The representatives of Bosniak parties, elites, and non-governmental organizations perceive the comparison of Alija Izetbegović and Ratko Mladić as a message from a colonial administrator that they cannot expect the favoring of the programs of Alija Izetbegović and his successors, and this bothers them even more than the alleged equating of Alija and Ratko.
This is stated by political analyst Aleksandar Pavić in an interview with “Glas Srpske,” commenting on the political and media uproar that arose in the Federation of BiH after Christian Schmidt stated that it is unacceptable for the images of Mladić and Izetbegović to be included in elementary school textbooks.
Pavić mentions that he was not at all surprised by the reactions from Sarajevo, which even go as far as calling for the removal of the German diplomat Christian Schmidt. He notes that for Muslims in BiH, or at least for their political elite, Alija Izetbegović is the “father of the nation” and the source of their political legitimacy. Therefore, he states that the Bosniak elite reacts strongly to anything that could be perceived as an attack on him, as they are essentially defending themselves and their political, economic, and social ambitions and positions.
- Of course, Ratko Mladić is a particular thorn in their side, as he, along with Radovan Karadžić, is a major symbol of Serbian resistance to the implementation of Alija’s “Islamic Declaration,” that is, to a unitary and centralized BiH under the dominance of a radical Islamic factor – emphasized Pavić.
He also believes that any equating of the two is unacceptable for Serbs, as Alija Izetbegović advocated for the secession of BiH from Yugoslavia and ultimately consciously instigated a bloody war, while Ratko Mladić was initially serving the defense of a joint state and later, when Alija and his followers instigated the war, serving to defend the Serbian people from a new genocide and a repetition of the NDH scenario that Alija Izetbegović and his supporters wished for and actively worked towards.
On this occasion, the President of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, also commented, stating that former Bosniak leader Alija Izetbegović is an unindicted war criminal, whose legacy is followed today by all political representatives of Bosniaks in BiH, without exception.
- He is a war criminal. And the prosecutor of the Hague Tribunal at that time, Carla Del Ponte, said that his death prevented him from going to court – said Dodik, noting that in the Federation of BiH they want to erase this and declare their war criminals as heroes, not only for their own people but for all peoples in BiH.
He reminded that Izetbegović was in the Handžar Division during World War II, which is known for slaughtering and killing all Serbs it encountered, adding that Izetbegović was imprisoned in former Yugoslavia for radical ideology of the “Young Muslims.”
- These latest reactions are the best proof that everyone has accepted his ideology, regardless of whether they belong to the SDP, SDA as his original party, the Party for BiH, or some party of Konaković or Forto. According to their criteria, we should write in our textbooks that Alija Izetbegović was a peacemaker, the one who wished well for everyone, while he expelled 156,000 Serbs from Sarajevo, and that Srebrenica was what they want to say—to erase every Serbian understanding, even history – emphasized Dodik, recalling that Izetbegović is the man who said he would sacrifice peace for the alleged independence of BiH.
The consequences of these words and messages for BiH, he said, could be seen during the 1990s. Regarding the claim that Izetbegović is the “father of the nation,” Dodik stated that this could only apply to Muslims and those who followed the ideas of the Young Muslims expressed in his book on the Islamic Declaration.
Commenting on the protest announced for today in front of the OHR by so-called pro-Bosniak forces, Dodik said he would probably attend that gathering if it were not announced as a gathering of pro-Bosniak forces.
History Textbooks
According to the President of Republika Srpska, Radovan Karadžić and Ratko Mladić are undeniably part of history, and this, he emphasized, cannot be overlooked.
- The history of the people is undeniable; it is indisputable that Izetbegović had an influence on historical events, the constitution of the Muslim, or rather Bosniak nation. Undeniably, Karadžić and Mladić also had a historical role, and this cannot be erased – said Dodik, adding that Serbs do not attempt to influence how the other side writes history textbooks and expressed regret over the Serbian children who are taught this history.
Source: Glas Srpske
