SDA: Investigate affairs created by the current government in FBiH, we reject HDZ's transparent attempt at 'federalization of the Federation'

(Patria) - The fourth regular session of the Main Board of the Party of Democratic Action (SDA) was held today in Sarajevo.

A total of 15 conclusions were adopted, which you can read below.

1. The Main Board of SDA extends its condolences to the families of all victims of the fire that engulfed the Home for the Elderly in Tuzla.

We demand that the investigative bodies conduct a swift and thorough investigation to determine responsibility for this tragic accident and take appropriate legal measures in accordance with the investigation findings.

2. The Main Board of SDA welcomes the decision of the Constitutional Court of BiH, which finally confirmed the verdict against Milorad Dodik, prohibiting him from holding any official position in any legal entity for the next six years.

We demand that the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina strictly enforce the verdict of the Court of BiH and consistently implement the legal consequences arising from it. This means that, in addition to the position of president of the RS entity, from which he has already been dismissed, Dodik, according to the court verdict, cannot be the president of SNSD either.

The judicial institutions of BiH are obliged, in accordance with the Criminal Code of BiH, to sanction all those who obstruct the enforcement of the court verdict.

3. The Office of the High Representative (OHR), with all its powers, must remain part of the system of Bosnia and Herzegovina until the conditions from the 5+2 Agenda are met and effective domestic mechanisms are created to replace the role of the High Representative.

We warn the Peace Implementation Council that the premature abolition of the OHR's powers would encourage anti-state policies, undermine the Dayton Agreement, and endanger stability.

4. The Main Board of SDA fully supports the leadership of SDA in its intention to submit a law on proportional representation to the parliamentary procedure, which is an obligation stipulated by the Dayton Peace Agreement, i.e., the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Bosniaks and Croats in the RS entity, as well as Bosniaks in parts of the Federation ruled by HDZ, are particularly exposed to discrimination, as evidenced by examples such as Stolac and Čapljina.

5. We most strongly condemn the statements of officials from the RS entity, who attempt to present the intention to secure constitutionally guaranteed rights of Bosniaks as "endangering Christians by Muslims".

These are Islamophobic statements almost identical to the Greater Serbian propaganda that preceded the aggression against BiH, and we will know how to oppose them.


Photo: Patria

6. Even 30 years after the committed genocide against Bosniaks in the "UN Protected Zone of Srebrenica" and ethnic cleansing, the results and consequences arising from it have not been eliminated.

Despite the final verdicts of the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, as well as the resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly, the denial of genocide and the glorification of convicted war criminals have intensified, and the authorities of the RS entity are carrying out systemic discrimination against returnees.

All international and domestic actors have a permanent obligation to undertake activities to change this situation and mitigate the consequences of genocide and ethnic cleansing to the greatest extent possible.

In this regard, SDA calls on the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina to, in accordance with his mandate, make a decision to amend the Election Law of BiH in a way that allows survivors, descendants of genocide victims, and victims of ethnic persecution to vote in their 1991 places of residence. This includes special election rules for Srebrenica.

We demand from the authorities in the RS entity the full implementation of Article 97 of the Constitution of the RS entity and ensuring the employment of Bosniaks and Croats in accordance with that provision, and that they ensure the constitutional right of Bosniaks to their mother tongue, Bosnian.

If they continue to violate the Constitution of the RS, we ask the High Representative to make the necessary decisions in accordance with his mandate.

7. We reject any attempt by HDZ to impose the topic of "federalization of the Federation," which is a transparent camouflage for the so-called third entity.

Such demands are in line with unfulfilled and final war aims and can only lead to the creation of additional tensions between Bosniaks and Croats.

Instead, efforts should be made to improve these relations through open and honest dialogue in the interest of both peoples and all citizens of the Federation of BiH.

8. We fully support the demands of pensioners in the Federation of BiH for an effective increase in pensions. The attitude of the imposed Government of FBiH towards this category is unacceptable.

Since the beginning of their mandate, they have increased pensions by 23 KM, and their salaries by 500 KM. The incompetent Government of FBiH, instead of increasing pensions, is increasing electricity prices, adopting measures that affect the increase of utility services, and doing nothing to stop the enormous increases in the prices of basic foodstuffs.

9. The incompetence of the "Trojka" at the state level, initially characterized by a condescending attitude towards the SNSD/HDZ alliance, and then by populist quarrels and announcements of dismissals they are unable to implement, has led almost all processes in the country to a standstill.

Although it is almost the end of the year, there is no state budget, the House of Peoples of the BiH Parliament is blocked, and the Council of Ministers continues to function only when the demands of SNSD and HDZ are met.

10. We warn of the catastrophic situation in the Federation of BiH, caused by the imposed Government of FBiH through its inaction, hasty decisions, and numerous scandals.

Enormous borrowing, budget deficit, job losses, and the transfer of revenues from the Federation to the RS entity will have far-reaching consequences on the economic situation in this and future years.

11. We demand from the judicial institutions brave and effective investigations into all affairs created by the current government in the Federation of BiH, which are linked to the federal Prime Minister Nikšić, Minister Mijatović, and the heads of police agencies.


Photo: Patria

The scandalous messages from the "Spengavanje" affair, suspicions of rigged public tenders in the Ministry of Trade, as well as the audit report on the "increase in costs" of 500 million KM in Autoceste FBiH, must not remain uninvestigated and unpunished, nor should investigations into them be faked.

It is unacceptable that these, as well as a number of other cases involving officeholders, have been hidden in prosecutor's drawers until now and were only initiated after media pressure.

12. The Main Board of SDA requests the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina to initiate checks and investigations related to the sale and registration of state property by the RS entity authorities contrary to previous decisions of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Granting immunity to entity legal representatives indicates possible actions contrary to the decisions of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is an additional obligation for the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina to initiate mechanisms for checking the disposal of state property in the RS entity.

13. Following the discovery of pedophilia scandals in the Tuzla Canton and Sarajevo involving police officers, we demand from the competent institutions a thorough personnel purge in the police structures of these two cantons, as well as a check of the situation and increased internal control in the Ministries of Internal Affairs of other cantons and the Federal Police Administration.

14. The intention of the BH Telecom management to buy the company Telemach from a foreign private owner raises suspicions and opens numerous dilemmas. Given that it is a company majority-owned by the FBiH, the public must not be deprived of all important information.

First of all, the question must be answered whether it is true that BH Telecom plans to borrow 745 million KM for this acquisition, and that a list of all company assets will be compiled to be mortgaged.

Since we know that Telemach's profit is less than 20 million KM, and BH Telecom's announced borrowing for its purchase is 745 million KM, it is logical to ask about the profitability of the investment itself, especially considering the rapid technological changes.

We warn that through enormous borrowing, the current management could endanger the technical development of BH Telecom, such as the 5G network, as well as the company's business and liquidity.

15. The Main Board of SDA supports the activities of the Bosniak Club in the City Council of Mostar and the Majlis of the Islamic Community of Mostar in determining the legality of the construction of the Croatian National Theatre in the central zone of Mostar.

We call on the Mayor of Mostar and other competent institutions to resolve the request of the Majlis of the Islamic Community of Mostar for the construction of the Mevlana Intercultural Center in the central zone of Mostar as soon as possible.

We condemn the frequent attacks by the Mayor of Mostar on the personalities and institutions of the Islamic Community in Mostar, and especially on the institution of waqf, threatening to review decisions on the return of waqf property in Mostar.