in a multicultural and multi-religious society.
“Malaysians should be grateful because, despite living in a plural society comprising diverse races and religions, we are still able to live in peace and harmony,” he told Bernama recently.
One of his most unforgettable experiences occurred when he lost contact with the UN headquarters for about nine hours after his position came under mortar fire while he was on duty in Petrovo Selo, in the western part of the Bihać Pocket.
During the incident, Mohd Yasin and three Polish military observers were trapped after their position came under heavy shelling. UN headquarters had presumed them dead until a Polish peacekeeping unit arrived and rescued them using tanks and armoured personnel carriers (APCs).
Mohd Yasin recounted that the incident occurred in the afternoon while he was conducting surveillance from a bunker, shortly after a nearby mosque had been destroyed by a barrage of about 400 mortar and artillery rounds.
“Immediately after reporting the incident via radio, our position came under heavy fire, forcing three Polish observers stationed in the observation tower to descend rapidly using ropes.
“As they reached the ground, I managed to pull one of them into the bunker just before the tower collapsed, an incident I believe was caused by the same type of 82mm mortar used to shell the mosque,” he said.
He said the UN headquarters, located about 20 kilometres away, subsequently lost contact with his team, prompting the communications officer on duty, a fellow Malaysian, Captain Rosman, to fear that he had been killed.
“When I returned to headquarters, he said, ‘Sir, I recited the Yasin for you because I thought I would never see you again.’
“We were unable to send any updates because communications had been cut off, but Alhamdulillah (praise be to God), we were all safe and uninjured,” he said.
Mohd Yasin departed for Bosnia-Herzegovina on Sept 21, 1994, together with 19 other officers as part of a UN observer team led by Lt Col Jamil Mustafa. The contingent was deployed to replace the previous team and served in the country for about one year.
At the time, he was serving as a Training Staff Officer at the 1st Division Army Headquarters in Kuching, Sarawak.
He recalled being briefed on the dangers of the mission, particularly as two Malaysian military observers had previously lost their lives in incidents involving mortar fire and booby traps.
As UN observers, he said, they carried out their duties unarmed. They were identified only by their blue berets and blue jackets as they monitored the situation and ensured that the warring factions complied with ceasefire arrangements.
Apart from the incident in which his outpost came under attack, Mohd Yasin also recalled an occasion when a local man he knew pointed a weapon at him while he was monitoring a Serbian military convoy transporting four tanks towards a battle zone near Velika Kladuša.
In another incident, his vehicle came under fire while he was leading a convoy delivering food supplies to Bangladeshi peacekeepers in the Bihać Pocket.
The incident occurred despite his spending the entire night negotiating with the Serbian side in freezing, snowy conditions to secure permission for the convoy to enter the area.
In conjunction with the National Day celebrations, Mohd Yasin expressed hope that his experiences would serve as a reminder to Malaysians never to take peace for granted and to continue cherishing the unity and harmony enjoyed by the nation.
-- BERNAMA