More than 7.000 citizens gathered at the protests to send a message that they are against the amendment to the Election Law and the Constitution of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) prepared by High Representative Christian Schmidt. In their statements, the citizens said that such changes are unacceptable.
One of the citizens of Sarajevo said that he will always come to peaceful meetings and that he is initially satisfied with the number of people present.
“I have a big reason, I will always come to these kinds of gatherings that are peaceful and there is no reason not to come, on the contrary,” mentioned this fellow citizen.
Another interlocutor told that there are no calculations and that they are trying to divide Banja Luka to the Serbs, Mostar to the Croats, and Sarajevo to everyone. He pointed out that Sarajevo is for everyone, but that there is no way for the voice of one Croat to be like the voice of three Bosniaks. He said that in case the high representative imposes the law, he can expect riots.
“In the conversation with colleagues and neighbors, I realized that if something like this happens, I swear there will be riots here. Unfortunately, to do something like that, what was tried during the war and was not completed now, to complete it this way, it really doesn’t work, I will respond I will do whatever is necessary, I will do it very gladly,” stressed this interlocutor.
One of the attendees quoted the statement of the high representative when he said that “I get the impression that some want to incorporate into the constitution what the election results will be”.
“Mr. Schmidt, with the announced changes, did exactly what he said some others were asking for,” said our interlocutor.
He added that it is possible for such a turn in Schmidt’s policy to occur.
“We are ready for anything, this is a nation that has survived worse things, the Electoral Law would be the final straw for us,” he added.
One protester said that Schmidt’s decision not to speak during protests which started on Monday spoke volumes about him.
“I came with all my heart, I love my country, I love Bosnia, I love Herzegovina, I want my children to stay here. I really came with great emotion,” commented a fellow citizen.
The participant of the protest said that she joined the people inthe defense of Bosnia and called on the high representative to act according to European standards.
“The High Representative should act according to European standards, and not according to some party standards,” this citizen emphasized.
Another participant of the protest asked the high representative to appear before the citizens and noted that she wants one BiHfor all peoples and nations where everyone can live.
“We don’t want a third entity, we don’t want a Serbian republic, we want one BiH for the whole country, all peoples and nations,” said this protest participant, Klix.ba writes.
E.Dz.
