10,000 protest Kosovo’s secession in Republika Srpska
More than 10,000 Serbs protested against the unilateral declaration of secession of Kosovo in Banjaluka, the capital of Republika Srpska (RS), the Serb entity of Bosnia.
(KosovoCompromise Staff) Wednesday, February 27, 2008
The Prime Minister of the Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, said his republic would "never recognize an independent Kosovo", but also that Banjaluka would not tolerate any longer any threats and attacks from centralized authorities in Sarajevo.
"They do not let us exist. We have little patience and we will not tolerate it much longer", Dodik said to the crowd carrying banners "Kosovo = RS = Serbia".
The president of the Republika Srpska parliament Igor Radojicic said Kosovo was not an isolated case, as some would like to present it, and that it gave an example for other entities to follow if they wished so.
The parliament adopted last week a resolution paving the way for a referendum of independence of the RS.
At the end of the rally, smaller groups broke from the crowd and clashed with police as they tried to approach the U.S. consulate.
Police used tear gas to disperse the crowd, but several protesters and policemen were injured.
Macedonian Serbs protested in Kumanovo, in northern Macedonia, while protests also continued in Kosovska Mitrovica.
Serb youngsters organized a football match performance between, on one side, the countries which have recognized Kosovo's secession and, on the other, the countries which have refused to recognize.
A particular feature in the humorous protest was the referee, "an American", who kept on taking decisions biased against the team which fought against the secession.
