"All for a Better Višegrad": We Call on Authorities to Stop the Ravna Gora Chetnik Movement Gathering

VIŠegrad, (Patria) - The citizens' association "All for a Better Višegrad" has issued a press release in which they demand a reaction from the competent institutions to prevent the gathering announced for March 13 by the Ravna Gora Chetnik Movement, with a full-day program "marking the anniversary of the arrest of Draža Mihailović, the Chetnik commander from World War II."

On Friday, Chetnik hordes from Višegrad, as well as from neighboring countries Serbia and Montenegro, intend to gather again and continue the shameful tradition of commemorating and glorifying the Chetnik leader Draža Mihailović, who is responsible for the most heinous crimes against Bosniaks, Croats, and other non-Serb citizens during World War II, states the "All for Višegrad" Association.

"In order to stop the gatherings of the Ravna Gora Chetnik Movement from Republika Srpska, as well as their like-minded individuals coming from neighboring countries Serbia and Montenegro, we appeal to the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina to defend the state order and prevent the violation of the rights of all citizens of our one and only Bosnia and Herzegovina. Dear Minister Fahrudin Radončić, we implore you, first and foremost as the Minister of Security of BiH, but also as a human being, to take all possible actions and measures to ban the aforementioned gathering, in a place where over 3,000 Bosniaks were brutally murdered. Where many survivors were subjected to unbelievable torture and humiliation, a large number of raped Bosniak women oblige you, within your ministerial jurisdiction and human conscience, to take all necessary measures to prevent the announced gathering. Furthermore, we note that the international court in The Hague has imposed life sentences for the grave crimes committed under the direction of Chetnik ideology, and we believe that based on this, you have a human, moral, and legal basis to prevent and ban it," the statement reads. 

The "All for a Better Višegrad" Association calls on the members of the Presidency of BiH Šefik Džaferović, Željko Komšić, and Milorad Dodik, the President of Republika Srpska Željka Cvijanović, the Vice-President of RS Ramiz Salkić, the Minister in the Government of the Federation of BiH Edin Ramić, SIPA, DKPT, the Border Police of BiH, the High Representative Valentin Inzko, and the representatives of the European Union to take measures to ban the work and activities of all associations in BiH that, through their work and activities, lead to the incitement and spread of national, racial, and religious hatred and intolerance. 

"We also directly call on our Mayor of Višegrad, Mladen Đurević, not to allow such gatherings and to prove that he is for coexistence with Bosniaks. Once again, we want to remind you that last year, the Chetnik rampage in Višegrad, the city of 'living bonfires' where Bosniaks were burned alive and where mass crimes were committed, was marked by the main message 'it will be hell and the bloody Drina again, here come the Chetniks from the Serbian mountains.' We hope you will not allow this to happen on Friday either," the Citizens' Association "All for a Better Višegrad" states.