Bosnian politician Samir Šibonjić, who made special statements to the Milli Gazete about the new election arrangement, which opened the door to a new crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina, said, “We are fighting for equality and justice in our own lands. We have given our message clearly against the injustice that is wanted to be brought with the new election regulation, and we will never bow down to impositions.”
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the allegations that the Office of the High Representative, which was established with the Dayton Agreement, would interfere with the election law caused great controversy. Thousands of Bosnian parties, veterans and patriots staged a massive protest in front of the Office of the High Representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Bosnia and Herzegovina Politician Samir Šibonjić told the Milli Gazete the details of the election law arrangement that dragged Bosnia and Herzegovina into a new crisis.
“WE ARE SUBJECTED TO INJUSTICE IN OUR OWN LAND”
Reminding that the election date is approaching in Bosnia and Herzegovina, “It will take place on October 2, 2022 in our country. Preparations for the planned election began. Negotiations between Bosniak, Serb and Croat parties have been going on for the last few years in Bosnia and Herzegovina to enact a new election law. Inter-party talks were organized through different states like European Union, USA, UK etc. within the scope of electoral law. The latest draft and election change regulation from Europe was not accepted at the consultation meetings. Especially the Croatian side and the Croatian lobby, which is active in Europe, insist on the new election law. This new draft law plans to introduce complete inequality among the peoples living in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Bosnians are fighting for equality and justice in their own lands,” Samir Šibonjić added.
“BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA IS OUR RED LINE”
Samir Šibonjić, who said that the Office of the High Representative wanted to make the new election arrangement a fait accompli, said, “The High Representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina Christian Schmidt called the party leaders in Bosnia and Herzegovina last week and He began to announce that he would introduce a new election bill. Bosniak party leaders rejected Schmidt's statements. Bosnia and Herzegovina; It is the red line of our people, veterans, Bosnian politicians of all views, Bosnian patriots, everyone living and fighting for these lands. We informed them that we would never accept this offer. On July 25, thousands of people gathered in front of the Office of the High Representative and conveyed our messages to them.”
“THEY WANT TO TURN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA INTO PALESTINE”
Saying, “There is the idea of making Bosnia and Herzegovina like Palestine under this bill,” Samir Šibonjić added, “The new law is not for the quality of life or welfare of our citizens living in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is simply designed to allow Croatian nationalists to be stronger and easier to choose. To summarize the risk here; Croatian and Serbian nationalists would never leave the Serbs and Croats who love Bosnians and work for the unity and solidarity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a chance to be elected. If this law is passed, only nationalists can be elected from the regions where Croats and Serbs are concentrated. This is a situation that can lead to dangerous consequences for Bosnians."
“WE EXPECT MORE ACTIVE REACTIONS FROM TURKEY”
Expressing that they expect more active reactions from Turkey in this critical process, Samir Šibonjić said, “All our friends and enemies in the world should know that we will never surrender our homeland, which we won with the blood of our martyrs, to anyone. In addition, we Bosnians do not accept that only the USA, Europe and Russia take an active role in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We think that Turkey should take a more active role in these issues. Bosnians rightly learned not to trust them after the Srebrenica Genocide. Bosnia and Herzegovina is the only country in the middle of Europe with a majority Muslim. The enemies of Islam in Europe are always and constantly making life in Bosnia and Herzegovina difficult and disturbing the peace in Bosnia. Based on our historical connections, we have great expectations, especially from Turkey, regarding this issue.”
THE NEW BILL PREDICTS CROATS TO TAKE NEARLY CONTROL OF WHOLE ENTITY
It was stated that the election law, allegedly prepared by the High Representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina Christian Schmidt to impose in Bosnia and Herzegovina before the election to be held on October 2, will cover the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBIH), one of the two entities in the country.
Accordingly, based on the last census in 2013, if an ethnic group in any canton of FBIH is less than 3 percent of the total entity population, it will not be able to be elected as a deputy to the FBIH People's Assembly from that canton.
In the current situation, every 10 cantons have the right to issue one Bosniak, one Serb and one Croatian member, while with the new regulation, if the Bosniak, Serb or Croat population in a canton is less than 3 percent, the representative of the said ethnic group will not come out of that canton.
According to the latest census data in 2013 in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosniaks in the FBIH rate was over 70 percent. The new law, which Schmidt is allegedly preparing to "impose," envisions the Croats, with a population of 22 percent, to seize nearly all control of the entity.