DF calls on RS to abandon the reserve police force

(Patria) - It is completely clear that in the last few days, the announcements of the formation of a reserve police force coming from Republika Srpska have been causing concern among citizens and complicating the security situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Acknowledging the fact that some representatives of the international community have already commented on the aforementioned issue, mostly by gathering additional information from Republika Srpska authorities, and that some have expressed mild concern, primarily from the Office of the High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, we request that the said activities be assessed from the perspective of respecting the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, it was announced this evening from the Democratic Front. 

The DF also emphasized that they are calling on the OHR to provide an assessment, together with the European Commission, on the compliance of the said activities with European legal acquis and practice, and to, in that regard, stop the implementation of the mentioned activities. 

“We especially call on the institutions of Republika Srpska to abandon such steps and stop all activities aimed at forming a reserve force of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and in this way, show that they care about the opinions of all citizens of Republika Srpska, as well as Bosnia and Herzegovina.”

Deputies of the DF-GS Club in the Federal Parliament express regret that the initiative of deputy Nihad Čolpa to hold an extraordinary session of the House of Representatives was not supported by the Security Commission of the House of Representatives of the FBiH Parliament, which the DF considers inappropriate, primarily due to the timeliness of the topic and the concern of the citizens of FBiH. 

“No commission, not even this one, should hold a session to suggest to the Parliament and the Government, the Federal and cantonal MUPs or Police Administrations to hire 1526 (16%) police officers who are currently missing for the functioning of all police agencies in the FBiH. This number of missing police officers can be hired in accordance with current laws and job systematization without any security assessment, and the lack of these police officers speaks volumes about the concern for the security of the citizens of the Federation of BiH, as well as the responsibility of those in charge in that area,” the DF statement reads.

“It is time for the effective action of the bodies of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina that are competent for this issue, not for suggestions that are anemic, long-term, and uncertain. The DF-GS parliamentary group will continue to insist on holding an extraordinary session on this issue in order to overcome the current situation in the most adequate way, respecting the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” the DF statement concludes.