National Museum in Leskovac suffers serious material damage due to NATO airstrikes

see also damages to museum of Novi Sad

From: "BORISLAV SURDIC" surda@EUnet.yu
To: securma@museum-security.org
Date: Sun, 11 Apr 1999 17:36:15 +0200
Dear Sirs,

I am able to send You a report and some details concerning NATO airstrikes against Leskovac and damage on civilian targets, including Leskovac regional museum. You can find the report and some photos attached. I would like to underline that this museum was a good example of succesfull institution of permanent education. Please download this report and photos to Your site. We are afraid that it could be only the first page of the destruction of this museum, because airstikes against "strategic points" in city centers all over Yugoslavia become everyday reality. In spite of our efforts, we can do little at this moment to protect buildings and people inside.
Borislav Surdic,
director of Science and Technology museum,
Belgrade,
vice chairman of the YU-National Committee of ICOM
ICOM member 23615
telefax.++99 381 11 187-360 , 381 11 3281479
private: 381 11 15 16 90

see photographs

In the night between March 25 and 26, 1999 due to the NATO aircrafts assaults, c22,00 h at military storages in Arapova Dolina and the camp in Sinkovac, the building of the National Museum in Leskovac suffered serious material damage. Air stroke resulting from the missile explosion (air line of 500 m) caused damages to the building and the srtanding museum display.

The glass has been broken:

- light passage : 170 x 254 cm x 6 mm = 14 pieces

- display case: 90 x 189 cm x 6 mm = 12 pieces

- front of the building : 128 x 187 cm x 4mm = 12 pieces

- front of the building: 80 x 120 cm x 4 mm = 12 pieces

- back side of the display case: 167 x 134 cm x 4 mm = 14 pieces

- back side of the outside walls , south end : 83 x 168 cm x 3 mm = 24 pieces

- water distribution centre : 90 x 120 cm x 4 mm = 12 pieces

- displays : 90 x 200 cm x 6 mm = 15 pieces

- matt glasses inside the cases : 35 x 100 cm x 3 mm = 22 pieces

- ceiling lights with neon rods = 6 pieces

The air stroke damaged inside the Museum building part of the display cases housing exhibits of great historical and artistic value. Glass has been broken on many display cases housing highest quality archaeological artefacts. Exhibits belonging to the ethnological collection have also been damaged as a wooden pilar fell down, and the weapon collection (from the period of the First Serbian Uprising 1804) has also been partly damaged.

Further, 50% of the interrior has been damaged including destroyed glass doors, door locks, technical devices (TV, VCR and PC).

The archaeological site "Hisar" has also been endangered. As the hill Hisar has been repeatedly bombed it is not possible to have an exact list of damages, many unactivated devices lie around.

The former building of the Museum (house of Bora Dimitrijeviæ Piksla) has also been damaged. The roof of the Textile Industry Museum in the village of Strojkovac is expected to fall down any moment.

photographs

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