The Reform Programme that was sent to NATO is taking “the majority of the Serb people to where they don't want to be,” opposition MP Miladin Stanic said addressing the anti-government gathering in Banja Luka, Thursday evening, organised in protest of what the opposition said was pushing them towards NATO membership.
The protest comes days after Bosnia's tripartite Presidency sent a document to the NATO HQ in Brussels, which was approved by the Serb Presidency member Milorad Dodik, the leader of the ruling Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD).
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The parliament of Bosnia's Serb-dominated region, Republika Srpska, discussed the matter two days ago but the heated discussion culminated in a physical attack, when SNSD-appointed Interior Minister Dragan Lukac slapped the face of opposition MP Drasko Stanivukovic.
“That's an end of Republika Srpska, we'll never allow them to do that. The people were supposed to have a say on that decision, we won't forgive them for hitting young Drasko Stanivukovic,” said Stanic.
Nebojsa Vukanovic, MP of the opposition Serb Democratic Party (SDS), urged the crowd not to fall for provocations.
“Tyrants enjoy violence, fight and all kinds of deviations. We will fight peacefully and in a dignified way. Our revolt will be without blood – a Gandhi-like until we start living as normal people and not like suppressed animals,” he said.
Vukanovic also slammed the international community in Bosnia, saying they were a “source of evil.”
“You're the source of evil as well as the ambassadors who support the tyrants, who give loans. We're not for sale. We're not marionettes,” he underlined.
While the crowd shouted “betrayal, betrayal,” MP Jelena Trivic took the stage and called to account those responsible for sending the reform document to NATO. She said the opposition will not give up on its demands, which include the Interior Minister's dismissal.
“The battle will be difficult and maybe long but we must not give up for the sake of Republika Srpska, our people and our children. We must not allow them to do this to us and our children. We must stand up both in the RS National Assembly and here,” she said.
In the meantime, a pro-government protest named ‘For Republika Srpska’ gathered numerous war veterans on a nearby parking lot.
“A quarter of a century after the battle for Republika Srpska, we're here to express our support to our Republika Srpska and its institutions, which was our wartime goal,” said wartime commander Milorad Savic, addressing the crowd.
He also voiced strong support to the Interior Minister, whom the opposition wants to be removed.
“Dragan, you are not alone. Your police officers, fellow soldiers are with you, the ones who were rescuing you when you were severely injured, the wartime brigade commanders. Just go ahead,” stressed Savic.
What is currently going on, he assessed, was “a huge attack on the legend and hero of Republika Srpska, colonel Dragan Lukac” and “a special war against RS.”
