Antifascists walked freely in one part of Mostar, with police escort in another

(Patria) - With a ceremonial academy at the Mostar National Theatre, organized by the Association of Antifascists and Veterans of the National Liberation War (UABNOR) Mostar, on Saturday, the central event was held on the occasion of the 78th anniversary of the liberation of Mostar from fascism in World War II. The president of the Alliance of Antifascists and Veterans of NOR of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sead Đulić, stated that Mostar is today a source and center of neo-fascism.

"This year again, we are not allowed to walk from the Musala Square gathering to the Partisan Memorial Cemetery, what freedom and what a united city are we talking about? We are living neo-fascism, Mostar is today a source of neo-fascism. Where HDZ rules, nothing remains of the anti-fascist heritage, cemeteries have been plowed over, monuments have been mined, and 10 years after the war, the creator and bearer of that policy is the president of HDZ, therefore we cannot say that we live in full freedom in this city. How would those people feel if they were taken to the cemetery by bus with armed escort on All Souls' Day or Martyrs' Day?", said Đulić.

He emphasized that they will never reconcile with this, and that they will find a solution for next year.

"This ban on the march of members is a political will and there is no doubt about it. I think the motive for this is that in a good part of the country, followers of the ideas defeated in 1945 are in power, and it is known that fascists, Nazis, and, as we used to say, their 'domestic servants' were defeated then," said Đulić.

He believes that this ban has nothing to do with security reasons, and that next year "nothing will change because the government is the same".

"We will change and organize it differently, but I wouldn't reveal how yet. Next year we will walk to the Partisan Cemetery, let them ban us then," Đulić announced.

He added that any celebration of freedom is something that every civilized person should mark.

"Mistakes are made, of course, none of us deny that there were mistakes in the partisan movement, but we cannot see the forest for the trees. We gained freedom in the city in 1945, and if it weren't for those partisans and antifascists, there would be no ZAVNOBiH, and if there were no ZAVNOBiH in Mrkonjić Grad, there would be no Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1992. We are not here to glorify something that was, but to remember and pay tribute to every eighth fallen citizen of Mostar in that war, and to be inspired and strengthened for our struggles today," emphasized Đulić.

The vice-president of the Alliance of Antifascist Fighters and Antifascists of the Republic of Croatia (SABA RH), Lazo Đokić, emphasized the importance of nurturing a culture of remembrance.

"It is very important to be present in all spaces, to show by numbers how many of us there are, which is why we travel so many kilometers to come to Mostar and show that we are together in good times and bad. It is a bad story that we antifascists need to be protected by the police; we who are for freedom, tolerance, and togetherness have no problems with the people, but we have problems with those who incite and do evil. I send a message to the people of Mostar to ignore, to reject what is done under the guise of patriotism or anything else. Let's increase the threshold of tolerance, nurture the culture of remembrance, show our young generations that it is necessary to live together, because only through togetherness can we move forward," said Đokić.

Sejo Lisak from UABNOR Center Sarajevo believes that the police ban on the march might even be a good thing.

"It is very difficult to comment on this, but perhaps it is, unfortunately, good. There are many people here, and it is enough for one 15-year-old boy, who wasn't even born then, to come and cause problems. Why should we create problems, it is only important that we gather in as large a number as possible at the ceremonial academy, at Musala, and at the Partisan Cemetery - said Lisak.

After the academy, a column of buses was formed at Musala Square to go to the Partisan Memorial Cemetery, where flowers were laid and tribute was paid to the fallen antifascists.