By: Nevena Šarenac
BiH citizens are continuing the struggle for their rights and several dozens have gathered today in front of the BiH Parliament in Sarajevo in order to demonstrate that they are not giving up protesting until a law on the unique citizen master number is adopted.
Demonstrators demand that the adoption of a law on the unique master citizen number be at the state level, and said that they have sent a request to parliamentarians to reduce their salaries by 30 percent and for the money to be placed in a fund for sick children.
Those who have gathered in front of the BIH institution building have been holding up interesting placards for days, and citizens of Sarajevo are expressing their support by honking their horns as they drive by the Parliament.
Today members of the Student Parliament of the University in Sarajevo joined the protestors. In addition to issue related to the unique master citizen number, wish to draw attention to the problem of education.
BiH pensioners gave support to citizens. A large number of them today gave their voice to the issue of the unique master citizen number, for the rights of their grandchildren and for the future of new generations.
A large part of the world has also recognized the importance of the struggle of BiH citizens, the struggle for children. After support from the Netherlands, Slovenia, Turkey, Serbia, Croatia and other countries, support was also given from Washington.
“We are citizens who are demanding their rights. We do not have any political agenda. We are young people who are looking towards the future, to successful work for a better future for all citizens of BiH’’, said the protestors.
They have announced new mass protests tomorrow at noon in front of the BiH institution building, and are calling on all citizens of BiH to join them so that the adoption of a law on the unique citizen master number could be adopted.
Civic activist Nihad Aličković recalled that the High Representative to BiH Valentin Inzko promised that the issue on the unique master citizens number would be put on the agenda of a special session of the Council for Peace Implementation in BiH (PIC) that was announced to take place this week.
“We hope that the High Representative will impose the law on the unique master citizen number, and that the international community and ambassadors of PIC countries would demonstration the minimum responsibility towards BIH citizens, if local politicians are not in a state to do so’’, said Aliković.
If PIC does not do its job, he said that the protests would continue, and that a blockade of the OHR building, BiH Presidency, Parliament and other state institutions is possible.
One of the participants in the protest, Sanin Čepalo, said that tomorrow the arrival of citizens from many BiH cities, such as Banja Luka, Zenica, Tuzla, Bihać and Mostar is expected.
“People are coming to support this protest in Sarajevo. We are ordinary people, and national and religious affiliation does not concern us. We are citizens, who are looking towards the future! We want a better tomorrow for all of us in BiH’’, said Čepalo.
In order to animate citizens who are not attending the protests, an action called “Kafa za jedinstveni matični broj” (Coffee for a Unique Citizen Master Number) has been launched.
“We wish to mobilize all those who are sitting at home and in cafes to join us, because this is a struggle for basic human rights, for the rights of our childen, for our future’’, said Aldin Krivan, one of the protestors.
The police, who are doing their job professionally, are securing the protests.
Due to the lack of adoption of a unique master citizen number, the protest began on 5 June when a group of citizens blocked the exit from the garage of the BiH Parliament with their cars. The direct cause was a three-month old baby called Belmina Ibrišević from Gračanica who was not able to leave the country to seek emergency medical treatment because she did not have a unique master citizen number. The demand was for Belmina to immediately receive a unique master citizen number in order to be able to leave the country for treatment.
The blockade was soon joined by a large number of citizens, after which they blocked all the exits from two buildings. State Parliamentarians, other people and guests in the Parliament spent some time in the state institution buildings, and with the help of police officers they were allowed to exit around 4:00 AM the next day.
