ILIĆ: ATTACKS ON SERBS CONTINUE, PERPETRATORS MUST BE PUNISHED

BANJA LUKA, SEPTEMBER 3 /SRNA/ - It is tragic that an elderly man was attacked in the Sarajevo settlement of Vogošća, and this case, unfortunately, points to a continuing pattern of attacks on Serb returnees, SNSD member of the Republika Srpska National Assembly Mladen Ilić told SRNA.

"Such incidents contribute to Serbs in the FBiH feeling unsafe. In addition to the frequent desecration of monuments and religious sites, we are now also seeing direct attacks on Serbs, which is not good for anyone," Ilić stressed.

He expects the institutions at both the Federation of BiH and BiH levels to do their job and punish the perpetrators.

"It must be shown that such things cannot be allowed to happen and that Serbs who returned to their homes after the tragic events of the 1990s should be allowed to live normal lives," Ilić stressed.

Ilić pointed out that such things do not happen in Republika Srpska.

"All people, both Bosniaks and Croats, have the same rights and obligations in Republika Srpska as Serbs," Ilić added.

On the night of August 25-26, a Serb returnee identified by the initials A.Š., 92, was attacked in the Sarajevo municipality of Vogošća. He was brutally beaten and later suffered a stroke.

His son, identified by the initials B.Š., 68, was also in the house at the time but initially heard nothing. When he woke up and saw what was happening, he chased after the burglars, who fired at him as they fled, but he was not hit.