Nikšić wrote to Dodik and Višković: Failure to punish attackers on returnees opens the door for new violence and new attacks

(Patria) - Prime Minister of the Federation of BiH Nermin Nikšić sent a letter today to the President and Prime Minister of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik and Radovan Višković, regarding attacks on the returnee community in that entity in recent months. The
sent letter states:

- I am addressing you as the President and Prime Minister of Republika Srpska regarding the increase in the number of increasingly serious attacks suffered by the returnee community in Republika Srpska in recent months. Unfortunately, most of these attacks are motivated by hatred and intolerance on religious or ethnic grounds. The attacks range from insults, intimidation, physical endangerment, attacks with cold weapons, all the way to the latest case in Gacko, an attack involving the use of firearms.

I believe that in these turbulent times, the highest officials bear a special responsibility for the safety, equality and protection of our most vulnerable categories of the population, which, unfortunately but obviously, include returnees. These are people who, through their actions, show that they do not accept the imposed pattern of behavior, who have returned to their homes, clearly demonstrating a desire to continue living with their neighbors.

Instead of being proud of that, of giving them all possible attention, very often the opposite happens and individuals go out of their way to make their lives difficult.

Of course, if there is no reaction from institutions, if those responsible for attacks on returnees are not sanctioned, and if politicians further fuel intolerance with their statements, then we can no longer consider these only incidents and the work of individuals. It is true that there have been attacks on returnees in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina as well, even serious ones.

However, during every such incident in this part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as a Government we reacted urgently, giving clear, public and unreserved support to returnees, and to police and judicial authorities in detecting and sanctioning perpetrators. The highest officials of the FBiH Government are regularly on the ground, to personally show that violence against returnees is unacceptable, their rights inalienable, and the Government's support unquestionable.

This approach has generally resulted in the swift detection and prosecution of perpetrators, and returnees would be provided with every type of support. Therefore, I consider the condemnation of the latest incident and the call for detecting the perpetrators sent by you, Mr. Dodik, certainly a welcome act, I am aware, and I am sure you know as well, that much more is needed to ensure justice and the rights of returnees. As a rule, after public interest in certain incidents in Republika Srpska wanes or is overshadowed by new incidents, everything that happens behind the scenes can neither be called honorable nor just.

Cases fall into oblivion, perpetrators are either not discovered or not adequately prosecuted. We even have cases of initiating proceedings against victims, such as the cases of incidents in Srebrenica and Bratunac.

Such conduct is completely unacceptable for a modern democratic society. If the system does not protect victims of violence, then we can talk about systemic intimidation and violence, and the definition of the systemic spread of fear and violence is terror. I want to believe that you are sincere in condemning these acts, and that you are ready to show that this is not, after all, about systemic terrorization of returnees to Republika Srpska.

Therefore, I call on you to show by your example that such behavior towards returnees is unacceptable and to use the levers of the system, which are undoubtedly at your disposal, so that the perpetrators of the misdeeds are discovered and properly sanctioned. Any relativization or avoidance of sanctioning perpetrators opens the door for new violence and new attacks. I am sure that this cannot and must not be in anyone's interest.

Therefore, I call on you once again, that each of us, in accordance with our capabilities and authorities, do everything in our power to show that in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in every corner of it, there is a place for every one of its citizens, that we are ready to ensure democratic principles and justice, which must not be a privilege of some, but an equal right of all.

The Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and I personally are at your service for any form of cooperation on the path to building a safe, just society for all our people in Bosnia and Herzegovina – stated in the letter of Prime Minister Nikšić.