Struggle for survival – this is how cultural institutions in our country function in the shortest possible time. Such a fate is shared by cultural and historical monuments, especially those related to the national liberation struggle. While in one part of the country they are being torn down, others want to show them in a new light, and others leave them to the test of time. It is the same with the memorial park in Vraca. While the government quarrels, it collapses.
The flame at the Vraca Memorial Park was extinguished in February of this year. For some time, representatives of different levels of government in Sarajevo Canton have been arguing about who is to blame for such a situation. While the government sees the biggest problem in excessive gas costs, representatives of the academic community and non-governmental associations see the issue of extinguishing the flames as the last straw.
President of SABNOR BiH Sead Đulić reminds that it is not enough to greet the pre-election rally with ‘death to fascism’, but to have such a monument in the capital of a country that has an anti-fascist legacy that no European country has: “We were part of the winning anti-fascist coalition. In fact, he persistently pushes the government to be on the side of the defeated in 1945 – that is, on the side of the fascists”.
“We, however, have a situation where the executors of the ideologies of those defeated in the Second World War desecrate that symbol, as they desecrated in the previous days. We are constantly amazed by the democratic world, what kind of country is it, which actually erases the brightest parts of its history”, warns sociologist Slavo Kukić.
This monument is not the only one that shows the state of consciousness of Bosnia and Herzegovina. policies according to the values of anti-fascism. There are many examples, and there were even more strong words. Especially when some gave lessons – to others. So it was often talked about the state of monuments in other cities, and their own yard – neglected for years. The gas problem is only the tip of the mountain of unresolved issues. The costs in the last four years were paid by the cantonal level. It will turn out – 130 thousand marks per year. Now that issue should be resolved.
“The flame was just, let’s say, the trigger for what we all see with the naked eye. According to the appearance of the cultural monument in Vraca, it can be seen that no one is taking care of it”, says Minister of Communal Economy, Spatial Planning and Environmental Protection of Canton Sarajevo Almir Bečarević.
Mayor of Sarajevo Benjamina Karić stated that it is possible to replace the burner and that the costs will be 36,000 BAM per year: “These are the costs for maintaining the flame of the Eternal Flame. I have sent a request to the competent institutions for approvals, and as soon as we receive them, we will start work. I sent the chiefs and the competent ministry a proposal to share the gas costs when the fire is lit again”.
So, deal and one less problem. Because until now, monuments in our country were mostly talked about only on certain dates.
“They gather at various monuments when they need it. Until it is a true need, until it is the development of a true culture of memory, we cannot talk about the future,” adds Đulić.
Much was promised and little was done. So from being a symbol of former times, this place has become mostly a gathering place for people on the other side of the law. Devastated, destroyed, neglected. And it shouldn’t.
