When Comrade Writes About Nation and History
by Mato Franjic
Hrvatska Rijec, Sarajevo, Bosnia-Hercegovina, November 22 1997
Oslobodenje has recently finished the publication of a series of 14 articles by certain Dr. Vera Krzisnik-Bukic under the title "Supplement to the Program for Bosnia". The idea of this historian's "work" is the concept of per mus (under the threat of sanctions) (!?) establishment of the Bosnian nation and Bosnian citizenship on the territory of Bosnia-Hercegovina. Of course, this historian was "trained" in the age when scientific, especially historical thought was shaped in the Communist party committees (at least that can be concluded from her short biography which was published with the last installment in the series). It is well known that such approach to the establishment of a nation was in the past implemented mostly by force and bribery (either with financial gifts or, more frequently, by presents of goods and privileges to the subjects; the historical examples are islamization, acceptance of Papal authority by some eastern orthodox churches etc.) and this is a "theoretical contribution" to the solution of national and international legal problems with a stroke of a (poisoned) "pen". It is significant that all "babbling" in the series still contains the basic "argument" that the establishment of the Bosnian nation and Bosnian citizenship is demanded (and even imposed(?!)) by the USA. Does that mean that the only remaining superpower has finally discovered the errors incorporated in the Washington and Dayton documents and is now trying to use its domination to impose what neither B. Kallay nor A. Zulfikarpasic were able to do; of course it must be admitted that this is still a "variation on the theme" since the articles talk about pan-Bosnianism and not pan-Bosniakism. However, even in such difficult times it is unlikely that someone would be willing to change a nation and religion for the price of a meal. As far as Bosnia-Hercegovina Croats are concerned one wonders which common political, economic, cultural and moral characteristics and interests could motivate them to "transform" themselves from the members of an ancient European nation into members of a certain "young" Bosnian nation; of course all this can only be in the theoretical realm having in mind that the Croats have immensely suffered in the hands of those with whom they are now supposed to merge (or drown?) into a single nation. Thank God, there are no more committees nor parties which can impose by decree new nations and ethnic groups. Even the esteemed author of the series and her supporters (and those who finance her work) have "circumvented" in all their theorizing a "small" detail: in the introduction of the Dayton Constitution of Bosnia-Hercegovina, Croats, Bosniaks and Serbs (together with others) are listed as constituent peoples in Bosnia-Hercegovina so that the national question has been resolved. According to the same Constitution, "only" the citizenship of Bosnia-Hercegovina and both entities has been defined so that that problem has also been solved. If one has in mind that the Constitution can be modified or amended only by the two thirds majority of representatives in the lower house of the Parliament of Bosnia-Hercegovina and that those decisions which affect important interest of certain nations require consensus, then the mentioned and similar concepts can only be a "dream" of those who dream about domination of some over others and centralized organization of Bosnia-Hercegovina. Finally, a question (not an innocent one) which will probably never be answered: How do the descendants of comrade V. Bukic-Krzisnik declare themselves, as Slovenians or Bosniaks, having in mind that the author of the series once upon the time ("temporarily" (?!)) worked in Banja Luka where she became a Bosniak bride?
Translated on 9/2/98
