Gatherings on the occasion of the Statehood Day of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) are prohibited in Banja Luka and Mrkonjic Grad. The Police of Republika Srpska (RS) consider them a security threat. Politicians are bickering again. Officials from the RS argue that there is no state law on holidays, their colleagues from the Federation of BiH (FBiH) claim that it is a question of political decisions and prohibitions.
Landmarks of Mrkonjic Grad, but also a poster of support for Aleksandar Vucic displayed at the entrance to the city. In the heart of the municipality is the historic building, the building of the first session of the State Anti-fascist Council for the National Liberation of BiH (ZAVNOBIH), partially restored, at the address Svetog Save 1. Every November 25th, the people of Mrkonjic Grad are used to crowds, anti-fascist songs, and the celebration of a holiday that for some is National Day, for others a historical date. However, gatherings are prohibited this year.
“To hit ZAVNOBiH means to hit BiH, it is an attempt to destroy BiH in a perfidious, brazen way. Banning the marking of anti-fascist heritage is fascism,” Sead Djulic, president of SABNOR BIH.
ZAVNOBIH, as they state, is defended by the majority of politicians from the FBIH as the basis of the statehood of BIH.
“I would agree with Komsic. They are afraid that someone might like this day. No one can erase that part of history. I will come to Banja Luka tomorrow, I will walk through the city. No one can stop me from doing that. And why can’t we sit in a hotel, and play the BiH national anthem… Cowardly move,” said Elmedin Konakovic yesterday, NIP.
“With joy, I congratulate all those celebrating,” HDZ leader Dragan Covic stated in Orasje, where he attended the 200th anniversary of the opening of the first national school in BiH. He commented on the decision to ban gatherings as a reality in BiH:
“I’m not commenting on such decisions, it’s the “real environment of BiH”. Reflecting on the events that have marked us for the last 30 years, from the position of a Bosniak, Croat, or Serb, the less we look critically at the expression of the other, the easier it will be to arrive at an integrated reflection on what we are in BiH,” he added.
“As for the non-existent holidays, let them mark them where they can and where they try to spread a false myth about some history of the existence of BiH. In the RS, only what is legally defined can be celebrated, and it is well-known what those holidays are. January 9th is the most important for RS, which will also be celebrated magnificently this year,” said the President of the RS, Milorad Dodik, N1 reports.
E.Dz.
