Tomorrow, January 9: A Pale Copy of Earlier Celebrations of the Unconstitutional Day

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Republika Srpska, on the occasion of the celebration of January 9, is taking enhanced security measures in order to maintain a favorable security situation in the upcoming period.

The Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina has repeatedly assessed that the celebration of January 9 as the day of the RS entity in Bosnia and Herzegovina is not in accordance with the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina, but it seems that there has never been less talk about January 9 than this year. Tomorrow is January 9, and there are no excessive reactions from either the RS or the Federation.

All good things come to an end. The Venice Commission previously gave an opinion that the choice of celebrating January 9 as the entity's day was motivated by feelings and events significant for only one people - the Serbs, while other communities consider it a painful memory.

He called on the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina to, as he stated, in accordance with his mandate and powers, react and take sanctions against the organizers of the celebration of January 9 as the entity's day, due to violations of the decisions of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is also a violation of the Dayton Peace Agreement and a threat to peace in our country. The MUP RS invited citizens to come to Banja Luka and celebrate in peace and dignity.

"Citizens who wish to follow the ceremonial parade that will be held on Thursday, January 9, 2020 in Banja Luka, we advise them to obey the orders of police officers on the ground, and not to bring pyrotechnic devices or other dangerous items with them. The advice to citizens is that, for easier movement and to avoid creating crowds, they should not bring backpacks and bags, and that they should certainly have some identification document with them," stated the MUP RS.

The Ministry at its headquarters, police administrations and police stations will not issue permits for the transport of explosive materials on the mentioned days.

Also, as stated in the announcement, for the safety of participants on the occasion of the celebration of January 9, traffic is prohibited for freight vehicles over 3.5 tons of total mass, except for freight vehicles of public and utility services and vehicles that will be engaged in activities related to the celebration, on January 9, 2020, from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., in all streets in the territory of the city of Banja Luka, except for streets on the main road M-I 108 Bulevar vojvode Stepe Stepanovića, Bulevar vojvode Petra Bojovića, Bulevar srpske vojske, Knjaza Miloša, Branka Popovića (eastern transit) and the main road M-I 101 Manjačkih ustanika, Omladinska, Krajiških brigada (western transit).