Grmečka Korida Banned Due to Mine Danger; Ivanić Calls It a Blow to the Serbian People

The Ministry of Interior of the Una-Sana Canton has issued a ban on holding the Grmečka Korida at the Međeđe brdo site because safety conditions for this type of public gathering have not been met, writes the Bosnian news agency Patria. It was scheduled for Sunday, August 2.

Namely, as announced by BH MAC, and as stated in the explanation of the MUP USK, at the Međeđe brdo site there is another risky location registered as such in the BH MAC database and processed under project ID 9694 MZ Sanica-Nežići.

- Most of the area borders a risky and suspicious area, and a semi-permanent fence has been installed. Mine markings are visible on the ground. Therefore, we consider that the safety conditions for holding the aforementioned public gathering have not been met, from the aspect of the latent danger of activating explosive remnants of war.

However, on the other hand, the member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina from the Republika Srpska, Mladen Ivanić, and representatives of the Association "Grmečka Korida – Međeđe brdo 1772" call this decision an obstruction of the Grmečka Korida and blame the authorities of USK and the municipality of Sanski Most.

Incidentally, Ivanić is the patron of "Grmečka Korida" and today in Banja Luka spoke with a delegation of this association, and they assessed as unfounded the formal justification of the authorities from Sanski Most that the area where this centuries-old event should be held is under mines. It was concluded that in this way "they want to ban events that are associated with the Serbian identity of Podgrmeč."

The organizers of "Grmečka Korida" have, as stated in the announcement from the cabinet of Mladen Ivanić after detailed checks, received confirmation from the Mine Action Centre in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BHMAC) that there are no mines at the planned location on Međeđe brdo, and they also recall that this event was already organized in the same area two years ago.

However, BH MAC did not say that there are mines at this site, but that it borders a risky area. Considering how many people attend such events, the fear that there might be an activation of leftover mines is completely justified.

As announced, the member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina from the Republika Srpska will request from the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina to determine the responsibility of the government institutions of the Una-Sana Canton and the municipality of Sanski Most, regarding the decision to ban the holding of "Grmečka Korida".