Bosnian independence referendum, 1992

An independence referendum was held in Bosnia and Herzegovina between 29 February and 1 March 1992, following the first free elections of 1990 and the rise of ethnic tensions that led to the breakup of Yugoslavia. Independence was strongly favored by Bosniak and Bosnian Croat voters while Bosnian Serbs boycotted the referendum or were prevented from participating by Bosnian Serb authorities. The total turn out of voters was 63.4% (less than two-thirds, casting doubt on its validity) of which 99.7% voted for the independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina. On 3 March, Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Alija Izetbegović declared the independence of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the parliament ratified the action. On 6 April, the United States and the European Economic Community recognized Bosnia and Herzegovina as an independent state and on 22 May it was admitted into the United Nations.

Background

In November 1990, months after Slovenia and Croatia^[1] declared their independence, the first free elections were held, putting nationalist parties into power with three parties. These were the Party of Democratic Action (SDA), led by Alija Izetbegović, the Serbian Democratic Party (SDS), led by Radovan Karadžić, and the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), led by Stjepan Kljuić. Izetbegović was elected as the Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Jure Pelivan, of the HDZ, was elected as the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Momčilo Krajišnik, of the SDS, was elected as the speaker of Parliament of Bosnia and Herzegovina.^[2]

Throughout 1990, the RAM Plan was developed by a group of Serb officers of the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) and experts from the JNA's Psychological Operations Department^[3] to organize Serbs outside Serbia, consolidate control of the SDS, and prepare arms and ammunition.^[4] In 1990 and 1991, Serbs in Croatia and in Bosnia and Herzegovina had proclaimed a number of Serbian Autonomous Oblasts (SAOs) to later unify them to create a Greater Serbia.^[5][6] As early as September or October 1990, the JNA had begun to arm Bosnian Serbs and organize them into militias.^[7] That same year the JNA disarmed the Territorial Defense Force of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (TORBiH).^[8] By March 1991, the JNA had distributed an estimated 51,900 firearms to Serb paramilitaries and 23,298 firearms to the SDS.^[7] Throughout 1991 and early 1992, the SDS heavily Serbianized the police force in order to increase Serb political control.^[8] According to Noel Malcolm, the "steps taken by Karadžić and his party – [declaring Serb] Autonomous Regions, the arming of the Serb population, minor local incidents, non-stop propaganda, the request for federal army "protection" – matched exactly what had been done in Croatia. Few observers could doubt that a single plan was in operation."^[9]

In a session on 15 October 1991, the Bosnian Parliament, alarmed by the existence of the RAM Plan,^[9] approved the "Memorandum on Sovereignty" through the use of a parliamentary movement to reopen parliament after Krajišnik had closed it and after Serb deputies had walked out.^[10] On 24 October 1991, the SDS formed the Assembly of the Serb People of Bosnia and Herzegovina and in November held a referendum about remaining within Yugoslavia. At the same time it issued the "Instructions for the Organization and Activities of the Organs of the Serbian People in Bosnia and Herzegovina in Emergency Conditions" which told SDS officials to form Serb Municipal Assemblies and Crisis Staffs, secure supplies for Serbs, and create extensive communication networks.^[11] In January 1992, the assembly declared the creation of the Republic of the Serb People of Bosnia and Herzegovina^[11] and its secession.^[12] The Bosnian government declared the referendum an unconstitutional and self-proclaimed entity and it was not recognized internationally.^[11]

Recognition

In late December 1991, Bosniak and Croat politicians asked the European Economic Community (EEC) to recognize Bosnia and Herzegovina with Slovenia, Croatia and Macedonia as sovereign nations.^[13] The Badinter Arbitration Committee, set up by the EEC, initially refused to recognize Bosnia and Herzegovina because of its "absence of a referendum" while it determined (among other things) that Yugoslavia was in the process of dissolution and the internal boundaries of its republics could not be altered without agreement.^[14] In January 1992, the EEC ruled that "the will of the peoples of Bosnia Herzegovina to constitute the Social Republic of Bosnia Herzegovina as a sovereign and independent cannot be held to have been fully established" and suggested "a referendum of all the citizens of the SRBH without distinction"; this could not be normally held, because Serb authorities prevented their people from participating.^{[15] [16]} That month, Slobodan Milošević issued a secret order to transfer all JNA officers born in Bosnia and Herzegovina to the Socialist Republic of Serbia and enlist them in a new Bosnian Serb army.^[12][17] On 23 January, EEC Council of Ministers president João de Deus Pinheiro said that the EEC would recognize Bosnia and Herzegovina if a referendum on independence was approved.^[18]

