The Demands of the People of Bosnia-Herzegovina (English)

The situation in BiH is changing rapidly. Numerous cantonal governments have already resigned and we can expect further protests in the coming days. The authorities in BiH have already begun a concerted campaign of disinformation about the causes of these protests and their aims. In an effort to support the struggle of the workers and students in BiH, I am publishing here the English translations of the demands issued by representatives of the people of Tuzla, Sarajevo and Bihac, ably translated by my colleagues Konstantin Kilibarda (Tuzla #1, RS Veteran's Association statement) and Marina Antić (Sarajevo #1-3, Bihac, Mostar, Zenica, Prijedor).  Amila Jašarević' has also been helping, she has translated the statement of the Belgrade Police Union. In the case of the second Tuzla list, it is the official translation emailed to me by the Tuzla Plenum organizers. The original texts can be viewed here, here, here and here. 

Please share these demands widely, copy, paste and disseminate them as you see fit. Change is coming to BiH and we can help be a part of it. 

UPDATE: There is now a dedicated archive of all the declarations, articles and footage we have so far been able to translate located at "Bosnia-Herzegovina Protest Files." Please visit that website for all future update and further information on English-language coverage of the events in BiH. 

Tuzla #1

DECLARATION 7 February 2014. Today in Tuzla a new future is being created! The [local] government has submitted its resignation, which means that the first demand of the protestors has been met and that the conditions for solving existing problems have been attained. Accumulated anger and rage are the causes of aggressive behaviour. The attitude of the authorities has created the conditions for anger and rage to escalate.

Now, in this new situation, we wish to direct the anger and rage into the building of a productive and useful system of government. We call on all citizens to support the realization of the following goals:

(1) Maintaining public order and peace in cooperation with citizens, the police and civil protection, in order to avoid any criminalization, politicization, and any manipulation of the protests.

(2) The establishment of a technical government, composed of expert, non-political, uncompromised members. [They should be people] who have held no position at any level of government and would lead the Canton of Tuzla until the 2014 elections. This government should be required to submit weekly plans and reports about its work and to fulfill its proclaimed goals. The work of the government will be followed by all interested citizens.

(3) Resolving, through an expedited procedure, all questions relating to the privatization of the following firms: Dita, Polihem, Poliolhem, Gumara, and Konjuh. The [government] should:

§  Recognize the seniority and secure health insurance of the workers.

§  Process instances of economic crimes and all those involved in it.

§  Confiscate illegally obtained property.

§  Annul the privatization agreements [for these firms].

§  Prepare a revision of the privatization.

§  Return the factories to the workers and put everything under the control of the public government in order to protect the public interest, and to start production in those factories where it is possible.

(4) Equalizing the pay of government representatives with the pay of workers in the public and private sector.

(5) Eliminating additional payments to government representatives, in addition to their income, as a result of their participation in commissions, committees and other bodies, as well as other irrational and unjustified forms of compensation beyond those that all employees have a right to.

(6) Eliminating salaries for ministers and eventually other state employees following the termination of their mandates.

This declaration is put forward by the workers and citizens of the Tuzla Canton, for the good of all of us.

Tuzla #2

Official Translation

Manifesto of the Plenum of the Citizens of the Tuzla Canton

                                                                   February 9th, 2014

Peaceful protests continue in Tuzla. We issue our support to all the protests in the various cities of Bosnia-Herzegovina. 

The Assembly of the Tuzla Canton, in keeping with its constitutional responsibilities, has all the necessary legal mechanisms at its disposal to ensure the functioning of the government in the interests of the citizens. It is misinformation, which is attempting to mislead the public, that the resignation of the government of Tuzla Canton has created a legal vacuum. 

                                       WE DEMAND:

1.     That the authorities of the Tuzla Canton, in keeping with their constitutional responsibilities, ensure the safety of all participants engaged in the protests.

2.     That the Assembly of the Tuzla Canton, in keeping with its constitutional responsibilities, immediately ensures functioning governance of the territory of the Tuzla Canton with no members of the previous government appointed to it. 

