Protests erupt across Bosnia after deadly Sarajevo tram accident

The protests are being held following a tram accident in Sarajevo in which student Erdoan Morankic from Brcko was killed, and four other people were injured.

The call to protest was issued by the Student Parliament of the University of Sarajevo (SPUS) and the Independent Union of Primary Education and Upbringing of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina – Sarajevo Canton Coordination, after young people urged their colleagues and the academic community to stand with them.

Young protesters stated that this tragedy is one in a series of similar incidents, and that no one has yet been held accountable for previous cases. They say they want to live safely, in a system where justice and responsibility exist.

According to current announcements, protests will also be held today in Tuzla and Zenica, while in Brčko they are planned for Monday.

Young people stress that they do not belong to any political organization and do not have a single leader, but are выступing as equal citizens seeking systemic change.

“Courage is not the absence of fear, but confronting it. We need to resist, live for a better tomorrow and raise the question: not why young people are leaving, but what reason they have to stay here?” they said during an appearance on N1.

Demands of the Young Protesters

The protesters outlined the following demands:

They are calling for the urgent remediation of evident safety risks, the appointment of professional managers to all vacant positions in relevant institutions, and the introduction of clear criteria for allocating social assistance such as free textbooks, so that aid goes to those who truly need it, rather than to the children of officials and those for whom such support is not necessary. They also demand that those funds be redirected to more useful purposes.

In addition, they are requesting a budget revision in line with priorities, so that part of the funds can be secured for the vehicle fleet and maintenance, as well as the public disclosure of the names of responsible persons and clear deadlines for resolving the issues, set at 30, 60, and 90 days.

SPUS Demands

SPUS has also issued specific requests to the competent authorities:

• Immediately upon completion of the investigation, they demand that the public be informed of all circumstances and causes that led to the tragic accident, along with a clearly defined chain of responsibility.
  
• They call for the prompt public release of data on the technical condition and servicing of trams.
  
• They demand institutional strengthening of oversight over public transport companies, with clearly defined deadlines and accountability for addressing identified irregularities.
  
• They call for compliance with the founding act, fulfillment of contractual obligations, and the inclusion of the Public Institution “Student Center” Sarajevo in budget allocations.
  
• They demand the appointment of a director of the Public Institution “Student Center” Sarajevo based on professional criteria.