On 25 January a debate over a referendum was held in Parliament, ending when the Serb deputies withdrew after Bosniak and Croat delegates rejected a Serb motion that it be determined by a yet-to-be-formed Council for National Equality. After Momčilo Krajišnik tried to adjourn the session, he was replaced by an SDA member and the proposal to hold a referendum was adopted in the absence of the SDS.^[19] Since the referendum intended to change the status of Bosnia and Herzegovina from a federal state of Yugoslavia to a sovereign state, it breached the Constitution of Yugoslavia (since the Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina did not have jurisdiction, and exceeded its powers).^[20] According to the Yugoslav constitution, changing the borders of Yugoslavia was impossible without the conesent of all republics.^[21] The referendum was also unconstitutional in terms of the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Amendment LXX to the constitution established a council entrusted with exercising the right to equality of the nations and nationalities of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The proposal for a referendum on the "status of Bosnia and Herzegovina" was required to be considered by the Council, since such a referendum directly impacted "the principles of equality among nations and nationalities".^[22]

Citizens of the Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina voted for independence in the referendum held on 29 February and 1 March 1992.^[23] Independence was strongly favored by Bosniak (Bosnian Muslim) and Bosnian Croat voters, while Bosnian Serbs largely boycotted the referendum^[11] or were prevented by Bosnian Serb authorities from participating.^[15] According to the SDS, independence would result in the Serbs becoming "a national minority in an Islamic state".^[24] It blocked the delivery of ballot boxes with armed irregular units and dropped leaflets encouraging a boycott,^[25] although thousands of Serbs in larger cities voted for independence.^[26] There were bombings and shootings throughout the voting period.^[13][27] Voter turnout was 63.4 percent, of whom 99.7 percent voted for independence.^[28] However, the referendum failed to attain the constitutionally-required two-thirds majority since only 63.4 percent of eligible voters participated.^[29] On 3 March, Alija Izetbegović declared the independence of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Parliament ratified his action.^[30]

Flag adopted by the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina

On 4 March United States Secretary of State James Baker urged the EEC to recognize Bosnia and Herzegovina,^[31] and on 6 March Izetbegović requested international recognition.^[25] On 10 March, a joint US-EEC declaration agreed on the recognition of Slovenia and Croatia. It also agreed that Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina should be recognized if Bosnia and Herzegovina "adopt, without delay, constitutional arrangements that will provide for a peaceful and harmonious development of this republic within its existing borders."^[31] On 7 April the United States and the EEC recognized Bosnia and Herzegovina as an independent state,^[11][32] and other members of the international community also recognized the country in early April.^[33] That day, Bosnian Serb leaders declared independence and renamed their self-proclaimed entity the Republika Srpska.^[25] On 12 May, the Bosnian Serb Assembly adopted "Six Strategic Goals of the Serbian Nation"; Radovan Karadžić said, "The first such goal is separation of the two national communities – separation of states, separation from those who are our enemies and who have used every opportunity, especially in this century, to attack us, and who would continue with such practices if we were to stay together in the same state."^[34] On 22 May, Bosnia and Herzegovina was admitted to the United Nations.^[34]

Results

Choice	Votes	%
For	2,061,932	99.7
Against	6,037	0.3
Invalid/blank votes	5,227	–
Total	2,073,568	100
Registered voters/turnout	3,253,847	63.7
Source: Nohlen & Stöver[35]

Aftermath

Heavily damaged apartment buildings in the Grbavica district of Sarajevo.

Immediately after recognition, Bosnian Serb and Serbian forces, directed and financed by Belgrade, began a "comprehensive aggression" on Bosnia and Herzegovina.^[11] The JNA and Serb volunteers had attacked the predominantly Croat town of Ravno in September 1991, Bosnian Serb policemen fired upon Bosniak populated areas of Šipovo during which 3,000 Bosniaks fled, and Serb paramilitary units targeted Foča, Višegrad, Bratunac, Bijeljina, and other towns in east Bosnia and Herzegovina.^[36] In the month of recognition, the siege of Sarajevo began, by which time the Bosnian Serb Army of Republika Srpska (VRS) controlled 70% of Bosnia and Herzegovina.^[37]

See also

• History of Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Foreign relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Notes

