Naša Stranka's Principles: Murders in Sarajevo Don't Matter Because They Are in Power, While the Situation in Tuzla is Alarming Because They Are in Opposition!

By: Rasim Belko @rasimbelko

They are masters at misusing and exploiting tragic events in Bosnian society for political purposes and portraying political opponents as bogeymen without empathy for the pain of those suffering from these tragic events.

The political figureheads of Naša Stranka, using this tactic, are actually trying to mask their complete irresponsibility and lack of empathy for victims in the areas where they operate and govern.

The latest examples are the tragedies in Sarajevo and Tuzla Cantons, but Naša Stranka found it appropriate to exclusively focus on the political responsibility of the authorities in Tuzla, while in Sarajevo Canton, like foxes, they wisely hid and, as the opposition accuses, sabotaged attempts to discuss the insecure environment.

A prominent figure of Naša Stranka, Dragan Mioković, had to go to Tuzla to see that the security situation in the Federation is bad, and then promise that the Security Commission of the House of Representatives of the FBiH will consider the situation at its session. At the same time, Mioković, with his party colleagues, demanded the dismissal of the Minister of Internal Affairs of TK and the Police Commissioner.

Another prominent figure of NS, Mirjana Marinković Lepić, who is sometimes the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the FBiH and sometimes not, promises in Tuzla that the security situation will be discussed at the session of that house, and notes that the situation is alarming precisely in Tuzla due to two serious murders.

So, two truly tragic events and murders that shook Tuzla Canton are a political problem and issue for Mioković, Marinković Lepić, and other members of Naša Stranka.

“Politics, with its populist decisions, hides inaction and disinterest in protecting people's lives. The message that there is no political responsibility is a message of encouragement to perpetrators to continue violence, primarily against women, femicide, and murders in general. Women in Tuzla Canton do not trust the police,” stated the president of the Cantonal Board of Naša Stranka in TK, Jasmin Kadić, at a gathering of Naša Stranka members on the occasion of the murder of Amra Kahrimanović in TK.

Naša Stranka in Tuzla Canton came out to the public with the aim of obtaining accountability and resignations from the MUP and the Police Administration of TK, after a member of the MUP, Elvis Ćustendil, on vacation, murdered Amra Kahrimanović.

And it would be fine if they did that as a serious political factor in TK, but Naša Stranka is not that there, but it is in Sarajevo Canton, where they have not even commented on several tragic events, and they are in a coalition that did not allow an urgent session of the KS Assembly on the security situation.

The Report on the Work of the MUP of TK for 2023 stated that 11 murders and 8 attempted murders were recorded in the TK area during that year. All murders and attempted murders were solved cases, which also means there are no unknown perpetrators.

For example, the Report on the Work of the MUP and the Police Administration of KS states that four criminal offenses of Murder from Article 166 of the Criminal Code of the FBiH were recorded. Neither these nor the recent murder of Faris Pendek in January 2024 were murders for which members of Naša Stranka would raise the issue of the security situation in KS and demand the resignation of the minister and the police commissioner of the KS Police Administration.

As in TK, all cases in KS were solved, perpetrators were apprehended, and handed over to the competent prosecutor's office with an official report.

The Police Administration of the MUP of Sarajevo Canton recorded six criminal offenses of Attempted Murder from Article 166 in conjunction with Article 28 of the Criminal Code of the FBiH in 2023. All six cases were solved, perpetrators were apprehended, and handed over to the competent prosecutor's office with an official report.

But even that is not enough for Naša Stranka to organize public events and press conferences to make the security situation a political problem, because as they said: “The message that there is no political responsibility is a message of encouragement to perpetrators to continue violence, primarily against women, femicide, and murders in general.”

However, the political mind of Naša Stranka functions strangely, because they would talk about femicide and violence, murders and the security situation where they are not in power and can do little, and they remain silent where, as the authorities, they could make changes.

In Sarajevo Canton, they are silent and do nothing, but they voted twice for Kenan Magoda, who was accused and reported by his ex-wife for domestic violence. Clearly, femicide and violence against women, as well as serious criminal offenses, are sometimes an acceptable social anomaly for Naša Stranka, and sometimes, depending on the situation, an opportunity to gain political points.

The same applies to abusers of women who carry out such acts in the entity of Rs. For example, Staša Košarac, whose wife testified in the BiH Parliament about violence and abuse, and representatives of Naša Stranka, in accordance with their stock market principles, voted for his election as the Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations.

Because those stock market principles of Naša Stranka are more sensitive than the fluctuating value of dollars and oil. Thus, it is acceptable for Naša Stranka that Košarac beat his wife, that people die on the streets of Sarajevo, but the security situation in Tuzla is a serious problem.

The political hypocrisy of Naša Stranka has long crossed all acceptable political scales and entered a phase that clearly shows it is a project ready to step over the dead for a piece of power. And that is no longer, and must not be, acceptable!