Peaceful protests showing first results in BiH

Peaceful protests showing first results in BiH

Protesters are not giving up on their desire for economic change.

Hundreds of Bosnian demonstrators march in Sarajevo during a non-violent protest on February 22nd. [AFP]

As authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) start to take action on the demands made by citizens earlier this month, protesters remain on the streets seeking a better economic future.

The protests began February 7th in Tuzla. Demonstrators' demands include transparent government spending, an audit of privatisations and the suspension of government commission payments.

BiH spends more than 4 billion euros annually on government salaries, while the unemployment rate remains at more than 40 percent. The average salary in BiH is about 400 euros a month, but the incomes of political officials are several times higher.

In December, the Federation of BiH Tax Agency released the 100 highest incomes in the entity's public service sector. The report showed that some officials, such as the director of the state pharmaceutical company Bosnalijek, receive salaries more than 40 times the average.

One of the first demands officials addressed was the abolishment of the so-called "white bread," a privilege that allows politicians to take salaries up to a year after their mandates have ended.

The Unsko Sanski Cantonal Assembly accepted the protesters' demands on Monday (February 24th), and agreed to form a special work committee to supervise the fulfilment of these issues.

The committee will be composed of citizens and local assembly representatives.

Hussein Rosic, chairman of the cantonal assembly's legislative committee, negotiated with citizen representatives and said...