PAVLOVIĆ: VICTIMS' FAMILIES MUST NOT BE USED AS A COVER FOR ILLEGAL ACTIVITY

SREBRENICA, AUGUST 12 /SRNA/ - Victims of the war and their families must not be used as a cover or shield for anyone’s illegal activities, especially activities of organisations and institutions, Radomir Pavlović, Deputy Speaker of the Srebrenica Municipal Assembly, told SRNA, commenting on remarks made by Emir Suljagić, director of the Bosniak Memorial Centre in Potočari.

Pavlović says that Suljagić is brazenly and hatefully attempting to portray the lawful actions of the relevant institutions as pressure and intimidation against Bosniaks, which is untrue and an attempt to divert attention from questions concerning the legality of the Memorial Centre’s work and operations by making accusations against Republika Srpska institutions. He says that Republika Srpska has its constitutional powers and that laws apply to everyone, regardless of religion, nationality, political or other affiliation, and that no one is above the law, including Suljagić and the institution he heads. Speaking about the questioning of employees at the Memorial Centre, Pavlović warns that prosecutors’ offices and other security agencies must be allowed to carry out their work professionally, and that giving statements does not imply guilt, which, he says, Suljagić is falsely attempting to portray. "It is particularly unacceptable to use the Bosniak victims of Srebrenica as an institutional shield against the enforcement of the law in cases of potential illegal conduct," Pavlović said. He rejected attempts by Suljagić and others like him to portray the SNSD leadership as the organisers of some intimidation campaign. "If the operations of Suljagić’s institution are lawful and in order, then an inspection should not be perceived as intimidation or pressure, but rather as a routine activity carried out by the relevant authorities," Pavlović stressed. He said that no one should be branded an enemy simply for doing their job and enforcing the law equally for everyone, as this is precisely what upholding equality and protecting all citizens means.