Association of Students of the Academy of Fine Arts: We demand accountability and measures to prevent recurrence

(Patria) - The Association of Students of the Academy of Fine Arts in Sarajevo issued a statement regarding the tragic tram accident in which their colleague Erdoan Morankić (23) lost his life, stating that in the context of current protests, they have a clear and unambiguous demand – that accountability be established and concrete measures be taken to ensure such a tragedy never happens again. Today marks seven days since Morankić's death in the tram accident.

They emphasized that Erdoan was an exemplary citizen, a dedicated and talented student, a young and promising man with his whole life ahead of him.

"To us, he was much more than a colleague – he was a friend, a support, and part of our community. His untimely passing has left an irreparable loss and a void that is difficult to describe in words. In a state of deep grief and shock, in the days following the tragedy, we were unable to respond to numerous media inquiries. Our silence was not a sign of disinterest, but a need to mourn our colleague in peace and dignity and to offer support to his family and each other. We express our sincere support to Ella and her family, as well as to all those injured and their loved ones, with wishes for a speedy recovery," stated Erdoan's colleagues.

In the period from the day of the tragedy until today, faced with the deep grief and pain that we still carry, and will carry throughout our lives, we have strived to find the strength to come together as a community and organize. Alongside mourning our colleague, we have used this time for collective reflection on what is fundamentally important and what we, as students, demand. Our demand is clear and unambiguous – that concrete and systemic steps be taken to prevent such a tragedy from ever happening again. This includes establishing clear and effective accountability mechanisms, transparent fact-finding, and the identification and sanctioning of responsible individuals, whether they be individuals, multiple parties, or systemic failures," they stated.

If systemic weaknesses are found to be the cause of the tragedy, they insist on their thorough analysis and reorganization to ensure real and lasting safety for everyone.

"We express our deep dissatisfaction and strongly condemn any use of our friend's name and death for political purposes, as well as any form of sensationalism, manipulation, and inappropriate public statements. We believe it is the duty of all of us to show respect and empathy towards the family, friends, and colleagues of the deceased in these moments. We consider the desecration of his name through violence, barbarism, or political connotations unacceptable. We support only peaceful and dignified forms of expressing respect, without political symbols and without any violence. We distance ourselves from any action that deviates from these principles," emphasize the Association of Students of the Academy of Fine Arts in Sarajevo, adding that they will pay tribute to their Erdoan in a peaceful, dignified, and supportive manner, preserving his memory with the respect he deserves.