Sunday, February 16, 2014

Bosnian Demonstrations... It's like the simmer is turned up a little high

Bosnia, Scott?  Again?
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My hotel was a little further up this street, right outside of the old town.
Yes, whatever.  News from Bosnia is interesting this week.  So two large cities, Tuzla which I didn't visit, and Mostar, which I love have hosted recent demonstrations that go back to the Dayton Peace Accords.
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Essentially, Bosnia was divided between Croats / Bosniaks (about 51% of the land and a bit more of the economy) and the Serbians.  Within those two areas, there are some 10 C/B cantons (like states), while Sprska area is governed as as a single, rather repressive unit.
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This had led to layers of political corruption.  As long as it was semi-affordable it kept the underemployed country happy (unemployment is officially ~25%, but there is a thriving black market).  And political voting runs along ethnic lines.  And a hell of a lot of corruption. But peace.
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Well it's been almost 19 years and just "peace" isn't enough.  In Tuzla and Mostar, the citizens have formed citizen committees that are meeting with city officials.  If this works peaceable, it will be a huge step for them.
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In the Sprska area, these are being put down by Serbian nationalists - but success, if it happens, builds quickly.