3.     That in cooperation with the Citizens’ Plenum, the Assembly of the Tuzla Canton will appoint an expert government, no later than March 1st, 2014, comprising non-partisan, ethically uncompromised experts.

This Manifesto is issued by the Plenum of the Citizens of the Tuzla Canton, and is for the benefit of us all.

Sarajevo #1

With regards to yesterday’s protests across Bosnia and Herzegovina and the media’s attempt to discredit this justified rebellion, this informal group of citizens and protest participants repeats our demands to the government.

 IN THE NAME OF CITIZENS ON THE STREETS OF SARAJEVO

We declare:

We, the people who went out onto the streets of Sarajevo yesterday, also regret the injuries and damage to properties, but our regret also extends to the factories, public spaces, cultural and scientific institutions, and human lives, all of which were destroyed as a direct result of actions by those (ALL THOSE) in power for, now, over 20 years. We ask our fellow citizens and fellow sufferers not to allow these unpleasant scenes to cloud the fact that this kind of government and those in power have costs us immeasurably more.

We, thus, demand:

-        Unconditional and immediate resignations of both the Sarajevo Canton and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina governments; and the formation of non-party governments.

-        No measures, of any kind, to be undertaken that would limit peaceful citizen protests.

-        The immediate release of demonstrators, no criminal case filings against them, and an end to the witch hunt of people.

When these demands are met, we can then ask for the start of conversations and actions at all levels of government in order to establish a more socially just order for all social strata; and for all those whose human dignity and material basic needs have been endangered or destroyed by the transitional theft, corruption, nepotism, privatization of public resources, an economic model that favors the rich, and financial arrangements that have destroyed any hope for a society based on social justice and welfare.

To establish such a social justice order, before we undertake any social measures are, we demand an immediate end to the larceny of this society cloaked in politics, and criminal prosecution of those responsible. Only when all of that is complete, can we begin to build something new for all of us. 

Sarajevo #2

This is based on the leaflets being passed around Sarajevo on February 9th, 2014 from a group calling itself "Ja BiH Bunt" ("I'm for Rebellion"). Once again, my thanks to Marina Antić. 

CITIZENS' DEMANDS, GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Lower salaries and compensation for political functionaries at all levels of government!
2. End compensation with the end of the term!
3. Sell the new car pool and invest that money into development of factories in bankruptcy!
4. Reform and make transparent public expenditures and revenues!
5. Pass the law on property origins!
6. Process the suspects for abuse of power!
7. Invalidate all illegal privatization contracts and establish the responsibilities of authorities.
8. Form an independent anti-corruption commission.
9. Damage resulting from protests cover with that part of revenue intended for compensation of government representatives.
   
   

Sarajevo #3

DECLARATION        

Sarajevo, February 10, 2014

Peaceful protests in Sarajevo are continuing. We support protests in all cities of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

We demand:

1. SECURITY MEASURES

Not taking any steps that would limit the peaceful citizens’ protests. Those in command in agencies of the Sarajevo Canton, must provide security for all protesters, in line with the constitution and the laws.

1. GOVERNMENT OF THE SARAJEVO CANTON

Considering the failures and irresponsible functioning of the government to date, we demand that the formation of the next government is determined on the basis of the result of the Plenum of Sarajevo Citizens.

1. GOVERNMENT OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Immediate resignation of the entire government, led by the prime minister.

THESE REQUESTS WERE HEARD ON THE STREETS OF SARAJEVO THESE DAYS.

In order to prevent political brokerage, we ask Sarajevo citizens not to enter into negotiations with the government, but rather, following Tuzla’s example, to come to the plenum and open discussion of equals, so as to formulate demands and decisions that will halt the larceny of this society and thereby establish the foundation for a more just order.

THE FIRST PLENUM WILL BE HELD FEBRUARY 12, 2014.

THE TIME AND LOCATION ARE TO BE ANNOUNCED TOMORROW.

The Initiative Committee for organizing the Plenum of Sarajevo Citizens is a temporary, informal group that will cease to exist at the first meeting of the Plenum. 

