BUDIMIR: WE DISMISS CLAIMS OF POLITICAL MOTIVES IN LAWFUL SEIZURE OF WARTIME BiH FLAGS

BANJA LUKA, JULY 3 /SRNA/ – Republika Srpska Interior Minister Željko Budimir has said in a statement to SRNA that the Ministry of Interior /MoI/ rejects all attempts to politicize the lawful actions of police officers in cases involving reports of breaches of public order and peace related to the seizure of wartime BiH flags.

"These were reports filed by concerned citizens from Republika Srpska who called the police to report these incidents. I emphasize that the BiH flag was not seized, but rather the flag used during the 1992–1998 period. Any reasonable person in this country should understand that displaying this flag is seen by our citizens, citizens of Republika Srpska who endured various wartime hardships and who were displaced and expelled, as a provocation and a reminder of everything negative they left behind," minister Budimir explained. He noted that Republika Srpska police officers act exclusively in accordance with the applicable laws of Republika Srpska, primarily the Law on Public Order and Peace. "Under this law, public order and peace means a state of harmonious relations among citizens resulting from their conduct in public places and the activities of public authorities and services, with the aim of ensuring equal conditions for citizens to exercise their rights to personal security, peace and tranquility," Budimir said. He stressed that it is important to underline that the police do not act on the basis of political or ideological positions, nor do they assess the historical or political nature of any symbol, but solely determine whether the legal elements exist for taking official measures. "In cases where there are grounds for suspicion that certain conduct has caused public disturbance or disrupted public order and peace, police officers are legally obliged to act, collect the necessary information and, when the legal conditions are met, temporarily seize items that may serve as evidence in misdemeanor proceedings," the Republika Srpska Interior Minister stated. He added that the final decision on every misdemeanor citation or other measure ultimately rests with the competent courts, ensuring every citizen of Republika Srpska full legal protection guaranteed by the Constitution and the law. "The Ministry of Interior of Republika Srpska will continue to protect public order and peace professionally, impartially and responsibly, without exception, applying the law equally to all citizens. For our part, we call on everyone to show a degree of responsibility and tolerance toward others. If you do not want to be `offended and provoked` by Republika Srpska flags in Travnik, Tešanj or Sarajevo, then you should not expect it to be acceptable to carry flags bearing wartime symbols in areas where innocent Serbs suffered," minister Budimir said. In the recent period, Republika Srpska has recorded a number of incidents and provocations involving the display of the wartime flag of the so-called Army of BiH, under which the most horrific crimes against the Serb people were committed, causing justified concern and fear among Republika Srpska citizens.