Shock in Sanski Most: Local Authorities Ban Restoration of Serbian Chapel in Lipnik!
Is this another blow to Serbian cultural heritage or just plain bureaucratic nonsense? Miodrag Linta, president of the Serbian Association of the Region, has raised his voice against the local authorities in Sanski Most who, just 13 days ago on June 29, decided to ban the restoration of a chapel in the Serbian village of Lipnik. The chapel, dedicated to the Lipnik godfathers, has deep historical roots – it was built centuries ago, with its foundations consecrated on Vidovdan 1991.
A History That Hurts
Lipnik once housed four hamlets with a total of 40 households, but today only one person lives there. War conflicts interrupted the chapel’s restoration, and local authorities even demolished it back in the 1960s. Linta emphasizes that former residents of Lipnik refuse to give up their cultural heritage, which is part of their national identity. The decision to ban the chapel’s restoration is not just a bureaucratic act – according to Linta, it is an attack on Serbian cultural heritage and deepens tensions between Serbs and Bosniaks in Sanski Most.
Why the Ban?
The local authorities have not explained the reasons for the ban, but it is clear that such decisions do not help reconciliation or the return of displaced Serbs. Instead of allowing the continuation of restoration work and preserving history, the Sanski Most authorities are raising tensions and deepening mistrust. Is this just political gamesmanship or genuine hostility?
What Now?
Linta calls on the local authorities to urgently lift the ban and show responsibility towards cultural heritage. Because if this continues, who knows what will be banned next? The Serbian chapel in Lipnik or perhaps history itself?
If you think this is just another endless conflict dragging us backward, you’re not alone. But hey, maybe it’s time to ask – how much longer will we allow our past to be erased? What do you think? Have the Sanski Most authorities gone too far, or is this just a drop in the ocean of problems? Drop a comment and let’s see who’s for restoration and who’s for the ban!
