Arrival of Muminović and Zahirović in front of the Government of FBiH expected at any moment

Two demobilised soldiers of the Army of BiH, who set off from Živinice on foot towards Sarajevo, are on Monday morning close to the capital of BiH, reports a reporter of the Bosnian news agency Patria.

Šefik Muminović and Džemal Zahirović set off towards the building of the Government of the Federation of BiH and announced that they would set themselves on fire in front of the building because their families and they have been living on the edge of existence for years. Around 7:45 they passed through Vogošća. 

Muminović said yesterday to Patria that their arrival in Sarajevo could be expected after Wednesday, but they will be in Sarajevo already on Tuesday morning, writes Patria.

The Cantonal Minister for Veterans' Affairs Fahrudin Skopljak also spoke out. He said that he had already spoken twice with Muminović and Zahirović, and that this Ministry had previously tried to help these demobilised soldiers.  Muminović, Skopljak claims, received 12,000 KM of non-repayable housing loan in 2011. And for several years now, both have been receiving one-time annual assistance.

The Mayor of Živinice Asim Aljić told the Patria agency yesterday that he is sorry that his fellow citizens decided on such a move. He criticised the work of local associations for veterans' affairs, which do not have adequate programmes to help the most vulnerable demobilised soldiers in FBiH.

The Federal Minister for Veterans and Disabled Persons of the Defence-Liberation War Salko Bukvarević announced better and faster programmes that will help solve the problems of the veteran population. On Monday, he held a meeting with cantonal ministers and directors of administrations in the field of veteran and disability protection, and a few days earlier he also met with 49 alliances, organisations and associations of the veteran population in the Federation of BiH, writes Patria.