EXTREMISTS FUELED BY HATRED WANT SERBS TO BE NO MORE

BELGRADE, SEPTEMBER 17 /SRNA/ – Bosniak extremists are provoking Serb returnees in Bosanski Petrovac and other parts of the Federation of BiH pressuring them into leaving permanently, Miodrag Linta, Chair of the Association of Serbs from the Region, told SRNA.

Linta emphasized that the Serb side must intensify and systematize work on raising international awareness in order to protect and ensure the survival of the remaining Serb population.

According to Linta, the destruction of Serb tombstones, grave markers, and the devastation of property, along with so-called "academic" denial of Serb heritage, are all tactics used by Bosniak extremists to erase centuries-old traces of Serb presence in the region.

"We must wake up. We need institutions that will seriously address the returnees issue at all levels. We must produce annual reports on incidents and violence against Serbs, translate them into 10 languages, and send them to key addresses around the world," Linta said.

He expressed hope that at least 30 of the 750 members of the European Parliament would be willing to discuss this issue.

"The problem must become visible if Serbs are to be better protected," Linta added.

He emphasized that the fact that those marching in the convoy of extremists during the "Day of Liberation of Bosanski Petrovac," waving flags of the so-called Army of BiH and shouting "Allahu Akbar," were mostly young people born after the war, indicates that they have been indoctrinated with hatred and raised on myths and a false narrative portraying Serbs as aggressors.

Linta underlined that the lack of reaction from official Sarajevo to everything occurring in Bosanska Krajina and other areas of the Federation of BiH where Serbs reside was entirely expected.

During the celebration of the "liberation" of Bosanski Petrovac, a convoy bearing wartime symbols and chanting frightening slogans, the same ones shouted during the ritual executions of Serbs by beheading, passed through Serb returnee villages. The convoy consisted mostly of young people and was escorted by a police patrol.

Bosanski Petrovac is one of 13 Western Krajina municipalities that were attacked by members of the Croatian Defence Council /HVO/ and the 5th Corps of the so-called Army of BiH during the war.

Due to crimes committed in this region against Serb soldiers and civilians, the Court of BiH is currently conducting proceedings against Atif Dudaković, commander of the 5th Corps, along with 15 other military leaders. They are charged with the murder of over 300 Serbs, the majority of whom were civilians, as well as the destruction of a large number of Serb villages.