Banja Luka calm: Citizens going to the referendum because it is their duty!?

In Republika Srpska today, citizens are deciding in an illegal referendum whether January 9th should be the RS Day, writes Patria.

By 3 PM, 39.65 percent, or 484,328 citizens, had participated in this staged poll directed by Milorad Dodik.

Banja Luka is calm, as reported by Patria's correspondent. The usual Sunday is only disturbed by the increased presence of police forces securing the referendum locations.

Although many share the opinion that this is all a farce and Dodik's election campaign, few of them will give a statement by name. However, they will admit that they went to the referendum because it is their civic duty, even though few can explain what is being voted on today.

In Banja Luka, 266 polling stations for citizens to vote in the referendum on the Day of Republika Srpska were opened at 7:00 AM today, while the polling station in the Obilićevo settlement opened with a delay due to unforeseen circumstances.