LINTA: DESTRUCTION OF SERBIAN MONUMENTS NEAR TRAVNIK IS HATE CRIME

BELGRADE, SEPTEMBER 22 /SRNA/ - President of the Association of Serbs from the Region Miodrag Linta today condemned the destruction of 11 gravestones at the Serbian cemetery in the village of Trnovac near Travnik and damage to a Serbian chapel, describing it as a brutal hate crime and an attempt to erase material traces of the centuries-long presence of Serbs in the area.

Linta stressed that this was a serious attack on the dignity of Serbian deceased persons and their families, and called on the competent authorities of the Central Bosnia Canton to urgently and thoroughly investigate the case, arrest those responsible and bring them to justice.

He noted that, according to the 1991 census, 92 Serbs lived in Trnovac, with no Muslims or Croats.

"According to the 2013 census, Trnovac was a completely uninhabited place," Linta said.

Linta stressed that it was particularly important for the authorities to inform the public as soon as possible about the specific measures they had taken, because the competent institutions must demonstrate in practice, rather than merely declaratively, that they will protect Orthodox churches, chapels, Serbian cemeteries and monuments, the Association of Serbs from the Region said.

"If there is no accountability for the destruction of 11 monuments, it will send a dangerous message that similar senseless attacks on Serbian material cultural heritage will continue in the future," Linta warned.

Eleven monuments were destroyed at the Serbian cemetery in Trnovac near Travnik, where a chapel was also damaged, the Committee for the Protection of Serb Rights in the FBiH said.

The Federation Ministry of Interior has yet to shed light on the vandalism in the village of Zaselje near Travnik, where a cross was shot at in May.