Republika Srpska: a vote about more than maintaining a national day?

By Euronews with Reuters

Published on 24/09/2016 - 23:35

Bosnian Serbs are voting today (September 25) in a referendum on a disputed national holiday in their autonomous region.

Bosnian Serbs are voting today (September 25) in a referendum on a disputed national holiday in their autonomous region. But many consider the ballot a proxy political battle, which could set the stage for secession.

In question is whether or not to keep January 9 as a Serb Christian Orthodox religious holiday for Republika Srpska.

However, Bosnia’s Constitutional Court has ruled that maintaining the day discriminates against non-Serbs. On that date in 1992, Bosnian Serbs declared the creation of their own state on the territory of Bosnia-Herzegovina.

A war followed the creation of the state, which led to Republika Srpska being made autonomous, but not independent.

There are fears today’s vote could stir up fresh trouble and destabilise the region once again.

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