SARAJEVAN INTELLECTUALS IN "CIRCLE 99"

THE CIRCLE EVER BROADER

AIM SARAJEVO, September 4, 1994

"We are firmly convinced that life in diversity and tolerance is the invaluable heritage of our past and a sure foundation of the peaceful and happy future of every citizen of Sarajevo and Bosnia and Herzegovina". - This is part of the Declaration on a Free and Integral Sarajevo, which the denizens of this city, its citizens in the occupied areas of Grbavica and Ilidza, Bosnians in diaspora, regardless of nationality, well-meaning and alike-thinking people throughout the world, started signing from October 1.

Sarajevans will have their say on the Declaration until the end of October, and those in the world a month longer, and according to rough estimates about 100 thousand inhabitants of the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina and about as many citizens from other countries of the world, will support this document. The initiative for the Declaration originated in the association of independent Sarajevan intellectuals, "Circle 99", and they were, willy-nilly, supported by all the existing parties and structures in the city. Such unison between the ruling and opposition parties is manifested for the first time on this example, and in "Circle 99" they say that the only reason for signing the Declaration was the feeling that the fate of the city and its inhabitants were an object of barter in all political places, both local and international, and that life in tolerance and diversity has not been destroyed, but has been called into question.

Powerful people from the ruling parties from which this danger actually comes, hardly agree with this thesis, but have, nevertheless, supported the Declaration. Its contents were, namely, simply impossible not to support.

It would be both superficial and wrong to conclude from this example that the members of "Circle 99" are in grace with the ruling structures. In a strong campaign from the ranks of the extremist wing of the SDA (Party of Democratic Action) against mixed marriages, which was recently launched, "Circle 99" was the only to voice resistance. They informed both the domestic and international public that this was violation of an elementary human right to freedom and privacy, which even at the darkest of times no one was allowed to advocate, at least not publicly, in this territory. Base, primitive and chauvinist labels are still tacked on members of "Circle 99".

But, who are actually members of the "Circle"? Without exaggerating the answer is : the most elite corps of Sarajevan intellectuals. Its members are half of the members of the Academy of Arts and Sciences who have remained in Sarajevo, writers like Izet Sarajlic and Marko Vesovic, painters such as Afan Ramic and Edo Numankadic, eminent public and political workers, renowned journalists. One does not apply for membership in the "Circle", its doors are open to eminent people accepting the being of Bosnia and Herzegovina as a country in which all peoples are autochthonous and have a culture of joint life in civilization.

It was created spontaneously, from among the ranks of the intellectuals who over the waves of the independent "Studio 99" radio had the possibility to freely, without censorship, voice their opinions, point to omissions, criticize. Now, practically two parts of the same organism are housed in about 50 square meters of cellar space, crisscrossed by numerous installation pipes. They have remained free and independent together, because "Studio 99" is today the most listened to radio station in town, this being a true debacle for state radio, so that they were on a number of occasions threatened by closing down. They responded to the recent prohibition of the Minister of Education, Science and Culture, E.Karic, on the broadcasting of music from aggresor countries, by songs of Djordje Balasevic. We remind the editor-in-chief of "Studio 99" and the mastermind of the "Circle", Adil Kulenovic, of the measure envisaged for disobedience - the closing down of the programme. He replies:

"If that would be a reason to call the police and prohibit our work, it would not only violate the Constitution and the Law on the Mass Media, but would also shock the entire progressive world. Short-sighted people like Enes Karic do not realize that, but such come and go. We had more serious threats than these, but we nevertheless survived and not one of us has received a salary in the nineteen months of the war. The gentlemen from "Ljuljan" criticize us and they spent the war in Ljubljana while we worked here. Mr.Minister Karic proclaimes the paper "Zmaj of Bosna" the paper of the year, and it contains such fascist theses according to which every Moslem should have his own Serb to shoot. His latest prohibition on music should be understood not as directed against music, but as general censorship. We do not accept that.

* After the Declaration on a Free and Integral Sarajevo, what will the "Circle" do next?

"We are already actively working, both here and in the world, on the establishment of an international tribunal on morality in politics. In this initiative we have the support of a number of eminent world intellectuals. They support it because they say that the world has no more politicians of large format, but only bureaucrats paying lip-service to public opinion, while deciding on the destiny of the world. That is why fascism is a realistic threat both to Europe and broader. The International Tribunal should be a voice of conscience against such processes.

* You recently visited a number of European countries. What are your impressions on the political rating of the Bosnian - Herzegovinian authorities, is the "Circle 99" gaining in renown?

"The rating of B&H politics is falling because of the acceptance of the thesis on the impossibility of joint life. It is further exacerbated by the opinions of extremists from the Party of Democratic Action leading a campaign against mixed marriages, the consumption of alcohol, or restrictions on the freedom of women in respect of their dress and appearance in public. The world sees that and condemns it as an attack against fundamental human and civilizational rights. Regrettably, official politics does not distance itself from such excesses much to its own detriment. As opposed to the official politics, the renown and influence of the "Circle" is growing, primarily in narrow intellectual circles, but increasingly among the public at large also.

Thus speaks Adil Kulenovic, editor-in-chief of "Studio 99" and secretary of "Circle 99". Realistically and without boasting, because in these troubled times it is precisely these two institutions that have saved face and retained moral dignity. For an increasing number of supporters these institutions have become the embodiment of conscience and honesty on the part of at least a number of intellectuals, who call a spade a spade despite possible immediate consequences. Their visions of a joint and democratic Bosnia and Herzegovina are facing many challenges today, but time will show how right they were.

MLADEN PAUNOVIC