On the so-called Murat hill, one of the highest points in the municipality of Cazin, near the road and under the old cherry tree, there is a material proof of what many have actually witnessed – there is no joke with a resident from Krajina.
During the Austro-Hungarian occupation of BiH in 1878, there was an extremely unusual event about which relatively little is known, and which can testify to the often popular attitude – the defiance of people from Krajina. In fact, during a battle in Brezova Kosa in Cazin, the Austro-Hungarian officer was killed by a 12-year-old village shepherd – solely out of defiance and honor.
At the beginning of the occupation, major battles were fought throughout the Krajina, particularly around Bihac. Only in one day, around 500-600 people from Krajina got killed, according to certain historical sources.
“From the military stronger rival, our army was retreating back to Pecigrad and Velika Kladusa. Great battles were fought in the area of Murat hill. A significant number of the local population got killed at that place, which defended itself from invaders only with an ordinary holster,” said Professor Dzevad Dzanic, who has been investigating the history of this place and takes care of the cultural and historical heritage of Krajina.
Dzanic says, during a break in between many battles, an Austro- Hungarian officer named Carl Muller was passing by on the Murat hill.
“While riding his horse, an officer encountered a boy who was taking care of his cattle or how people from Krajina say ‘he was rented’. The boy’s name was Dekan Rekic and he was originally from the nearby village of Todorovo. Basically, the officer was probably joking, not knowing the mentality of people from Krajina, and while passing next to the boy- he struck him a bit on the behind with a sword. But the boy didn’t see it as a joke, as it seems, and he would not allow that. He took his firelock that was at his waist and killed the officer immediately, “said Dzanic.
After the event, the Austro-Hungarian army, or 38 regiment in Graz to which Carl Muller belonged, built a monument at the very spot in his honor, and it happened on the 6th of October 1878. The monument has been preserved to this day.
“Exactly this monument shows some specifics. Firstly, it is a clear proof that no one can joke around with the man from Krajina. You could easily get burned, like Muller did. However, on the other hand, it shows evident tolerance of people of this region, which have preserved this monument until today. Our people are tolerant. We do not want to destroy anybody’s or our own and we appreciate what others have created,” emphasized Professor Dzanic.
Indeed, everywhere in the area of Bosanska Krajina, especially in the areas of Velika Kladusa, Cazin, Buzim or Bihac, along with local and even regional roads, the hills, meadows and fields, there are unusual monuments. The largest number was built during the Austro-Hungarian rule, but many of them much earlier. But what is most important- all of them are preserved, since the people of this area took care of them.
The reason is quite simple: cultural and historical treasures and monuments besides talking about the history and age to which they belong, clearly convey the story of residents of this place in history and the level of tolerance which is inherent to their being.
(Source: M. C./Klix.ba)