1. Burg & Shoup 2000, p. 56.
2. Lukic & Lynch 1996, p. 202.
3. Allen 1996, p. 56.
4. Judah 2000, p. 170.
5. Lukic & Lynch 1996, p. 203.
6. Bugajski 1995, p. 15.
7. Ramet 2006, p. 414.
8. OREA 2002, p. 135.
9. Lukic & Lynch 1996, p. 204.
10. Toal & Dahlman 2011, p. 108.
11. Nettelfield 2010, p. 67.
12. Ramet 2006, p. 382.
13. HRW August 1992, p. 18.
14. Pellet 1992, pp. 178, 185.
15. Walling 2013, p. 93.
16. Burg & Shoup 2000, p. 96.
17. Silber & Little 1997, p. 218.
18. Burg & Shoup 2000, p. 99.
19. Burg & Shoup 2000, p. 105.
20. Lauterpacht & Greenwood 1999, p. 140.
21. Lauterpacht & Greenwood 1999, p. 141.
22. Lauterpacht & Greenwood 1999, p. 141-142.
23. CSCE 12 March 1992, p. 19.
24. Toal & Dahlman 2011, p. 110.
25. Gow 2003, p. 173.
26. Velikonja 2003, p. 238.
27. Sudetic 29 February 1992.
28. CSCE 12 March 1992.
29. Halpern 2000, p. 107.
30. Burg & Shoup 2000, p. 118.
31. Burg & Shoup 2000, p. 101.
32. Binder 8 April 1992.
33. HRW August 1992, p. 20.
34. Nettelfield 2010, p. 68.
35. Nohlen, D & Stöver, P (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7
36. Caplan 2005, p. 121.
37. Hoare 2010, p. 126.

References

Books

• Allen, Beverly (1996). Rape Warfare: The Hidden Genocide in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia. Ithaca: University of Minnesota Press. ISBN 978-0-8014-4158-5.
• Bugajski, Janusz (1995). Ethnic Politics in Eastern Europe: A Guide to Nationality Policies, Organizations and Parties. Armonk: M. E. Sharpe. ISBN 978-1-56324-283-0.
• Burg, Steven L.; Shoup, Paul S. (2000). The War in Bosnia-Herzegovina: Ethnic Conflict and International Intervention. Armonk: M. E. Sharpe. ISBN 978-0-7656-3189-3.
• Caplan, Richard (2005). Europe and the Recognition of New States in Yugoslavia. Oxford: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-139-44551-1.
• Goldstein, Ivo (1999). Croatia: A History. London: C. Hurst & Co. ISBN 978-1-85065-525-1.
• Gow, James (2003). The Serbian Project and its Adversaries: A Strategy of War Crimes. London: C. Hurst & Co. ISBN 978-1-85065-646-3.
• Halpern, Joel M. (2000). Neighbors at War: Anthropological Perspectives on Yugoslav Ethnicity, Culture, and History. University Park, PA: The Pennsylvania State University. ISBN 9780271044354.
• Hoare, Marko Attila (2010). "The War of Yugoslav Succession". In Ramet, Sabrina P. Central and Southeast European Politics Since 1989. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 111–136. ISBN 978-1-139-48750-4.
• Judah, Tim (2000). The Serbs: History, Myth and the Destruction of Yugoslavia. New Haven: Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-08507-5.
• Lauterpacht, Elihu; Greenwood, Christopher, eds. (1999). International Law Reports. 150. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521642453.
• Lukic, Reneo; Lynch, Allen (1996). Europe from the Balkans to the Urals: The Disintegration of Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-829200-5.
• Nettelfield, Lara J. (2010). Courting Democracy in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Oxford: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-58544-226-3.
• Nohlen, Dieter; Stöver, Philip (2010). Elections in Europe: A Data Handbook. Baden-Baden: Nomos. ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7.
• Ramet, Sabrina P. (2006). The Three Yugoslavias: State-Building and Legitimation, 1918–2005. Bloomington: Indiana University Press. ISBN 978-0-253-34656-8.
• Silber, Laura; Little, Allan (1997). Yugoslavia: Death of a Nation. New York: Penguin Books. ISBN 978-0-14-026263-6.
• Toal, Gerard; Dahlman, Carl T. (2011). Bosnia Remade: Ethnic Cleansing and Its Reversal. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-973036-0.
• Velikonja, Mitja (2003). Religious Separation and Political Intolerance in Bosnia-Herzegovina. College Station: Texas A&M University Press. ISBN 978-1-58544-226-3.
• Walling, Carrie Booth (2013). All Necessary Measures: The United Nations and Humanitarian Intervention. University of Pennsylvania Press. ISBN 978-0-8122-0847-4.

Reports

• War Crimes in Bosnia-Hercegovina. Human Rights Watch (HRW) (Report). 1. New York. August 1992.
• The Referendum on Independence in Bosnia-Herzegovina: February 29-March 1, 1992. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) (Report). Washington D.C. 12 March 1992.
• Pellet, Allain (1992). "The Opinions of the Badinter Arbitration Committee: A Second Breath for the Self-Determination of Peoples" (PDF). European Journal of International Law. 3 (1): 178–185. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-05-29.

News articles

• Binder, David (8 April 1992). "U.S. Recognizes 3 Yugoslav Republics as Independent". New York Times.
• Sudetic, Chuck (29 February 1992). "Deaths Cast Shadow on Vote in Yugoslav Republic". New York Times.
• Silber, Laura (16 October 1991). "Bosnia Declares Sovereignty". Washington Post.