Ćulum must explain his presence at SNSD political rally, whether by accident or design he forgot to mark SIPA Day

By Amra Vrabac

The Independent Board of the BiH Parliament will, at its next session, seek an explanation from the Director of the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) Darko Ćulum regarding his attendance at a political rally in Istočno Sarajevo in mid-September, when Serbs from Republika Srpska close to SNSD gathered at the invitation of Staša Košarac, an SNSD official and Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations in the Council of Ministers of BiH.

Although there were about a hundred attendees, including state officials and employees of various institutions, Ćulum's presence is questionable for several reasons. According to the Law on SIPA, this agency operates on a professional basis and does not represent, protect, or undermine the interests of any political party, registered organization or association, nor any constituent or other people in BiH. This was also stated in the GRECO report published in March this year. However, for Ćulum, the Law on SIPA apparently does not apply.

Although it was expected that Ćulum's dismissal would also be sought, due to the balance of power in the Independent Board of the BiH Parliament, there would not be enough votes for a potential dismissal. However, the Independent Board has the right and will ask Ćulum for an explanation as to why he was at a rally that was clearly directed against the state of BiH, at which readiness was expressed to leave BiH institutions. The question arises how Ćulum would act in a situation where SIPA needs to protect these very institutions and arrest people who threaten the constitutional order of BiH. On the contrary, Ćulum has adopted the behavior pattern of politicians from Republika Srpska, so he is questioning the High Representative Christian Schmidt and his entourage.

The parties that form the government at the state level with SNSD and HDZ are not concerned about the situation in this police agency. The outflow of personnel, their transfer to other police agencies – mostly Bosniaks, the loss of significant positions previously held by Bosniaks, despite warnings from SIPA itself, is not a topic on the table for the leaders of SDP, NIP, and Naša stranka.

The silence of certain officials may be the result of the recent hiring of their own children into this police agency, but this cannot be an excuse for not warning about the real situation in this state agency.

Although the head of NIP, Elmedin Konaković, has been talking about some 12-12-12 parity in agencies since the very beginning of the formation of the state government, it is evident that Bosniaks have been disadvantaged when it comes to positions in SIPA and the Border Police.

Thus, Dalibor Milošević was appointed head of the Special Unit instead of Enes Karić, who took over as director of the Directorate for the Coordination of Police Bodies. When it comes to promotions, personnel who, for example, arrested certain politicians, and for whom there were never any indictments or court outcomes, are being promoted.

This state agency marked its 21st anniversary on October 6th, but only with a symbolic congratulation from the SIPA Trade Union, because for Ćulum, this anniversary clearly meant nothing.

When Goran Zubac was dismissed from the position of SIPA Director in 2015, many thought that better times were coming for this police agency. However, at this moment, when Ćulum is adapting to the political situation and to those at whose suggestion he was elected, it seems that history is repeating itself.

For those who have forgotten, Zubac refused to engage the SIPA Special Unit during the violent protests in Sarajevo in February 2014 to protect the BiH Presidency building. Very quickly, protesters broke into the BiH Presidency and set fire to the premises of the Archives of BiH located in that building. What was defended in 1992 burned in 2014. Zubac was legally convicted to a one-year suspended prison sentence for the criminal offense of dereliction of duty. He was dismissed in August 2015.

Will history repeat itself is a question for those who recognized in Dodik "new, European energy and a good old Dodik". Precisely because of this, the work of the BiH Parliament is blocked, decisions in the Council of Ministers of BiH are falling, rallies are being held on inter-entity lines, and peaceful secession of Republika Srpska is being called for. What do you think which side SIPA would be on under Darko Ćulum's leadership in that case?