Sarajevo Businessmen Deliver Aid to Families of Arrested Bosniaks

Several businessmen from Sarajevo today visited the families of arrested Bosniaks in Srebrenica and Vlasenica and delivered material and financial aid, reports a reporter from the Bosnian news agency Patria.

We recall, in an operation named „Ruben“ on May 6, 31 Bosniaks were arrested on suspicion of alleged terrorism, and after two days most were released, except for two individuals who were remanded in custody.

The businessmen also visited Ramo Kadrić in the village of Gladovići near Srebrenica, whose arrest surprised and upset all residents of Srebrenica, and numerous Serbian neighbors claimed that they were „as much terrorists as Ramo“. Ramo could not hold back tears and thanked them several times for the visit.

- The support means a lot to me, that I am not alone and that many are thinking of me – said Ramo, adding that since his release he has received countless calls from neighbors, both Bosniaks and Serbs.

The host of today's visit was Samir Okić from Vlasenica, also one of those arrested in the mentioned operation, who is known as a great humanitarian. Okić, a former member of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, was arrested in his home, from where he was taken first to the Vlasenica police station, then to Bijeljina, and then to Banja Luka, where he was released.

During this visit, the businessmen said that the greatest responsibility and care for returnees to the RS lies with Bosniaks and politicians in the FBiH who have an obligation towards them, and they themselves promised help in the fight for their human rights.

As reported by a Patria agency reporter, the situation in Vlasenica and Srebrenica is calm and there are no provocations. In conversations with the local population, where Serbs and Bosniaks live together, some of them said they are outraged by the behavior of the police and the Banja Luka prosecutor's office, which are damaging relations between these two peoples.