The British left has come up with all the wrong answers to the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Even those who understand there is a war of aggression by Serbia and Croatia against Bosnia have taken all sorts of mistaken positions on the question of national self-determination, the role of the United Nations, sanctions » against Serbia, independence from the Izetbegovic goverment. In this issue Geoff Ryan argues why we rejøct the slogan of 'Support the Muslims'. Serb leader Karadzic has already faced rebellion from soldiers in Banja Luka BOSNIA was Yugoslavia in miniature. Within its borders lived the two largest nationalities, Serbs and Croats, and a large Slav Muslim population. It had a sizeable minority who defined themselves as 'Yugoslavs'.
There was a high level of inter-marriage. In the towns Catholic and Ortho dox churches were sited next to Muslim mosques and Jewish synagogues.
Bosnian 'nationalism' is a very contradictory. It only makes sense in so far as it rejects Great Serb, Great Croat or Muslim nationalism and counter-poses a multinational Bosnia, in which all national rights are guaranteed and respected. Which is precisely why multi-national Bosnia is under attack by Serb and Croat forces, with the support of the EC and UN.
The Izetbegovic government has indicated it is willing to accept the concept of a 'Muslim' state. This is a big retreat from the multi-national, multi-religious Bosnia envisaged in the 'Platform of the Presidency' published in Sarajevo, 26th June 1992. Izetbegovic has also talked about the need to create a 'Muslim' army. This weakens the fight for Bosnian independence.
A 'Muslim' state would not stop the war. A new war, between Muslims who want a purely 'Muslim' state and those in favour of a multi-national and secular state, would break out. It would be a war of the countryside against the ethnically mixed cities; of barbarism against civilisation; religious intolerance against secularism. It would create further 'ethnic cleansing.
If a 'Muslim' state was created where would the multi-national journalists of Oslobodiene go? What would happen to In a Muslim state what would happen to Serbs and Croats in Sarajevo? the multi-national population of Tuzla who refused to accept the nationalist division of their city?
What would happen to the tens of thousands of Serbs and Croats who continue to defend Sarajevo? All those Serbs and Croats who have fought to defend Bosnia would find themselves unable to live in Serbia or Croatia or in a 'Muslim' State. That would be a defeat for internationalism and would legitimate further nationalist aggression.
No need to wait Only the working class - Croat, Muslim and Serb can prevent the destruction of Bosnia. This does not mean Muslims must wait until Croat or Serb workers reject reactionary Great Croat or Great Serb solutions.
They clearly have the right self-de fence. However, whilst the Bosnian army has the right to drive out Croat or Serb troops from Bosnian towns and villages they also have to guarantee the rights of the Croat and Serb populations.
Islamic fundamentalists have carried out massacres of Croat civilians and driven them out of towns. In Vares the fundamentalists raised a pro-Iranian flag. Although the fundamentalist forces operate, by and large, outside the control of the Bosnian army, Croats or Serbs forced from their homes are unlikely to make such distinctions.
The temporary military victories of fundamentalist forces are massively outweighed by their negative political consequences.
The Croats and Serbs prepared to fight. against the policies and actions of Boban and Karadzic are still a very small minority. The majority still support the carve up of Bosnia. However, if Bosnia is to survive they have to be convinced of the need for a multi-national Bosnia. This can only be done if their national rights are respected.
There is growing disenchantment with the war. The recent rebellion of Serb soldiers in Banja Luka against Karadzic is a reflection of growing disillusionment.
This will not automatically lead to progressive developments. The Croatian and Serbian fascists will also try to channel discontent into even more virulent nationalism. The actions of the fundamentalists and demands for a 'Muslim' state weaken the ability to win over dis illusioned Croats and Serbsto suppor for an independent Bosnia.
The task for socialists - inside and outside Bosnia - is to support the multinational resistance. We have to try to rebuild links between workers throughout the former Yugoslavia.
That can only be based on support for the right of Bosnia to self-determination and respect for the rights of national minorities. We oppose attempts to create 'ethnically pure' states and reject attacks by Muslim forces on Croat or Serb civilians.
False image
Slogans such as 'Arm the Muslims' or 'Support the Muslims' reinforce the false image of the war in Bosnia as between nationally based or religious 'warring factions'.
They ignore the multi-national nature of the Bosnian resistance. They suggest the war can be won by the Muslims alone. They make dangerous concessions to the thoroughly reactionary concept of a 'Muslim' state.
Above all they hold back the rebuilding of the workers' movement throughout ex-Yugoslavia, without which there can be no lasting solution to the national question.
SOCIALIST OUTLOOK No. 53, November 27 1993, Page 9