THE OLD Ottoman bridge in Mostar stood for over four centuries. It survived over 30 earthquakes and numerous wars. It was finally destroyed by the shells of the Croat HVO. Now a fragile footbridge, that only the bravest can cross, has been installed in its place.
This new bridge across the Neretva is a fitting symbol of the accords for a Muslim-Croat federation: a timid hope but perhaps also a new trap designed to snare the weakest.
The way in which the Croat-Muslim federation is being formed greatly suits the nationalist parties. Non-nationalist and secular parties such as those who run Tuzla, risk being marginalised.
If the nationalist parties remain in charge there will be new forms of ethnic partition of Bosnia-Hercegovina with a federation split into cantons which will be emptied of their minorities.
There will also be a Serb Republic of Bosnia where ethnic cleansing will continue. It is reported that in Banja Luka there has been no let-up in ethnic cleansing.
The Basler Zeitung of December 2 reported they have eye-witness accounts of three camps, each with about two thousand detainees, still in operation.
Some opposition to this new partition of Bosnia-Hercegovina is beginning to emerge. Seven hundred inhabitants of Sarajevo demonstrated against partition and for the right to live together.
On March 19, at the initiative of the Student Coordination Against Ethnic Cleansing, demonstrations and meetings were held in at least 13 major cities in Europe. Students from Belgrade, Zagreb and Pristina (Kosovo) took part.
Belgrade struggle
When a delegation from the Coordination went to Belgrade they were met with complaints from Serbian students that they had been abandoned internationally, even though they had been fighting against the Serbian regime for several years.
Activities were also organised in the United States, Moscow and Israel. In Jerusalem Jews and Arabs demonstrated together against the ethnic partition of Bosnia-Hercegovina. In Paris over a thousand demonstrators took part in a demonstration. These are important beginnings that we have to build on.
The trams may be running again in Sarajevo, even along Sniper Alley, but the proposed Croat-Muslim federation is no solution.