Political parties condemn use of force against former combatants

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Following today's protests by demobilized combatants, which escalated at one point when they clashed with police officers, reactions from some political parties followed. At one point, the police also used tear gas to disperse the demonstrators, as well as batons. Several police officers were injured, as were dozens of former combatants.

The Independent Bloc, in its reaction, reminds that today was the deadline given by the combatants to the government representatives to schedule an urgent session of both houses of the FBiH Parliament, where the agenda item - Harmonization of amendments to the Law on Demobilized Combatants and their Family Members - would be discussed.

- For this reason, combatants protested today and blocked the main street in Sarajevo, after which an incident with the police occurred, and according to unofficial information, 30 combatants were injured. The Independent Bloc most sharply condemns the use of force against the defenders and demands that state institutions responsibly, together with the representatives of the combatants, finally find a solution for this population.

The president of NB, Senad Šepić, stated that it is a sad and devastating fact that even today, almost 23 years after the end of the war, the issues and status of combatants, defenders of this country, have not been resolved, and the use of force against this population is completely unacceptable.

- These situations are devastating. It turns out that Dodik and Čović have resolved the status of combatants from their nations, and only Bosniak defenders are still in such a situation today, and an attempt is being made to demonstrate force against them. Responsible politics, which I advocate for, will never allow that. Shame on all those who have brought the defenders into this position, and I am sure that honorable combatants, as well as responsible politicians who want the progress and development of the country, will preserve their dignity and will not allow violence and will turn to a future in which scenes like today, as well as past policies that have not resolved the issues of these people, will soon be a bad memory - stated Senad Šepić, candidate for member of the Presidency of BiH and president of the Independent Bloc.

The president of the Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Amer Jerlagić, regarding today's combatant protests, stated that the dissatisfaction and demands of demobilized combatants are justified, and that it is necessary to approach the issue systematically and find a lasting model for resolving the position of the combatant population.

The Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina believes that funds that have been non-purposefully spent in various ways so far should be directed towards creating a better future for the combatant population.

- Combatants have opened Pandora's box of so-called combatant associations, which are an extended arm of the government. The crime of the authorities, which have been manipulating combatant associations and using them as an election machinery for 20 years, must not be defended with batons - stated Amer Jerlagić.