THE GENERAL HAS SOMETHING TO WRITE HOME ABOUT

Ethnic Retirement of B&H Army Generals

AIM SARAJEVO, 11 January, 1997

It is practically impossible to write about General Divjak in past tense. With or without a uniform he will remain the most popular general of this war.

Instead of season's greetings the Sarajevo TV News (needless to say - the television of the ruling SDA) announced his retirement. General had better things to do so he did not even hear the information; one of his friends phoned to congratulate him. This should be nothing out of the ordinary because sooner or later generals have to take their uniforms and shoulder-straps off and live a "civilian" life. Even if it is known that on that December 31, 1996 Jovan Divjak was at the reception given by Chief of General-Staff (Rasim Delic) who wished him a Happy New Year. When talking about retirement, Delic said that it was being planned, that A.Izetbegovic, President of the B&H Presidency has announced it, but that was not topical yet.

Only a few hours later that same day it turned out that this was not true and that maybe "the commander was not informed". This actually made it easier on many a one who says well that thinks ill. Because in his New Year's Greetings Izetbegovic himself said: "We shall not fully achieve all this (the unity of B&H, start of production, return of the people, justice for the combatants) in one year nor in many years to come, but we have to work tirelessly for that, rallying around these objectives all people of good will, irrespective of their faith, nation and political orientation. This is Bosnia and that is the only right way."

And in "that Bosnia" there is no place for General Divjak. Formally things are clear - Article 22 says that after 60 years of age anyone can be sent into retirement, although it also says that if necessary the person in question may remain in service longer. As regards this General, the need for his retirement existed for quite a while, both in the heads and souls of those who make decisions on "that Bosnia". The papers, naturally those not favourably inclined towards the ruling national parties, do not hide that either. Thus, editor-in-chief of "Svijet" (World) in its latest issue concludes: "Without firing a single bullet the army and political top of Bosnia and Herzegovina have won one of their greatest much desired victories. Generals Jovan Divjak and Stjepan Siber are definitely among a "large number" of officers and generals whose retirement orders Izetbegovic has signed. With the New Year the influential military-political potentates have made their old dream come true. There is not a single "non-Moslem" among the B&H Army generals. Divjak and Siber were the last Serb and Croat in a once multi-religious army."

The departure of Divjak and Siber does not say much about the two of them, as everything about them has long ago become common knowledge. That departure speaks much more about the "wisdom" of the state which has finally rid itself of them. As well as about the orientation of that state.

In short, Jovan Divjak was the most educated general in the B&H Army. He was also one of the most popular commanders, both at the front, as well as among the ordinary men of the street. It seems that children loved him best (he established a special fund for the education of gifted and parentless children).

He will be remembered by dramatic events in the first days of the B&H war. He literally saved Izetbegovic from Sarajevo Airport, where he was held captive. Divjak was in charge of the "exchange" operation of General Kukanjac for Alija Izetbegovic. It is true that in contrast to Izetbegovic, who tried to convince the people that there would be no war, he estimated that there will be one and that it will last four years at minimum. In the first years of that war General Divjak was everywhere were things got "rough". In May 1992 he was the first to "walk" in a general's uniform to the last line of defence in the Sarajevo settlement of Dobrinja.

He found time to visit wounded soldiers, to attend and even participate in many cultural manifestations which, in turn, gave reason for, obviously well timed, jeering comments of the style "The Ceremonial General Writes Poems"! It is obvious that "someone" pulled the strings well from the very beginning so that General Divjak was even arrested by the B&H Army in the first year of the war in Konjic.

Since these were no lead soldiers, either publicly or through "military mail", General Divjak drew attention to essential things. Thus, in an interview he gave last year he said the following:

"During four years of this war there were no problems in the B&H Army units at the front lines between the Bosniacs, Serbs and Croats I personally witnessed their mutual tolerance, respect, help. However, higher up, at the level of company or battalion commanders, you notice a different relations towards soldiers of Serbian or Croatian nationality. Unfortunately, there were times when soldiers of Serbian nationality were not allowed to the front lines. They dug trenches and executed other engineering works. They also feared that they might get a bullet in the back of their head.

In that respect the situation was especially difficult during 1993 and 1994. Soldiers of Serbian nationality were relieved of commanding duties and that very fact speaks that the relation and method established by Karadzic, were accepted. Practically it meant ethnic cleansing. Let me remind that only five months ago (in October 1995) Mr.Siber and I were on the retirement list. That was Izetbegovic's explicit demand, who offered me earlier to retire or go to our Embassy in Paris, allegedly because of my knowledge of languages or, possibly to remain in the Army, but on the sidelines."

And truth to tell, in the last year or two General Divjak sat on the fence, which in no way decreased his popularity, i.e. the fact that people from all walks of life turned to him frequently. Is it necessary to remind that they did it when they felt threatened or cheated. He literally saved lives of Sarajevan Serbs from massacres carried out under the "conducting baton" of the musician Caco. The public doesn't know that when this criminal was recently rehabilitated and an unprecedented Moslem funeral organized during the transfer of his remains to the Graveyard of Heroes at Kovaci, General Divjak wrote a letter to Alija Izetbegovic clearly stating his opinion on this, i.e. reminding him what Topalovic, better known as Caco, did and what reactions (fear) the condoning of such "spontaneous" events might provoke in non-Moslem population.

General Divjak never kept silent on the crucial events either during the war or now. On the possible breaking of the blockade of Sarajevo, the city that endured the longest siege in the history of contemporary warfare, for the AIM General Divjak said:

"In March and April 1993 five of us from the Headquarters offered a plan of operations for breaking a blockade of Sarajevo. No one even looked at it. At one time the Presidency did not even consider the defence strategy of B&H. In early 1993 we submitted that project too. Truth to tell I sat on the fence, through no fault of mine, but because the Commander of the Army, President of the Presidency Alija Izetbegovic, did not ask for my opinion on any operation whatsoever!"

Today, Jovan Divjak, still in a general's uniform, walks the streets of Sarajevo, occasionally stopping to say hello to the people who, just like they did all these years, approach him to shake his hand. By patting him on his shoulder they want to tell him that have realized what was going on long time ago! General smiles whispering to the AIM journalist that he will not attend the farewell ceremony. He did not mention the retirement or pension.

Because, General Jovan Divjak has something to write home about! For the sake of Bosnia, not the one from the season's greetings, but the real one which is less and less. And the one in which they do not retire (read remove) generals such as Jovan Divjak.

TANJA IVANOVA