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By Natasja VanderBerg

The following article is based on an interview with Fadila Tukelija. Tukelija is a food service worker at the Commons Dining Hall.

We see the images on TV, read the articles in the newspapers and participate in discussions about the bombings, but nothing can bring us closer to the reality of war than listening to a person for whom war is a reality.

Fadila Tukelija, a worker at Commons dining hall, saw and lived a reality that none of us can even imagine. When she evaluates the Kosovo bombings, she does so from an insider’s perspective.

Tukelija came to the United States after leaving Bosnia in ‘93and living in Germany for two years. Since her arrival, she has managed to make it possible for many members of her family to emigrate to the U.S. as well. In fact, two of her sister-in-laws work at Commons as well. Her children have also come to the U.S, and one of her daughters works at Knollcrest.

In addition to settling here, she has also managed to add English to her long list of languages. Although her English is not perfect, she conveyed a long and detailed account of her experiences.

Looking back on the few years before she left Bosnia, she recalled a time in which people were being kicked out of their houses, bombs were dropping and people were looking for anywhere to go but where they were.

During this time, her mother was killed, her brother’s shoulder was broken and her son’s arm was broken three times; he was hospitalized for eight months.

Many of the atrocities that Tukelija and her family suffered were results of the aggressiveness of the Serb forces, the same forces that are now in Kosovo. Because of this, Fadila can relate to the plight of the people in Kosovo.

Tukelija called Milosevic the “second Hitler.” In addition, she called him a “crazy man.”

She relayed how he is aggressive against anybody who isn’t Serbian, and as a Bosnian Muslim, she has seen his aggression hurt her family.

“Please Clinton, help people in Kosovo. Four years they have been attacked,” she said.

She also spoke about the rules that he has inflicted upon the Albanians in Kosovo. “Just two kids, no more sex, no more go to school, no more job...” she said.

Tukelija emphasized the need for aid in Kosovo. She reported that there are many Bosnians helping in any way that they can.

Tukelija supports the bombing, as long as it is directed only towards Milosevic and his army rather than the people in Kosovo. She also mentioned that some Serbians are upset about what Milosevic has done and that the aggression will not stop unless Milosevic is stopped.

She believes that the key to stopping Milosevic is to target Belgrade. “Factories in Belgrade should be broken,” she said.

When asked whether she ever wanted to move back to Bosnia, her answer was “No.” She does not want to move back, but she would like to visit. Unfortunately, she has not been able to save up much money because of the financial burden of bringing her family to the U.S.

Another reason why she does not want to return is because many of the Bosnians who have tried to return to their homes have not succeeded. In addition, she says that Bosnia is still fairly unsettled and dangerous. She reported that there are still random bombings .

She said that Muslims are being targetted specifically. Thus, she would be in danger if she returned.

Tukelija has obtained a green card that guarentees that she will be able to stay and work in the U.S. Most of her family is in the U.S. as well and the remainder of her family is hoping to come soon.