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Date: 23 Aug 1995 09:05:34
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From: popovsk2@pilot.msu.edu
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I am a medical student at Michigan State University.  I am of Macedonian
ancestry.  I am writing because I am saddened about the war. I just wish
everyone could get along, as they did before.


From notes@igc.apc.org Wed Aug 23 14:56:00 1995
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Date: 23 Aug 1995 09:34:03
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From: oggie_sokolovic@triad_004.triad.org
Subject: Re: Bosnia: 44% Muslum, 31% Serb, 17% Croat
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From: oggie_sokolovic@triad_004.triad.org (Oggie Sokolovic)
Subject: Re: Bosnia: 44% Muslum, 31% Serb, 17% Croat


>>>
>>>           Bosnia: 44% Muslum, 31% Serb, 17% Croat
>>>
>>>     "The United States formally recognized the Republic of
>>>Bosnia  and Herzegovina, one of six constituent republics of the
>>>former  Yugoslavia, as a sovereign state in April 1992, following
>>>a  free and fair referendum in which 63 percent of its voters
>>>endorsed independence. (1)
>>>
>>>     You mean 37% of the population voted AGAINST the formation
>>>of 'Bosnia'? And we're not mentioning those who boycotted the
>>>election altogether.
>>>
>>
>>No. Nobody voted for or against FORMATION of Bosna i Hercegovina simply
>>because Bosnia was established some ten centuries ago. Great majority of
>>Bosnian citizens voted for INDEPENDENCE. As you said once, Yugoslavia was
>>the sinonym for "greater serbia", and great majority of Bosnian citizens
>>did not want to live in such kind of federation.
>
>    And obviously the sizable 31% Serb did not want to live in 'Bosnia',
>whether
>centries old or 3 days old., dominated by whatever form of government the 44%
>Muslum government imposed. So where does that get us?

For those who didn't want to live in independent B&H the government was not
the issue. They wanted greater serbia in which there is not room for the
others. In democraticaly elected 1990. B&H Presidency Council 2 members
were Muslims, 2 Serbs, 2 Croats and 1 Yugoslavian. B&H Constitution
guarantees presence of all three major nationality groups in the
government. For whatever reason Karadzic's Serbs did not want to go
together with other citizens of B&H in the 20th century, I do not blame B&H
government, I blame those who left without saying goodbue, and came back
with tanks and guns bringing death and destruction. I lived in Sarajevo
until April 1992. and I did not feel under any kind of pressure, not even
to say endangered. And I am not
    Could it be the Bosnian leadership was sufficiently indifferent to the life
>of their citizens they put at risk by forcing this state into existence
>that they
>simply didn't care whether a war would result or not. Or was the war a
>complete
>suprise to them?

Sometimes it is better to die than to be humiliated. Bosnians soldiers die
with smile on their face, that's what bothers Karadzic's Serbs. They die
for Bosnia to be free. Justice is on our side. You may have all the weapons
on the world, but you will not destroy Bosnia.

    We've heard rumors of why Bosnian Prime Minister Silajdzic offered his
>resignation. In the report that follows (1) he criticizes the Executive for
>arrogating "more and more power" at the expense of the Legislature.
>    "He slammed the legislature as well, saying that it showed no interest
>in the
>fate of the people of Srebrenica and Gorazde."

Silajdzic is widely respected B&H politician. He is supported by
overwhelming majority of B&H citizens. And he has lots of supporters in the
government itself. It is good that he is back. With him B&H has better
future.

>    The vote that brought 'Bosnia' into existence is less than will be
>required
>to overturn the veto Clinton promises, but if it fails, will allow the
>Bosnians,
>who haven't captured a single Serb artillary piece, to "defend themselves".
>    Lets say Bosnia gets arms: will they be able to keep them?
>    Looking at a map of 'Bosnia' the non-Serb and non-Croat i.e. Bosnian
>Muslums,
>own about 40 miles by 20 miles of it.
>    Why don't you pack it in now and cut the best deal you can get before
>Tudjman
>and Milosevic divide it between themselves?

I think that you may ask Karadzic that question. I am sure that he would
think hard what to pack in, because his time is runnig out, and his
"Republica Srpska" is getting smaller and smaller... Bosnian Army 5th Corps
captured whole long range artilery unit recently (read: operation "Oluja").
Military balance is shifting.


>    What is it: "Jihad" must be a wonderful way to commit suicide and go to
>heaven too.
> >>     ". . October  1993, some 200,000 Bosnians were said to have
>>>died as a result  of the conflict; over 800,000 became refugees
>>>outside Bosnia;  and another 1.2 million were displaced within
>>>the nation." (2)
>
>   If any of the above could have been predicted then you must agree that the
>decision to declare "independence" was a decision to sacrifice a civilian
>population to the nationalist ambitions it's leaders.

95% of the voters from 1992. Independency vote (including me) would have
done it anyways. We did not vote for nationalist ambitions of our leaders
but for independent state of B&H, and that is far more important than any
personal goal that you may think of.

>    The killing was definitely slowed down by UNPROFOR, UN, and relief
>agencies.
>Starving a population out is a technique of war, which was largely stopped
>by the
>Europeans. But, had it continued, the Serbs would probably have won the war by
>now.

Karadzic's Serbs would never have won this war under any circumstances.

>    In face of what casualties have already resulted let alone what might have
>been inflicted, in what sense are Bosnian leaders very different from what
>they
>accuse the Serbs of being: genocidists?
>    I mean, surrender is actually an option. Cutting a deal at the table, is
>actually an option.

B&H leaders respected the will of the majority citizens of B&H. There is
big difference: Independent B&H is attacked. Therefore it's government and
it's people must defend themself and distroy the agressor. Heavy toll will
be paid for that goal to be achieved, but the worst period is behind.
Surrender was never an option for us. But it may be for the agressor.
Sooner than you expect.



Ognjen Sokolovic