Gunshots from May 2nd Still Echo in Sarajevans' Minds

(Patria) - That May 2nd, 1992, is a day that will remain forever in the memory of many Sarajevans. It was the first major battle for Sarajevo and for BiH. Usually, the streets of Sarajevo are empty now, and the reason is the May Day holidays, but few passers-by remember that year of 1992, writes the Patria news agency.

On that day, special units of the then JNA and SDS paramilitary formations attempted to seize the Presidency of BiH building, and the fiercest fighting took place 150 meters away, at Skenderija. Today, tourists stroll carefree and, with the stories of Sarajevans, can only imagine the horror that happened that day.

In 1992, around 1 p.m., JNA tanks moved towards the buildings of the Presidency and the City Assembly of Sarajevo. They were stopped thanks to the brave defenders of Sarajevo. The image of a tram on fire at Skenderija went around the world. On that day, the Main Post Office building in Sarajevo was also set on fire and burned down. Units of the former JNA and SDS paramilitary formations attacked fiercely, with the aim of entering the Presidency building, which was a symbol of the independent and internationally recognized Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
 
While fighting was taking place in the city, the first president of the Presidency of RBiH, Alija Izetbegović, was captured at Sarajevo Airport. Upon his return from negotiations in Lisbon, he was captured at the airport by members of the former JNA and taken to the barracks in Lukavica.
 
Connections were established with the then TV Sarajevo. In a live broadcast, the Bosnian-Herzegovinian and world public learned that the Presidency of BiH was under attack and that the capital city was being destroyed by all artillery pieces. Everyone learned then that the president of the country had been captured.
 
The public listened to the dramatic dialogue between the captured Izetbegović and the member of the state Presidency, Ejup Ganić: "Alija, listen to one thing... Why don't you come to the Presidency?" Alija Izetbegović: "Because they won't let me come!"

President Izetbegović was exchanged for the commander of the 2nd Military District of the JNA, Milutin Kukanjac. On May 2nd, 1992, the battle was not only for Sarajevo, but also for the entire BiH. Eight days later, on May 10th, the former JNA declared a declarative withdrawal from Bosnia and Herzegovina, although in essence it remained involved in the war in BiH until its end.