Internet � Virtual Space of a Real Civil Society

16 February 2008

On this day, Saturday, February 16, Sarajevo is going to protest and demonstrate for its right to be a city of citizens and not of privileged politicians. (Foruma�i: Poka�imo sutra da nismo rulja, and Forum: SUBOTA, 16.02.2008., 13.00h).

The incredible thing is that the protest are called and organized via internet. Trough several forums active on the private portal Sarajevo-x.com, since February 9, citizens are animating a debate and calling for all people to take active participation.

Everything started with the murder of a young boy: Denis Mrnjavac, brutally killed in a streetcar in Sarajevo. The first forum was calling for mourning, and the town answered. Last Saturday, possibly 10,000 people, if not more, gathered in front of the Catholic Cathedral in Sarajevo, no politicians among them, no authorities, not a single policeman.

It has been incredible, all generations, all classes, spontaneously convened to give condolences and to ask politicians to do their job. Then last Wednesday, another protest, again called and coordinated trough the forum. A group of protesters started launching stones and other objects at the Cantonal Governmental building. An act to condemn and rightfully deserving to be condemned.

The next two days have shown that authorities are more interested in finding justification for their attempt to demonize the protests, rather than listen to citizens� requests, fears, disappointments.

Yesterday, using the same tool the Government published a press-release, which provoked a response of diverse civil actors. (Read the civil society answer).

The fact that struck me the most was and still is the reaction: the people of the forum, called for a protest and spent the all day and night exchanging messages, thinking of slogans. An interesting debate where civic values are constantly visible.

These forums are showing us that civil society is actively sitting in a virtual space, where every and each individual become an activist and not only a user, a consumer. For the Balkans, it\\\'s something new and relevant and it is clearly going to assume more and more relevance considering that well known politicians and public personalities are opening their own blogs to connect with the society. There are, for example, personal blogs of Zeljko Komsic, President of the B&H Presidency; FBiH Vice-President Mirsad Kebo; and Ibrahim Spahic, President of Citizens� Democratic Party.

Today we will see the faces, the people of all these virtual community. It is a lesson to learn and a space to live, to animate.