New book by war reporter Akif Agić: 'A plea to learn the hardest historical lessons'

(Patria) - Gornji Vakuf war reporter Akif Agić has published his new book titled "Bloody January", writes Slobodna Bosna.

"Bloody January", on which Agić worked for many years, represents an invaluable asset, not only in its documentary-research opus, but in its truthful artistic treatment that compels the reader to seek the truth and fight for the right that the victim failed to achieve.

The writing and expression style, supported by original evidence (over 1,000 never-before-published photographs, documents, and newspaper articles), certainly guarantees that the difficult past will not be forgotten, and that those who come will surely recognize the gravity of the evil that happened and will not allow it to happen again.

Fra Ivo Marković, a priest of Bosna Srebrena and professor of Franciscan Theology, wrote about the book "Bloody January" in his review, among other things:

"Herceg-Bosna is the cause of the war between Croats and Bosniaks; this war was directly provoked and initiated by Croats. The policy and war that were started and led by the leaders of Herceg-Bosna with the Army of BiH were extremely irresponsible, permeated with war profiteering, and ultimately disastrous.

After the initial destruction of Prozor, Novi Travnik, Gornji Vakuf, the crimes in Ahmići and Stupni Dol, the Army of BiH consolidated and inflicted terrifying destruction on Croatian Catholic areas in Bosnia, such as Kraljeva Sutjeska, Lašva Valley, Bugojno.

And when one adds to that the suffering from Serbs, the fall and surrender of Posavina, the fall of Jajce, then it is clear that the suffering of Bosnian Croats is the greatest catastrophe of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina 1992-1995.

Ultimately, the Herceg-Bosna project caused the most devastating damage to the state of Croatia, the reputation of Croats in the world; the leaders of Herceg-Bosna were sentenced to 111 years in prison by the Hague Tribunal for a joint criminal enterprise, and the Croatian state for a joint criminal enterprise.

Bosnian Croats must accept that political failure, crimes, and condemnation for their own catharsis, but it would be extremely wrong to push those Croats into the experience of defeat. Croatian victims should not be pushed into criminal victimhood by Croats themselves or their opponents in the war.

At the beginning of the war, Bosnian Croats were exposed to the same uncertainty as Muslims; the Greater Serbian aggression first affected them, and certainly, defensive mechanisms towards Muslims were at play, especially with the constant indications that Bosniaks were 'owners of this land, but had Croats as unpleasant tenants'.

The first and most important goal of Akif's struggle is the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina as an ideal multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, and multi-religious homeland for all its people. Akif's texts see this unique homeland as sculpted by divine providence through centuries of history, so any attack on this sanctuary is literally sacrilege.

The mechanisms and strength of coexistence in Bosnia and Herzegovina are truly miraculous. Despite so many conflicts, accumulated negative memories, imperial propaganda, this strength of coexistence shows its power and endurance in all conditions", wrote fra Ivo Marković in his review.

Journalist and war reporter Sejo Omeragić, among other things, says about the book "Bloody January" in his review:

"'Bloody January' is an inspiring book - a document about Gornji Vakuf and the honorable and brave fight for freedom. Inside the book are details of the bloody and treacherous attack by the HV and HVO on the city and Bosniak settlements around Gornji Vakuf.

These are stories about human destinies, about the incredible courage of the people of Gornji Vakuf, ordinary people who realized that the moment had come when each of them was defending their home, honor, and dignity.

The book is one of the most important and thorough documents about the struggle of a city - municipality and its inhabitants for survival and continuation of life. Often, this meant death. But even death next to one's own doorstep, where even a grave meant staying in one's own place.

In a magnificent struggle, lasting more than a year, small Gornji Vakuf resisted powerful HV and HVO units and powerful artillery that leveled both the city and the surrounding settlements, turning them into piles of dust and ashes.

The book is written chronologically accurately. It is exceptionally precise in style and grammar. This is simply felt in the ease of reading.

These poignant stories, powerful and full of emotions and the sublimity of the human soul, full of hope for a better and more just life, are necessary for the fight against forgetting. Because forgetting is a cursed evil that repeats itself in the worst forms.

I recommend this exceptional book to you in every respect. I know it will bring many back to those terrible events. It brought me back to that time of blood, sweat, and tears in Gornji Vakuf, although after reading "Bloody January" I am not sure I ever left that time.

I can freely say that what I have read is something more than a book. Akif Agić, as a top chronicler, has preserved the most important and amazing part of the history of his heroic city with it".

Journalist and editor Faruk Vele points out that, contrary to some bad "engineering" attempts to accuse him of sowing "seeds of evil", Agić weeps over the fate of his hometown, calls for unity in the heat of conflict, seeks and finds those who "behave normally", who are well-intentioned, announces and desires the renewal of ties, calls for forgiveness while his relatives, best friends, and fellow citizens are dying, and infinitely believes in the possibility of coexistence as a true Bosnian value.

"I consider this the greatest value of this work. At the same time, Agić clearly points the finger at the culprits and demands their responsibility. The book 'Bloody January' is not a book of evil, but the cry of a Bosnian man, a plea to learn the hardest historical lessons in order to save ourselves from stumbling into new historical wildernesses in which we will all be losers.

This book can be the cornerstone of future relations in Gornji Vakuf, but also in all of central Bosnia. It is very important that we all condemn evil. But, after condemning and recognizing evil, life is in forgiveness. It is important to teach people that we must forgive", wrote Vele in his review.

This is not Akif Agić's first book. He previously published the books "Stories from Life" in 2017 and "Witnesses of Evil" in 2018.