Henry Peirse was a correspondent for Deutsche Welle Radio, IRN and others. Worked for UN Radio in Croatia and Bosnia – set up 'eFM Studenski Radio' in Sarajevo. Currently running GRNLive.

 

When did you arrive to Sarajevo and how many time have you spent there during the war 1992-1995?

I was in Sarajevo on a number of occasions between 1993 and when I left in September 1998 – I moved to the city full time in late 1995.

Can you describe your typical working day in the besieged city? What have you eat and drink?

I lived in various apartments, in Ciglane until 1996, the over the river in Skenderija and finally I moved to Barscarsija until I left in 1998.

During the siege we'd eat where we could, drink anything. There was a great pizzeria in Ciglane – I remember it well... there was also that amazing delivery pizza place up the hill in Barscarsija.. “sa mesom ili bez”? So good and it you were lucky they had kajmac. They even delivered during the fighting.

I stayed one time in 1995 at the Hondo guest house (picture taken from their top floor balcony – the first day of those air strikes in May 1995 – me on the right).

I remember they gave us amazing breakfasts, eggs and everything – it was something incredible at that time.

What was the most horrific experience during your work as war reporter in besieged Sarajevo?

Being shelled, shot at by a sniper, arrested for spying, held in my car and not allowed to  leave while shells dropped around us..many thanks.

It was all horrific.

But I was lucky, I could always buy something to eat and knew that I could leave ,have a shower, wash my pants in a machine and play music, while doing the vacuum cleaning and all at the same time...most people couldn't, so I was very lucky.

What was the most positive, or fun detail that you remember from the reporting from besieged Sarajevo?

The jokes and the humour, Mujo and Haso...

The old brothel that was the AP house...no cupboards in any room, just mirrors...

And the constant drinking...not that that was very good, but it helped in the short term.

Sometimes waking up in the middle of the night to the sound of washing machines, vacuum cleaners and more – a moment of electricity.

It would be easy to say that some of the reporters were 'pro-Bosnian' but the reality is very different, they were reporting on what was happening and they were being shelled, as was every resident of the city.

How did you select the stories to report about from besieged city in the period of ceasefire?

Most of the work was driven by the events of the day, the daily UN Press Briefing and what, if any, comments or movement had come from the international community.

I tried, as much as possible, to interview local people and convey life in the city. I interviewed the daughter of the doctor that had sat with Archduke Ferdinand after he had been shot. She was a older lady who had been through so much in her life. She gave me an amazing insight into living in the city under siege – what it was like to cook and feed people, clean, wash, everything – told in such a dry, deadpan way and mostly worried about how much the city had changed...outside of the damage caused by the bombs.

Have you make friends with colleagues journalists and local staff who have assisted you during your work as war reporter in besieged Sarajevo?

Yes – and although I haven't been back since 1998, I am in touch with many of my Sarajlija friends still. I do hope to come back soon.

As far as non local journalists are concerned, yes, I am also in touch with many, who are very close friends, in fact, it is only with them that I can talk about some of those dark days.

Have you ever been in situation to apply self censorship on your reports? Can you describe this situation?

No – not that I remember- other than when I called my Mother...

Do you think that reporting from besieged Sarajevo was objective?

Yes, very objective, telling the story of living in the city, being shelled and shot at on a daily basis...it was all happening so close and the UN had it's pressers that were full of detail, sometimes... It would be easy to say that some of the reporters were 'pro-Bosnian' but the reality is very different, they were reporting on what was happening and they were being shelled, as was every resident of the city.

There is a very famous reporter who made it her mission to put a Sarajevo horror story on the front page of The Washington Post every day till 'Clinton did something about it'. I remember her telling me this in early 1995....eventually it happened.

 

How do you see the role of the international media and the progress of the Bosnian war? Was media the key factor for the NATO intervention which actually stopped the war?

I believe the passion for resolving the conflict and stopping the fighting that many of the long term reporters based in Sarajevo showed was instrumental in bringing the horrors of the war to the people that had the power to do something about it within the international community.

There is a very famous reporter who made it her mission to put a Sarajevo horror story on the front page of The Washington Post every day till 'Clinton did something about it'. I remember her telling me this in early 1995....eventually it happened.

If you have reported from other conflict (war) zones after 1995, could you compare your experiences from Sarajevo war-time to another war situation? Are there a similarities? And what are the main differences?

Once was enough for me – I returned to London and started a business, still within news, but one that meant I didn't have to travel.

I believe it's vital that these events are reported and the world learns when something truly horrible is happening, anywhere.

But the jest for life I felt in the people of Sarajevo showed me I must build a family, something I couldn't do while working in war zones, some people can, but not me.

Even though I could leave, at any time, over Igman or on Maybe Airlines, some of those images will never leave me. My time in Sarajevo taught me much, I used to say if I'd know what I would do and see before I went, I would never have gone, but now that I'm on the other side, I won't give up a day... My thoughts and heart are with the people of Sarajevo.