Mijatović: Not all Serbs support war criminals, nationalism is a cover for crime

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Why, even 25 years after the end of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, are victims insulted by glorifying criminals, how did great nationalists become great criminals, for whom is Bosnia the primary homeland and for whom a backup, and what are we missing to live with each other, not next to each other. We talked to a politician from Banja Luka, a former official of Dodik's SNSD, then Čavić's NDP, and today the vice-president of the Social Democratic Party of BiH, Vojin Mijatović.

How do you comment on Valentin Inzko's letter to the leadership of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska (NSRS) to annul the decorations of war criminals that were awarded more than four years ago?

We accept living in ashes, and we don't want to build pillars for the future. If there had been political maturity, this (decorations) would never have happened. OK, Karadžić was the first president of Republika Srpska, but anyone convicted of war crimes should no longer receive public support. A nation that continues to support such individuals is an immature nation.

Do you think the NSRS will have to annul the decision?

They will have to. Just remember the infamous plaque (at the Student Dormitory in Pale). Dodik was not brave, and he said the plaque would remain. I don't know if there will be an actual withdrawal of recognition or if it will be in another form, but it is sad that in 2021 we are discussing this topic. It is even sadder that none of those people (who voted for the recognitions) feel human responsibility towards the victims. Instead of saying, let's accept this once and for all, and let it never happen again. We are sinking deeper and deeper, and those who are doing this are defending the indefensible.

In the reaction of some politicians from RS, it is stated that Inzko "shifted the responsibility to the entire Serb people"?

I think Inzko is very clear, it's not about the formal guilt of the entire nation. Those who are now calling themselves heroes should explain to the people how they said they weren't heroes 15 years ago when they were sent to The Hague. Dodik and Čavić handed over these same people. How was The Hague and those same verdicts legitimate then, and not today. This is manipulating the perception of citizens in RS. Inzko wrote this well.

Šarović said that in the BiH entity of Republika Srpska, "they think the same about Karadžić, Mladić..."?

He leads Radovan Karadžić's SDS. I accept that he is an excellent politician, but this SDS bears responsibility for everything I am talking about. I do not dispute the fact that no party in RS will accept this decision because they will lose votes. And now they have no way out of this situation. In this situation, both the government and the opposition are covering for each other.

A law on denying genocide is being announced?

In a country that has experienced conflict, war, and aggression, we must, due to such unarticulated political statements, for the sake of future generations, put this into a legal framework. Current generations are growing up on stories that there was no genocide, and we must put an end to that. This is causing a complete erosion in our relations, and such a law is necessary.

You are one of the few politicians from Banja Luka who admits that there was genocide in Srebrenica. Because of this, you are a traitor in your city, and in Sarajevo, they claim you are an "infiltrated person"?

For twenty-five years in this country, we have been talking about lies – that Serbs are right, that Bosniaks are right, and that Croats are right. We are paying with our lives for these lies, and behind these lies, enormous crime is taking place. And then I come along – I say there was genocide in Srebrenica. Izetbegović and SDA have a problem with that because they cannot say that all Serbs are the same, because one Serb says there was genocide, and Dodik also has a problem. We cannot blame Vojin for denying genocide, let's talk about him being infiltrated by some lawsuits. Why? Because I speak ekavica, I grew up in Belgrade. And so, because of ekavica, I am a problem for Sarajevo, but also for Banja Luka, and they have forgotten how journalists in the '90s were forced to speak ekavica. The problem for Čović, Izetbegović, and Dodik is not that they will step down from power, but that years in prison await them.

 

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