Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina has been busy with its first post-war census during the past two weeks. The results of this census will have enormous implications on the future governance and government of that country that existed and still exists of three main ethnic communities – Bosniak, Serb and Croat. This census will, by all accounts, be the crossroad in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the “ground zero” that will redefine relations within the country.
Will the census results show that Croats have in fact been the biggest victim in the Bosnian war of 1990’s? Will it demystify the Bosniak “victim syndrome”? While we know that the Serbian Republic (Republika Srpska) region was ethnically cleansed and the census results are sure to demonstrate that fact, will the census results also show that where the Bosniaks are today the areas have also been ethnically cleansed of non-Bosniaks and where the Croats are, are the only areas left in Bosnia and Herzegovina that are in fact multi-ethnic?
How reliable will the census results be? How politically charged and manipulated will the results be? How will the Croats of Bosnia and Herzegovina fare in this future that has all the hallmarks of seemingly never-ending unrest because it is a country in which the international powers have tolerated and helped fortify political entities, such as Serbian Republic, forged in genocide and ethnic cleansing, and has failed miserably at taking on and systematically dealing with the crimes committed by Bosniaks (Muslims)? (Ina Vukic, Prof. (Zgb); B.A., M.A.Ps. (Syd)
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Such a beautiful country in so much turmoil.
So true gpcox.
Muy Bueno amiga!
Thank you Ruben I think the article is good too.
Best wishes for your beautiful country, security and peace
Thank you khaled
Beautiful Picture…
Isn’t it just, Adrian 😀
As I just visited Bosnia & Herzegovina the article was really interesting for me…
…as mentioned at the beginning – in Western Europe you hardly read anything about any country in the Balkans. (This is also one of the reasons I find your blog very interesting.)
Greetings,
rabirius.
Thank you rabirius, good to know
Don’t tell me you are a Bosnian all the sudden.
Why are you so obsessed with Ina? Given your strange obsession, one would think you’d look at her tag cloud and realise she has covered topics about BiH, especially those relating to Bosnian-Croats, numerous times before this. Oh wait, don’t tell me – you think only Muslims belong in BiH and only their problems are valid? You think no one but you is allowed to have opinions on Bosnia?
You need a new hobby, Amir. Try something a little more healthy for the mind, one that doesn’t involve obsessing over Ina and Franjo Tuđman. Take up rock climbing or hiking, get off the computer for a while and clear you head, God knows you need it.
Kat,thanks for nice words,Do i need a hobby ,I would say no but this is what i like to do after work,spend couple minutes a day to help Ina spread the truth around.I mean this used to be my full time job but i have realized i have won as the time went by,At least i was Bosnian/Bosniak all the time wich i could’t say for Ina,I mean a pic is of ‘OLD BRIDGE’ in Mostar ,BIH,and yet Ina takes all the compliments for it even tho it has nothing to do with her … DELETED AS INAPPROPRIATE
Amir – I do not need your help to spread the truth not have I asked for it. However, you as anyone else are welcome to comments as long as your comments comply with this blog’s policy.
The best analysis on Bosnia Herzegovina’s gridlock to date, and why a census is so necessary, laden with “evil” facts, statistical evidence, and “Ustasa tricks”: http://www.transconflict.com/2013/02/the-end-of-the-lagumdzija-komsic-affair-and-the-future-of-the-federation-182/.
Need to watch the counting like a hawk, therealamericro, so open to abuse and manipulation. Very interesting and unnerving article
Fascinating article. I’m not sure all your questions can be answered or will be answered just by the publication of the census data. It would be worth a study in a University to really address your questions. Scholars here in the US examine census data and analyze it over time. I imagine that will happen there, too. It may take years to fully play out before anyone can be sure what the answers are.
Everyone can relate to these issues, because no population is free of someone else hating their ancestors. In my writing class we have protestant and catholics from Ireland. Hundreds of years of hating, warfare and violent deaths. I would like to believe knowledge = peace. I wish it really did. So far we have peace in my writing class, even as we discuss this past of hatred.
Thanks Brenda, yes once the new census data comes out it will certainly be interest to analyze and “predict” political issues that will affect lives and perhaps set the scene for eternal damnation of true peace. As you example serves here: unless true reconciliation of guilt, acceptance and acknowledgment of guilt comes, unrest and hatreds can linger for centuries… And so yes, knowledge=peace as you say, to me knowledge includes clarity of facts
Yes, without truth or clarity of facts, you can’t have knowledge, can you? But you also have to understand and process the facts. I wish you luck on your mission. It isn’t easy to remember events like those and feel any peace of mind. I know people who lost family in WWII in concentration camps or endured forced sterilizations by Hitler’s government, and who could not have children. Their descendants remember. Their families are small. But we do all have to move on, and try to understand each other and find peace.
Agree Brenda re moving on and living in peace. it’s not always easy to achieve as you well know – we try though…
It’s when you stop trying that the trouble starts… 🙂 Have a great week.
So true Brenda – cheers!