Instead of calling on Nikšić to publicly disclose all information, Ramo Isak threatens the one who sent the (secret) Decree to the media

By Amra Vrabac

Ramo Isak, who overnight became Minister of Internal Affairs in the FBiH Government in April 2023 through political bargaining, not to say corruption, thanks to Elmedin Konaković, today threatened to file a criminal complaint against whoever sent the Decree on the payment of aid due to increased living costs to the media. That decree which the Government has adopted, and then not adopted. He made this threat during the presentation of the FMUP campaign "Where corruption reigns, society perishes". And when you see Ramo Isak and the acting director of FUP, Vahidin Munjić, who is under investigation by the BiH Prosecutor's Office in the Black Tie case and is suspected of not initiating internal procedures to sanction FUP members who physically secured the head of the drug cartel Edin Gačanin Tito in 2016, even though he knew he was a person of security interest, at such a press conference, you feel like pinching yourself to wake up from a nightmare. But that nightmare is our reality.

Isak's son, Arnel, voted for the FBiH Government in which Isak is a minister. He, along with several other free agents, is the key force ensuring the narrow majority for the imposed government. Very soon, Isak's other son became the director of KPZ Zenica. To be truthful, Isak did not vote for that decision, and what influenced the other ministers to support such nepotism is hidden in the benches of the Federal Parliament.

Tenders in public companies were regularly awarded to the company Condor, which until recently was owned by the Isak family. After it was announced that the company Condor, as a member of a consortium, was awarded a tender worth 14 million KM by JP Elektroprivreda BiH, to which the US Embassy strongly reacted, the company was sold overnight. And while the story about this conflict of interest ended there for some, the question remains who is still the real owner of that company. The fact that Isak has access to information about other security agencies, the number of people, the equipment they possess, and special permits, which is considered privileged information, raises the question of possible advantages for his own company. It is enough to read the Law on Agencies and Internal Services for the Protection of People and Property to see what information Ramo Isak has.

The threat made by Minister Isak today that he will seek sanctions against the person who sent the decree to the media raises the question of why the current government threatens every time government actions that cause controversy are revealed. Thus, we have examples where government officials threaten prosecutors, journalists, their close relatives, threaten media houses, reveal cooperation agreements, and present false information about ownership...

Instead of Ramo Isak saying from the podium in front of the media today that nothing is hidden and calling on the FBiH Government to be transparent with information on which 570,000 people employed in FBiH depend and to whom the secret decree will apply, he opted for the most primitive form of threat, that he will initiate criminal proceedings.

So, those who sent the decree are to blame, the media are to blame for publishing it, economic analysts are to blame for analyzing and rightfully criticizing it, but Prime Minister Nermin Nikšić is not to blame, who submitted written information to the parliamentarians that the decree was adopted on December 11, 2024, and then on December 14, on FACE TV, says that they have prepared the decree, not wanting to reveal how much the minimum wage for 2025 will be, and emphasizing that they have declared it confidential. And what is confidential about the amount of the minimum wage, which even if it amounts to 700 KM, will not be enough for a third of the consumer basket.

If the FBiH Government truly wanted to help workers, in addition to increasing the minimum wage, which it should have already determined for budget planning and employer costs, it would have at least increased the amount of the meal allowance from the current tax-free 8 KM to at least 10 KM. Workers do not eat in parliamentary restaurants, so that they have change left from those 8 KM.

However, the Government is aware that the loss of every mark from taxes deepens the budget hole, so in that case, between their own comfort and the workers, they naturally choose the former.

One could write for days about Ramo Isak's abuses. From personal gain for family members, to favoring certain personnel and appointments to various positions, to the participation of police officers in his political party's video. The shameful parade of limousines in Potočari with mandatory video recording accompanied by songs, and in the company of convicted persons, has been spoken of too little, so it needs to be reminded again. Helicopter rides are well-documented by Instagram posts of the minister and his sons.

It was difficult to listen to Ramo Isak announce the fight against corruption and crime while Munjić stood next to him, who was given a ceremonial welcome in front of the FUP building the day after his arrest.

When Konaković praised Isak in April 2023 and said he was taking responsibility for everything good or bad he did, it wasn't long before he changed his tune and said he couldn't be responsible for everything Ramo Isak does. And he started saying that after the US Embassy reacted several times regarding Ramo Isak's actions.

At this same press conference, Munjić pointed out that most corruption is present in public institutions and enterprises. So here's a free piece of advice for Munjić: sweep in front of your own door first, then move on.