BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA: Thousands of Bosnian Serbs protest against controversial reforms.

Record ID: 560656

  • Title: BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA: Thousands of Bosnian Serbs protest against controversial reforms.
  • Date: 30th October 2007
  • Summary: WOMAN CHEERING AND CHANTING
  • Embargoed: 14th November 2007 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAA6ZJ4TB7PNKM48T91V8XXITRH
  • Story Text: Thousands of Bosnian Serbs protest against measures by peace envoy aimed at streamlining government decision-making.
    Some 10,000 Bosnian Serbs and their political leaders protested on Monday (October 29) against what they said was "dictatorial" and "unnecessary" meddling by Bosnia's powerful international peace envoy.
    In response to bickering between Bosnia's Muslim, Serb and Croat leaders that has stalled reforms over the past 18 months, peace envoy Miroslav Lajcak unveiled new measures earlier this month aimed at simplifying the functioning of the government.
    But some politicians, including Bosnian Serb Prime Minister Milorad Dodik, who favours strong regional powers and a weak central government, have condemned the plans and mobilised the Serb public against them. The Serbs fear the legislation chips away at their rights and could mean they are outvoted by the other half, the Muslim-Croat federation.
    The two entities, created at the end of the 1992-95 ethnic war, view each other with suspicion and occasional hostility.
    "We view this as deceit," Dodik told protesters in the city of Banja Luka. "Mr Lajcak, you have to withdraw it or change it substantially in order to prevent outvoting. "
    The banners, reading "Lajcak dictator" and "I give up Bosnia for the Serb Republic" illustrated the Bosnian Serbs' defiant attitude towards the reforms, which the European Union says are crucial for Bosnia's path towards EU membership.
    Many protesters carried posters of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who they see as an ally for backing Serbia in its efforts to block a Western-sponsored plan giving independence to its breakaway Kosovo province.
    The protests were held across the Serb Republic ahead of a parliament session scheduled to denounce Lajcak's decision and call for the abolition of his powers.
    The declaration has no practical effect. But it shows just how unpopular Lajcak's post, the Office of the High Representative, is among Bosnian Serbs, who resent its powers to impose laws and sack officials.
    Dodik said their would be riots if the reforms weren't changed.

    "As far as I am concerned, and this generation of politicians, all we say is 'sack us if you have to'. But I will tell you what we'll do next.
    We'll start a riot," he said.
    Lajcak's ruling reduced the minimum number of ministers needed to be present when the central government passes laws, meaning that no ethnic group can create a deadlock by simply walking out.
    The envoy also ordered parliament to change its voting procedures by Dec. 1 along similar lines, otherwise he will go ahead and impose them.
    Bosnian Serb politicians complained the changes would allow a Muslim majority in parliament to outvote them and threatened to walk out of their posts.
    But Lajcak said he would not withdraw his ruling, which was "fully in line with the constitution...and does not undermine in any manner the position of any entity or constituent peoples".

    "If, in spite of this, tensions needlessly escalate then this is the choice of the Serb Republic leadership, and it is they who will be clearly to blame for the consequences," his office said in a statement.
    The EU has vowed to stand by Lajcak, and not let Bosnia sign a key association accord until the reforms have passed.
    Germany on Monday warned politicians not to resist his plans because they would be viewed as working against the Dayton accord, the peace deal which ended the war.
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