Deteriorating situation in BH Defense Ministry: Soldiers deployed without uniforms and insurance

At the time defense reform was pronounced the most successful implemented reform in BiH, nobody could have thought that top people of the Defense Ministry and the Armed Forces (AF) could leave the soldiers without sufficient supplies of food in the barracks, without work insurance, making them so desperate as to seek justice at courts and flee the Armed Forces due to incredibly small salaries for professional soldiers.

The Defense Minister, Marina Pendes (HDZ), who has sat in this ministry for the last 12 years, and who has actively participated in creating all key papers and documents since the beginning of the defense reform – has never paid a visit to the members of the AF BiH who have deployed in the UN and NATO peace missions, or as part of counterterrorist coalition.

Known for her fierce reactions to any question she does not have an answer to, at a recent session of the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly, minister Pendes provided rather poor response to a delegate asking questions about insurance for the AF members, and whether she visited families of the soldiers killed in terrorist attack in Rajlovac. She said that 'her faith did not allow her to take photos of herself helping someone'.

Although praised by high rank officials of the most powerful militaries in the world, our soldiers and officers deploy to missions in old uniforms and ripped boots, while other countries provide them with clothes so they don't look too shabby.

This is not only the minister's responsibility; the Head of Joint HQ AF BiH, general Ante Jelec, and his deputies Senad Masovic and Mirko Tepsic should share the burden.

Thus far, representatives of the Defense Ministry and AF BiH several times visited BH soldiers in Afghanistan, however, nobody has ever gone to Congo where the members of AF are also deployed. How are our men there, what are living and working conditions in Congo mission? Only the troops know that, and their family members.

According to our sources, the deputy minister, Sead Jusic has employed somewhat different approach – apparently, he has been sending requests to certain countries, asking them to invite him to visit!

The other deputy, Boris Jerinic is not much involved in his job. He has got his office, his driver, his per diem, his official vehicle, good salary and - he never complains. After all, since 9 January, his work has been done by Pendes and Jusic.