Simonovic on the incident at Brnjak: We are not spreading hatred, we are preserving our tradition and customs

We did not incite hatred; our only intention is to preserve our tradition and customs. What lies ahead, whether we will again face such unpleasantness or experience something even worse, remains uncertain, said Danijela Mitic Simonovic, president of the Women’s Association Tradition Through the Centuries of central Kosovo and the singing group Kosovke from Batusa near Kosovo Polje, for Kosovo Online after the incident at Brnjak.

Two days ago, members of the Kosovo police at the Brnjak crossing near Zubin Potok confiscated the flag of the Serbian Women’s Association Tradition Through the Centuries of central Kosovo and the singing group Kosovke from Batusa near Kosovo Polje, tore it up, and threw it into a trash bin.

Simonovic emphasized that the Association members often travel and that on August 31 they were in East Sarajevo at the 19th Festival of Cultural Creativity of East Ilidza, where they won a trophy as well as numerous other awards. The problem, she explained, arose on their return, at the Brnjak crossing, when an officer, during a check, noticed the trophy and awards.

“That day we traveled there and back on the same day; everything went smoothly there. We traveled with a transporter from Novi Pazar, six of us in total, and on our return at the Brnjak crossing, we had an unpleasant situation with the Kosovo police. The officer came in and asked for documents, which we handed over properly. However, while taking the documents, he also noticed several bags. He began looking through and opening the bags to see what was inside. In the overhead trunk above the seats was our panel flag, white in color, which he curiously pulled out and asked whose it was. I said it was ours, from our Association, that it was our logo representing us. He then angrily said in Albanian that I should take it out and get out of the van,” said Mitic Simonovic.

She pointed out that at that moment there were three policemen outside, who behaved arrogantly, which, as she put it, worried her.

“I asked what the problem was, and he lifted my panel and said, ‘this is a provocation.’ I replied that I did not understand what provocation, that this was our panel we use, that we carry with us, that it was our logo, pictures of the girls we use for parades at events. One of them also said, in Albanian, ‘this is the Republic of Kosovo, not Serbia.’ I was shocked,” said Mitic Simonovic.

Then the bags containing folk costumes were searched, she added.

“They found nothing else, and right in front of us they took our flag, our panel, tore it up, and threw it in the bin. That hurt us deeply—children were watching, and our pictures were on that panel. We did nothing to provoke this or incite any hatred, but we were greatly affected by this act because, alongside all the problems and difficulties we already face, our only goal in all our work is to preserve our tradition and customs. We have no other intentions. Our only aim is to remain in our hearths, where we live, and to know who we are. That is why we go out and represent our Serbian community, our name, our patron saint’s day, our costumes, our roots,” said Mitic Simonovic.

She underlined that the Association she leads is friendly toward all communities.

“They did not only tear that panel as a piece of cloth—they tore us, the Kosovke. That image is very important to our entire community here. The Kosovke represent all generations, every woman, mother, child living in these areas and wishing to live here. That is why I ask everyone to help us so that we know what to do,” she said.

Mitic Simonovic added that she is now worried as president of the Association.

“I often travel with those children, who come from different environments. How will we go on? Will we again face such unpleasantness, or will we experience something worse?” she asked.

She said that she reported the case to the Kosovo police and to the Kosovo Police Inspectorate.

“I reported it to the police immediately yesterday, where I wanted to seek help and protection—especially for us who preserve our culture here in Kosovo and Metohija. We truly do not want unpleasantness. I believe we have the right to our logo, our name and surname, and I don’t know who can deny us or forbid us that. It is just an ordinary cloth panel used for parades, which we have the right to carry at events to represent our singing group or Association, those who preserve their authentic creativity. That is protected by international law,” she concluded.