Citizens of Stolac Appeal: Local Authorities Endanger National Monuments and With Impunity Undermine State Institutions' Authority

(Patria) - Regarding the severely deteriorated state of national monuments in Stolac, where local authorities have for years shown open disrespect for the laws and institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Civic Initiative "Stolac Glasno" has addressed the public with a statement.

As they stated, "concrete pedestals for the so-called 'Via Crucis' have been erected in the Old Town area, which is under the protection of the Commission for the Preservation of National Monuments of BiH - completely illegally and without any permits".

- The Federal Inspectorate has issued several orders for the removal of the pedestals, but the local authorities in Stolac have not only failed to comply with the orders but have actively prevented contractors from fulfilling their legal obligation. With this act, the local authorities directly demonstrate ignorance of state institutions and render the legal order meaningless, thereby seriously endangering the authority of the Commission and all competent bodies - state the civic initiative.

Regarding the severely deteriorated state of national monuments in Stolac, where local authorities have for years shown open disrespect for the laws and institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Civic Initiative "Stolac Glasno" has addressed the public with a statement.

As they stated, "concrete pedestals for the so-called 'Via Crucis' have been erected in the Old Town area, which is under the protection of the Commission for the Preservation of National Monuments of BiH - completely illegally and without any permits".

- The Federal Inspectorate has issued several orders for the removal of the pedestals, but the local authorities in Stolac have not only failed to comply with the orders but have actively prevented contractors from fulfilling their legal obligation. With this act, the local authorities directly demonstrate ignorance of state institutions and render the legal order meaningless, thereby seriously endangering the authority of the Commission and all competent bodies - state the civic initiative.

They add that "the former mekteb (primary religious school) in the center of Stolac, a building that is also a national monument and waqf property, has been left to decay for decades".

- Instead of being returned to its original function and preserved as a cultural-historical value, it was used for other purposes in the past system, and today it stands devastated and neglected. The inaction of the authorities, especially the local authorities in Stolac, has led to the complete degradation of this monument, which is unacceptable and shameful for a country that has committed to respecting international standards for the protection of cultural heritage - they emphasize.

Given all of the above, the civic initiative "Stolac Glasno" demands that the Commission:
- clearly name and sanction those responsible for the continuous violation of laws and obstruction of the implementation of decisions by the Federal Inspectorate regarding the Old Town;
- urgently initiate the procedure for the renovation and protection of the former mekteb building, restoring its dignity and preventing further decay;
- inform all relevant domestic and international institutions about these cases, as this is an open example of disrespect for the laws of Bosnia and Herzegovina and its cultural-historical heritage.

- A precedent has clearly been created in Stolac where local authorities with impunity undermine the authority of state institutions and endanger national monuments of exceptional value. This practice must be stopped immediately, and the law must be enforced without exception - states the press release from the civic initiative "Stolac Glasno".
#Stolac glas