Ignoring the police ban, the ‘Justice for David’ group called on citizens to again gather in downtown Banja Luka on Wednesday evening, a day after police used force to detain their leaders and removed the group and its symbols from the main square.
“The apprehensions and detentions of our members are part of the repression which is being conducted for a long time already and we are all prepared for such moves by the regime, as we knew who we are dealing with,” the ‘Justice for David’ group said in a written statement.
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‘Justice for David’ has been gathering at the Krajina Square, which they have been calling ‘David’s square’ for the past nine months, demanding the truth and justice for a young man whose controversial murder has sparked ongoing anti-government protests.
Special police wearing masks and equipped with anti-riot gear detained on Tuesday the young man’s parents, some members of the group and several opposition figures.
Local and international officials condemned the violence that occurred during the apprehensions which the lawyers of the detained labelled as illegal.
Authorities also removed an improvised monument that citizens had erected for David Dragicevic, the 21-year-old young man.
Dragicevic was murdered in March and initially, police said that he had taken drugs and drowned in a nearby river. This explanation sparked public outrage and angered the young man’s father who swore he would pursue justice no matter what.
Davor Dragicevic believes police is covering up the murder and protecting some politically connected suspects.
The group’s statement said the use of force on Tuesday was “excessive” and that footage of it has been sent to the institutions of the European Union and the United Nations.
Along with the video material showing the “terror against citizens of Banja Luka,” the group said it sent requests to EU countries to intervene and allow the symbols to be returned to the square, as well as enable people to continue gathering at the square in accordance with the Constitution of Republika Srpska, the Serb-dominated semi-autonomous half of Bosnia.
The group requested an investigation into the conduct of the police and into the reasons that caused the tensions in Banja Luka. It called on citizens to join the gathering and light candles for David and all other murdered children on Wednesday evening but warned them to remain calm because of saboteurs who have infiltrated their gatherings to cause incidents.
Opponents of the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD), the ruling party in the RS led by current Chairman of Bosnia’s Presidency, Milorad Dodik, blamed the party and its leader’s “criminal regime” for the turmoil.
Dodik called them “vultures” who are trying to use the Banja Luka scuffle to send certain messages to Serbia and the international community and even call for the international actors to intervene.
He said he was “shocked with the scenes from the Krajina Square yesterday where mothers with small children could be seen,” and asked who would bring his child to a place that is obviously the scene of an extensive police operation.
He added that “scandal politicians” could be seen at the square on Tuesday as well, saying that they are “still monstrously abusing and publicly questioning the upholding of the law which some of them even had voted for.”
Tuesday’s events prompted reactions from international officials in Bosnia.
“The Dragicevic family, members of opposition parties or journalists should not be considered a threat to public order,” the OSCE said in a press statement on Wednesday.
“Dispersing peaceful public assemblies through force or intimidation and creating an atmosphere of fear is an unacceptable way of responding to credible demands for the delivery of justice and rule of law,” the statement said, adding that “freedom of peaceful assembly is a basic human right.”
“We therefore appeal to the authorities of Republika Srpska to show restraint. We hope that possible protests will proceed peacefully and that the competent authorities will continue the investigation into David Dragicevic’s death in a thorough and transparent manner,” it concluded.
The EU Delegation to Bosnia, led by Special Representative Lars-Gunnar Wigemark, on Tuesday also expressed concern over the scuffling in Banja Luka and asked the RS Interior Ministry for “an immediate explanation of the ongoing arrests of different persons associated with the ‘Justice for David’ movement, including Davor Dragicevic as well as opposition politicians.”
“RS authorities need to show restraint,” Wigemark tweeted, among other things.
Dodik said that the requests and statements are “undiplomatic and impermissible” in any sovereign country.
“The interference of diplomats in the judicial-police operation is not even part of the job description of local political representatives, let alone the foreigners,” Dodik said.
By calling RS authorities to show restraint, “Wigemark is actually sending the message that authorities in the RS should not implement the laws which were aligned with the best European practices,” he stressed.
But Dragan Mektic, Bosnia’s Security Minister and Dodik's vocal critic said there was no need for anyone to be detained in Banja Luka and that the whole episode was “a clear demonstration of power.”
RS authorities tried to justify their actions by portraying Dragicevic as the problem, Mektic said.
“Then they ordered his detention, even though it was obvious that the Prosecutor’s Office will not request for him to remain in custody,” he added. “
“Just as they spun the story that late David was a criminal, now they are trying to criminalise Davor and all the people who are gathering and demanding truth and justice,” Mektic said.
He alleged that Dodik’s party is “at the top” of the entire operation. “Here the message is being sent that police forces will be abused and will act against anything that has any kind of democratic characteristic but does not serve the interests of the SNSD.”
He reminded that special police carried long barrel firearms and held their fingers on the triggers, adding that this was a message to the citizens.
“Whoever thinks badly and disagrees with this regime will be facing batons and triggers of automatic guns,” he said.
