Justice for David: Stop the appointment of Ćulum as SIPA Director

BANJA LUKA, (Patria) - Citizens gathered in the Justice for David group have spoken out regarding the information that Darko Ćulum, current RS Police Director, will be the new Director of the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) at the proposal of the BiH Minister of Security Fahrudin Radončić.

They state that such a proposal represents another slap in the face to the rule of law in this country.

"It is also a message to the citizens of this country that those who violate the law and basic human rights are rewarded. Instead of being dismissed from the position of Republika Srpska Police Director and permanently removed from the security community due to everything that has happened and is happening in the Dragičević case, Ćulum is apparently being recognized for zealously violating the law, especially human and civil rights, by the police force he heads," stated Justice for David.

They add that this is not the first reward for inaction, negligence, and, in the opinion of many, the cover-up of murders. They also remind that MUP RS inspectors involved in the Dragičević case, Darko Ilić and Siniša Kostrešević, were appointed advisors to the Minister of Internal Affairs of Republika Srpska, Dragan Lukač, in January of last year.

"Darko Ćulum is the director of the same police force that held a shameful press conference where the Dragičević case was almost 'closed' and which led citizens to take to the streets. That same press conference was later called a 'mistake' by many, including government officials. What has the police director done regarding that issue? What has the police director done regarding David's underwear (as evidence) that police officers threw away? Darko Ćulum is the director of the police force that brutally attacked unarmed people on December 25, 2018," announced the informal group of citizens 'Justice for David'.

They state that if the appointment of Ćulum is not abandoned, they will call on citizens and the entire domestic and international public to help prevent this shameful move, which is the result of a political agreement between Milorad Dodik and Fahrudin Radončić, even though the position of SIPA Director, like other police agencies, must be professional and free of any party influence by law," conclude Justice for David.

In addition to the media, they sent this statement to all parliamentary groups in the House of Representatives of the BiH Parliament, all representatives of the House of Representatives of the BiH Parliament, the OHR office, and the EU office in BiH.