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Ethnic Tensions in Bosnia
By Sahar Kassaimah
22/06/2001
It has been six years since the signing of the U.S.-brokered Dayton Accords, which ended the Bosnian War and divided the region into two mini-states; one run by Bosnian-Serbs (Republika Srpska); and one shared by Muslims and Croats. Now, Bosnian-Serbs, via their barbaric behavior, have renewed the violence in the area and proven to the entire world that ethnic tensions against non-Serbs still persist.
The reconstruction of mosques destroyed eight years ago in the Bosnian war, was part of an international policy aimed at encouraging reconciliation between Muslims and Serbs. It was also intended to formally mark the re-establishment of "religious freedom" for Muslims in the part of Bosnia now controlled by Serbs. Nevertheless, violence has marred the efforts and increased ethnic hostilities aimed at Muslims.
Why the renewed violence?
The problem started last month, when several hundred Bosnian-Serbs flared violent protests against the rebuilding of the Ferhat Pasina Mosque and attacked Muslims in the southern town of Trebinje. The mosque was one of ten that had been destroyed in the Serb dominated town during the Bosnian War of 1992-1995.
Reconstruction was to begin with the symbolic "laying of the cornerstone," which had been personally brought from the Spanish city of Zaragoza by the city's mayor, Jose Altarez. Despite approval from the local Serbian authorities, Bosnian-Serb refugees descended on the area to protest the reconstruction and trying to prevent the ground-breaking ceremony.
Local and foreign officials attending the event, sought refuge in the nearby Islamic center as the demonstration turned violent, forcing the postponement of the ceremony. Several people were injured and international officials were forced to seek shelter. The protesting mob chanted anti-Muslim slogans and waved nationalist Serb flags, in addition to burning a flag belonging to the Islamic religious community.
Witnesses accused the police of not doing enough to stop the violence. The U.N. International Police Task Force (IPTF) said that it had begun its investigation into the performance of the local police, stressing that local police did not take adequate measures quickly enough to ensure security for the ceremony or prevent the assaults. "The U.N. will not tolerate this behavior going unpunished," it added in a statement.
"This is a clear case of violation of basic human rights, but despite everything, the mosque will be rebuilt," said Mustafa Ceric, head of the Islamic community in Bosnia.
Two days later, around 3,000 to 4,000 Bosnian-Serb demonstrators staged violent protests and attacked Muslims for the second time in three days. This time, the revolt was over the rebuilding of the 16th century Ferhadija Mosque in Banja Luka, which was razed to the ground by local Serbs in 1993, during the Bosnian war. Serbs also trapped several senior officials and foreign envoys, who had come to watch the ceremony, holding them hostage for several hours.
As the Bosnian police evacuated all the officials from the building, including U.N. envoy Jacques-Paul Klein and Bosnian Foreign Minister Zlatko Lagumdzija, they were surrounded by an angry mob of drunks, radicals and extremists.
Muslim religious leaders were also trapped, along with U.S. Ambassador to Bosnia Thomas Miller, who was evacuated by his bodyguards. For their safety, the evacuated officials were taken to a NATO peacekeepers' base just a few kilometers outside the city.
More than 30 people had been injured, including 11 policemen. One Muslim man was killed when the rioters threw stones and bottles at Muslims who came to attend the ceremony. Rioters also torched the seven buses and two vans that had brought Muslims to Banja Luka, the capital of the Bosnian-Serb republic and the site of the large scale ethnic cleansing of non-Serbs during the war.
Protestors chanted, "We do not want mosques, build churches," and "Serbia, Serbia." Even visitors were stoned and beaten, and had their prayer rugs stolen and burned.
Furthermore, the rioters chased a pig into the mosque's vicinity, slaughtered it, and hung its head in front of the Islamic house of worship, where former residents hid from the mob.
Reactions toward the events?
In reaction to the violent protest, around 1,500 Muslims marched on central Sarajevo, protesting peacefully against the outbreak of violence. Protestors chanted, "Allah Akbar [God is Great]" and waved a banner that read, "We shall rebuild Ferhadija."
The international community condemned the events. "The beating of an OHR official is absolutely unacceptable and we insist that the Republika Srpska [RS-Bosnian Serb entity] authorities ensure that those responsible are held accountable," said a press release from the U.S. embassy in Sarajevo.
Meanwhile, Bosnian-Serb leadership expressed their regret over the incidents, adding that they were committed to religious tolerance. "The government will…take all necessary measures in order to prevent these kinds of problems from occurring at other similar events," said a government statement. The statement also said that they urged the Interior Ministry to launch an investigation and identify those responsible.
Wolfang Petrisch, top international envoy to Bosnia, said, "I am shocked that the [Bosnian Serb republic] still appears to be a place with no rule of law, no civilized behavior and no religious freedom."
He also blamed Serbian authorities for failing to protect religious freedom and provide security. "The planned ceremony, which should have been a symbol of peace and reconciliation, was destroyed by the actions of a violent and unruly crowd," he added.
The U.S. said the incidents were setbacks to the cause of inter-ethnic tolerance. "Assaults on officials, on the Bosnians who were attending the ceremony, on members of the international community, this is all unacceptable," said Richard Boucher, U.S. State Department spokesman.
Bosnian-Serb Minister of Interior Affairs, Perica Bundalo, and Chief of the Banja Luka police station, Vladimir Tutus, submitted their resignations over the unrest. It is not known yet whether these resignations will be accepted.
Nevertheless, Serbian rioters forced the postponement of the initial rebuilding ceremony for the 16th century Ferhadija Mosque. And, one month later, as Muslims were again laying the foundation stone for the rebuilding of the mosque, hundreds of Bosnian Serbs clashed with police who were trying to protect Muslims.
As Bosnia's top Muslim cleric, Mustafa Ceric, and Bosnian Serb President, Mirko Sarovic, laid the foundation stone together in a show of reconciliation, protestors began throwing stones, metal bars and chairs at police who retaliated, this time with tear gas and bursts from water cannons.
At least twelve policemen and several protestors were wounded and a dozen rioters were detained. Several international envoys attended the ceremony, which ended shortly. Bosnian-Serb Prime Minister Ivanic stressed the importance of the event, saying that a page of history has been closed.
It seems that Bosnian-Serbs will continue in their barbarism and try to drive Muslims out of their rightful home. But, it also seems that the Bosnian War has increased the Muslims' stability, and their determination to protecting their rights.
But, will the Republic's government seriously begin taking all necessary measures to identify the organizers of the violence and punish them into conformity with the law?
Will the republic's government succeed in establishing a multi-cultural society in which laws and principles of free religion are respected?
And finally, will this page of persecution of Bosnian Muslims really be closed?
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