Movement Ban: For the Holidays, Sarajevo Residents and Guests Under Terror of the KS Government

The decision of the Operational Staff of the Sarajevo Canton Government to introduce a ban on vehicles with license plates ending in an even number from 7 a.m. on December 25, and from midnight for vehicles with an odd number, has shocked Sarajevo residents, writes the Bosnian news agency Patria.

There are several reasons, but especially because of the start date on the most joyful Catholic holiday, Christmas. Social media has heated up with comments, and people have asked whether this terror against citizens is a gift from the authorities for the upcoming holidays.

Considering that the air in Sarajevo has been excessively polluted for days, the question arises whether this sudden decision was made without consulting experts, or whether the members of the Operational Staff are universal experts in all fields.

The same Operational Staff decided that citizens would ride GRAS trams and trolleybuses for free as long as the alert lasts, and they also stated that the number of trams and trolleybuses would be increased. What kind of free ride are the KS authorities talking about when it is known that thousands of regular rides are missed, so citizens who have purchased tickets are still forced to walk or pay for taxis.

With this move, the KS Government, at the end of an already difficult and painful year, has “treated” citizens to a ban on free movement, holiday visits, and living a normal life in the metropolis. And we will remember that Prime Minister Elmedin Konaković promised that on December 31, Sarajevo would be the center of the region and would stand shoulder to shoulder with world attractions for the New Year's Eve celebration.

After a series of incompetent and inadequate moves that almost introduced a curfew due to the deteriorated security situation in Sarajevo, so citizens already lock themselves in apartments and houses at the first sign of darkness, the KS Government has gone a step further and prevented us from moving during the day.

It is extremely hypocritical to present this measure as a solution to the current situation, because this problem with air pollution is not new. For years, the authorities have been warned about the black scenario and the suffocation of citizens, and at a time when adequate measures should have been considered, the prime minister, ministers, and authorities were vacationing at luxury destinations around the world.

Appeals, warnings, and cries from experts in the fields of traffic and air quality ended up in trash cans or unwanted mail. In addition to problems with air pollution, warnings also came about water shortages, harmful reductions, problems with the landfill...

This reckless move by the KS Government will cost the most to citizens who paid a high price for the registration of their vehicles, including numerous fees for environmental protection, water, and other taxes. The possibility of numerous lawsuits and demands for a refund should not be ruled out, given the ban on vehicle use.

From this perspective, allocating 250,000 KM from the budget for Dino Merlin's New Year's concert seems pointless, which the city and canton leaders justified by multiple returns to the budget through the arrival of tourists, spending money, accommodation capacities... The only thing missing now is a welcome message: “Come on foot and bring masks. Your Sarajevo.”

From the spectacle of the year, we got the disgrace of the year. Perhaps there will still be those who, under masks, will sing in chorus with Merlin: "Fog has fallen halfway to Sarajevo..."

But on the other hand, who will risk their health by inhaling contaminated air. Today, Prime Minister Konaković was filling his lungs with clean air on Bjelašnica, because he needs to prepare for a return to the polluted city.

Instead of that money, and all the other money that was given, for example, to GRAS to fix a “bottomless pit,” being directed to citizens for subsidies for introducing gas or pellet heating, our authorities decided to “strike the people.”

And they will not take these criticisms in good faith and as a call to wake up, but will take them personally and defend themselves in the media and criticize everyone and everything to justify themselves. In all normal countries, after such moves, the government would already be former.