Control of Security Agencies and Past Policies: Who Actually Decides in BiH, While Bećirović and Helez Deliver Patriotic Speeches

By Amina Čorbo-Zećo

After the Troika (SDP, NIP, and NS), through their political moves, effectively handed over control of all security agencies to SNSD and HDZ, the logical question arises: what has the public gained in return?

Instead of serious reforms and protection of the state's interests, the public is witnessing an increasingly intense "smokescreen," a policy of symbolism, commemorating war dates and figures, while the most important institutions are quietly surrendered to those who have been undermining the state's foundations for years.

Evidence does not need to be sought deeply; one only needs to recall OSA, and the appointments that handed the intelligence sector to SNSD. They have been in charge of SIPA since before, continuing the trend. They are so powerful that Darko Ćulum can be absent from work for months, while simultaneously engaged in undermining the constitutional return, and then continues his work unimpeded. In his further work, he continues obstruction. According to Patria's findings, he recently refused to participate in an international operation by sending a refusal letter to the Directorate for Coordination of Police Bodies.

This mechanism is not new. When major concessions are made in institutions, strong media noise about "national issues" and war symbols is always activated. In this way, the public is offered emotional content, while in the background, processes that change the power structure are taking place.

In this game, Denis Bećirović and Zukan Helez occupy a particularly visible place, leading the way in emphasizing stories from the war period. Their rhetoric and actions, at first glance, appear as patriotism, but reality shows that they are thereby unconsciously or consciously contributing to diverting focus from the key issues of today – security, institutions, and control over the state.

In this way, citizens are "fooled" and given the impression that a great struggle for the state is underway, while in practice, it has already been largely compromised. The best proof of this is the fact that security agencies – the pillar of sovereignty of any state – have been placed under the control of those who work to undermine it.

In other words, instead of discussing who controls OSA, SIPA, and other key security structures, the public is offered a debate about symbolism and the past. The fact that the number of members of the Army of RBiH and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of RBiH being prosecuted for alleged war crimes also speaks to the futility of this.

And this is precisely what suits both SNSD and HDZ. In the current times, a clear response to Dodik and Vučić's hostile actions is needed, not mere statements that mean nothing, because they clearly have real power, while the public is entertained by symbolism.