Bihac

Protesters have sent their list of 13 demands to the Parliament of the Una-Sana Canton:

1. Resignation and replacement of the Una-Sana Canton (USC) government and all directors of public institutions and public enterprises.
2. Appointment of the new government of USC and the new directors, without influence of politics in choice of prime ministers and ministers (professional governance – with public release of biographies and the reasons for their appointment).
3. Matching salaries in the public sector to the industrial sector, so that the highest public sector salary cannot be higher than three average salaries in the industrial sector.
4. Matching salaries in the public sector to the educational/professional level.
5. Public release of documents for tenders in the last 10 years and in the future.
6. Matching levels of budget appropriations for agricultural production in the budgets at all levels of government to the European Union standards.
7. Matching educational standards, at all levels, to the European Union standards.
8. Matching the number of employees in the public sector to the European Union standards.
9. Finalizing construction of the veterans’ building, at the latest by the elections of 2014.
10. Ending all additional privileges for government officials.
11. Ending additional financing of representatives and employees in the administrative institutions, on the basis of various commissions.
12. Ending the salaries and other privileges of all politicians following the end of their term.
13. Immediate end to the use of force by the police toward the protesters and vice versa.
    

Mostar

Radio Sarajevo reports Mostar Demands:

• Resolving the status of workers from destroyed companies.

• Employment of social workers in elementary and high schools.

• Securing the funds for [support of] unemployed mothers.

• Raising and matching social contributions across the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

• Right to life.

• Right to work.

• Linear raises of pensions.

• Ending additional financing of representatives and administration employees on the basis of various commissions.

• Ending minister salaries after the end of their term.

• Matching politician compensation with compensation of other employees in public and private sectors.

• Government resignations: prime-minister resignation and resignations of ministers.

Zenica

Zenica Demands February 10th, 2014. Reported here originally. A background-primer to ecological situation in Zenica can be read about here. 

The first demand is for the Cantonal government to fulfill the agreement with students regarding disbursement of stipends, as agreed upon at the end of last year.

1. Limit citizens to one position in case there are adequately educated persons to take up any other positions (this is primarily the case with professors who lecture at several colleges and in several subjects).
2. Disburse new-mothers’ subventions to those who’ve been protesting for several months now.
3. Resolve the status of all workers from companies destroyed in the process of privatization, whose rights were denied.
4. Representatives at all levels of government to stop receiving compensation for work in commissions.
5. Immediate resolution of the air pollution problems in Zenica, in cooperation with federal and local municipality governments.
6. Securing internship/residency work for graduates within six months of graduating, establishment of a program for employing young people who have been unemployed for years, since their graduation and therefore, without work experience; as well as revision of employment practices in the public sector.
7. All government employees to give up 30% of their compensation for the duration of their term, to be escrowed in a common account, in a savings certificate of 4 years’ duration, upon whose maturation it would become public property. This would serve to finance expensive medical procedures for citizens in need, but not for medical treatment in Turkey, Germany or other countries, but for the purpose of educating the local medical professionals, purchasing necessary equipment, so that the need for foreign treatment would be lowered. The focus should be on conditions caused by excessive exposure to sulfur dioxide and other environmentally harmful substances Zenica’s residents have been exposed to.

Prijedor

Here are the clear demands of citizens:

1. We demand resignations of all directors of public institutions in Prijedor!
2. We demand concrete results in the struggle against corruption (autonomous functioning of inspection agencies, frequent inspections of enterprises owned by persons close to the authorities, end to political-based hiring in public institutions)!
3. We demand an increase in employment (resolving the problems of Old Mines in Ljubija)!
4. We demand a public apology from Prijedor’s mayor for all the years of irresponsible management of public goods!
5. We demand realization of all workers’ rights in Prijedor (creating conditions for organizing independent unions in all enterprises in private ownership)!
6. We demand that the old City Hall building not be demolished!
7. We demand an explanation as to why more and more young people are leaving Prijedor and the realization of concrete measures to stop this drain!
8. We demand that the local parliament representatives give up their compensation, which is to be sent to the food pantries in Prijedor and Ljubija!
9. We demand an end to all forms of copayments for health services!
10. We demand no legal/police repercussions for the protesters!

Obtained from representative of today's protests, Žarko Trivunić.

