The following interview gives an insight into the thinking of Bosnian activists. CATHERINE SAMARY speaks with FAIK DIZDAREVIC, a former ambassador and ex-director of radio and television in Sarajevo, and JESENKO GALIDASEVIC, who worked in television in Sarajevo. They are now both in exile in France and organise the 'Sarajevo Association'. Translation by Geoff Ryan.
C.S. It is madness, in the case of Bosnia-Herzegovina, to supporta proseror cantonisation on an ethnic basis - as the powers have done This would mean dividing with a knife what is indivisible. On the other hand denying the existence of several communities is impossible.
J.G. The most surprising thing is what the EC accepted in Lisbon. These were the first negotiations and the EC fell in with the idea of ethnic partition, by force - except by the extermination of a large part of the population, which is where we are getting to today.
iven in these conditions this division isn'ttenable. The major mistake, a terrible mistake, burope nas beon to want to make the Bosnians accept partition.
C.S. Is there still, even on a small scale, a multi-ethnic resistance? Is there still a Presidency. a Bosnian government basing multi-national Bosnia-Herzegovina and commanding legitimacy?
F.D. Bosnia-Herzegovina exasts eitner as a commanity of not at all. The most convincing example, in my view, of a resistance bringing everybody into a munity is in Tuzla. Tuzla has succeeded in maintaining an entire 'free' region, a vast space encompassing one million inhabitants.
Teason, moreover, that they have never received any aid. Itisa working class region, the sole region of Bosnia in which the nationalists didn't win the elections. Today the symbol of Bosnia-Herzegovina is Sarajevo but the symool or resistance is Tuz a.
J.G. And Tuzla is the sole hope. The sole hope because the Muslims. even those with nationalist inclinations, underzegovina can never exist if the The cost of this contlict has been paid In human lives three communities do not have equal rights.
F.D. But on this issue the EC has also played a negative role. We have been forced, in effect, And we shouldn't forget fatal role of a i • Thoy aretheonee intelligentsia. who elaborated the theories that, at a later date, Tudiman and Milosevic have put into Pracuce We must underline this esresponsibility of the media, jouralists and intellecC.S. The existence of this "The Bosnian people, those living in the country, resistance, this Bosnian defence force determines our solidarity tasks: in my opinion we have to organise aia or wis aerence force so that it can control the pouacal proctss. ceraain force! extol an extemal intervention. wnat is your opaion.
J.G. Arms should be given to those who are defending themelves This should be done a soon as possibie my view ls that the international community should give air support and allow the Bosnians themselves to liberate their country by giving them arms.
F.D. We must be clear about one tins. ane bosnian peope, those living in the country, those defending themselves are not asking for intervention. They don't believe in it. Thes the presence of PRUPUK When a U.N. moured car passes through the streets of Sarajevo people say look out, save yourself, there goes the United Nations".
The commander of the French battalion at Bijeljina has very few arms the Bosnians were able to get hold of. We can also note - and this accusation has been presented and pub. lished in an extremely precise manner in Sarajevo a fortnight ago - that it has been confirmed that General MacKenzie sent for some young women who disappeared afterwards. Here (le. in France, though for that matter in Britain as well - G.R.) this affair has been passed by in total silence.
J.G. In a certain way the presence of the UN gives a justification to those carrying out the bombardment. Moreover, numerous witnesses report that UN armoured cars frequently pass by wounded people and simply gaze at them without oing anything. The fact is tha 1e ÜN serves as a shield fo aggression.
C.S. Should we demand the withdrawal of the UN forces? It is true that one can feel ill at ease in demanding the withdrawal of those who guarantee protection for the distribution of humanitarian aid...
J. G. But if the Bosnians had sufficient arms they would be perfectly capable bf distributing aid. Some time ago i was in humanitarian aid convoy. It was stopped, by a vara milares dre sed op of like There were vehicles. They held us for several hours without the UNROFOR doing anything . Em ot sure whether the UN sol diers should withdraw but if they are just going to do the same things as they have done up till now then it is better if they leave. That is what people in Sarajevo write to us F.D. We have managed to communicate with Tuzla. They said to us political activity is one thing but, for the immediate must whatever we can to get arms. You have to understand one who is participating in the defence. It is the people, the small people. The rich, they always manage to get out of difficulties. The defence forces are the workers, the miners.. That is who we must support.
J.G. However, there is a remarkable thing. Everyone knows very well that at Tuzia there is a perfectly useable airport, but it is not being used. It s now winter, which means convoys will no longer be able *o There are nearly a million people in this region controlled y the Bosnian forces of Tuzia.
• there was a desire to helr But this isn't being done. Why? Because whilst they (i.e. western governments) negotiate with nose who apply the most iron law they are crucifying Bosnia-Herzegovina! No. 36 January 30, 1993 Page 9
Cynically urging on the ultra-left: Stalin Features. A rally of Hitler youth - the Nazis lost no time in consolidating their victory