Thousands of stories are told about the war in BiH, but this one is contrary to them all. Village Baljvine between Mrkonjic Grad and Banja Luka is the only place in BiH where Serbs and Muslims not only have never fought against each other, but they protected each other in the war.
Baljvinska mosque was built back in 1908, and it is one of the very few that was not destroyed in the RS during the war. It survived thanks to the locals, both Bosniaks and Serbs.
“The army came here and we told them that they cannot demolish the mosque. It is one sacred thing that would never occur to me to destroy it,” said villager Jovo Tesanovic.
Friendship of these neighbors lasts for centuries. In the World War II, they were hiding and protecting each other from Chetniks and Ustashas.
In the last war, about 15 kilometers away from the village was the front line. In the village were staying members of the VRS (the Army of Republika Srpska). Local Serbs were protecting their Bosniak neighbors until the August of 1995.
“They were protecting us until we had to leave. But it was something else then, there was no rescue from neighbors or anyone else. We had to leave,” recalled Omer Murica.
Bosniaks left the village around 10 days before the Serbs. Just before the action “Juzni potez” when the members of HVO took Mrkonjic Grad and came on 23 kilometers away from Banja Luka. Then was killed the only victim in this village,” said Jovan Konjevic.
After the war, both Serbs and Bosniaks returned to their homes.
Senad Dizdarevic recalled the return to Baljvine.
“There was no electricity in the beginning, but life was slowly getting organized. Why would it be unusual to me in a place where I was born?”
They started with reconstruction and renovations with joint forces. And they continued with the coexistence where they left off in 90’s.
“They hang out and they are always together. The only thing is that they are not marrying among themselves, but otherwise they are always together,” said Milisav Sasic.
(Source: n1info.com)