Statement by the Belgrade Police Union

Originally reported here. 

It’s obvious that the example from the west coast of the Drina will be very carefully followed by Serbia’s politicians and its institutions, but especially by the columns of hungry and unemployed citizens. We’re steps away from similar events as our neighbours are now in the midst of—events which we yet have to see the outcome of. After all, we're talking about the region where the bloodiest act of the disintegration of our once shared country took place so we cannot rule out the possibility that the current events might spark a similar 'spring' both in Serbia and our other former sister republics. State institutions should therefore disregard pre-election party interests and take the many warnings that police union representatives have been giving them for years, especially leaders of the Belgrade police union and police chiefs. 

It wouldn't be the first time in history of nations—our own included—if those of whom the authorities expect to protect their seats and positions, if the men in blue joined the debased and wronged citizens when they take to the streets. It's not that long since that happened in Serbia because society then as now had been brought to the brink of collapse while the authorities only thought of themselves. That won't work this time, and if warnings like this one from the ranks of the police are not enough, there will be much more brutal and direct warnings and actions in the streets that no one will be able to stop. Won't be able to, or won't want to—either way, the outcome will be catastrophic.

Declaration by the RS Veterans' Association 

Original reported here. 

The simplistic, naive, and even cynical statement of the Prime Minister of the Government of Republic of Srpska (RS) about how the RS is stable, and, the threatening tone adopted by the RS President - who proclaimed that the state will find the mechanisms necessary for preventing an uprising - will not meet the goals of the ‘Order for Defending the Republic [of Srpksa] from the Spillover of Chaos from the Federation of [Bosnia and Herzegovina].’

Instead, these statements will only stoke flames that have been lit by those in power, who are attempting by any means necessary to preserve a State that is based on crime, corruption, nepotism, and on a horrendous education system whose consequences are already being felt.

As much as they swear by their patriotism, calling ‘traitors’ all those who choose to believe their eyes more than they believe the peacetime pumping of ‘heroic’ chests, we the Veterans of the Army of the Repblic of Srpska will not give them the deed to the Republic, but are calling on them to take the first steps so that ‘the Federation’ doesn’t happen to us.

1. [We demand that the] RS President, in accordance with his constitutional duty to promote unity, should call on the President of the [Fighters Organization of the RS] Pantelija Ćurguz to tender his resignation without further delay, since it was the RS President who appointed him to this position.

For a long-time already, Ćurguz has not represented the majority of unhappy, demobilized veterans of the war, whose discontent culminated when he assented to the humiliating Law on Combatant and Veteran Disability Protection.

If the President of the RS fails to meet this demand by February 15 at 12pm, the Veterans of the Army of the RS will begin signing a petition under the title “SO THAT THE FEDERATION DOESN’T HAPPEN TO US,” which will demand that Ćurguz tenders his resignation. This will be the first demand in a ten point petition.

In the meantime, we call on all officials in our Republic to allow for the participation of the RS Army Veterans Association in all meetings that take place relating to veterans.

2. We demand that the President of the RS recall Ranko Škrbić our ambassador to Belgrade, and to leave him to the judicial organs in order to give us a first sign of good will that as president he is not ignoring his people.

Under this demand we also ask for the uncompromising support of all governing structures and the opposition in firmly standing behind the Ministry of Internal Affairs, in order to prioritize investigations into criminal privatizations and begin an eventual showdown with the tycoons who created empires in our country and abroad at the cost of the suffering workers and by manipulating all of us.

At the moment we don’t want to create demands but to test the will of the RS government, which we have entrusted to them for protection. We want to see if they are really protecting the RS or simply an armed criminal structure and its cronies.

Unlike all salaried republican and state institutions we predicted that “the street [protests] and sticks” would happen, as well as the resignation of the coordinator of all police forces in Bosnia, which we see as an opening for once again placing police reform on the agenda.

Strategy and tactics are above all about military discipline and we understand this very well.

That is why you, the President of the RS, must know that your strategy and your tactics are transparent like the goals of all political leaders in the RS. So smarten up officials, otherwise risk losing the whole army!

{SIGNED} RS Army Veterans Association.