URGENTLY PROTECT SERB RETURNEES, TIGHTEN BORDER AND MIGRANT MOVEMENT CONTROL

DRVAR, APRIL 23 /SRNA/ – Competent authorities must react urgently to ensure the protection of Serb returnees, it was concluded at a meeting in Drvar held due to the deteriorating security situation in the Serb returnee village of Trubar, where migrants broke into the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos and looted several households.

Apart from the above mentioned, stricter control of the border zone and the movement of migrants in the Lipa camp is required.

The meeting was attended by the Minister for Human Rights and Refugees in the Council of Ministers Sevlid Hurtić, Drvar Mayor Dušica Runić, deputy to the House of Peoples of the FBiH Parliament Goran Broćeta, priest Zoran Milovac, and head of the Association of Residents and Descendants from Trubar Stevo Rokvić.

Hurtić stated that Serb returnees are the greatest victors in BiH because they returned to their homes, and that institutions must urgently act to protect these people, who are in a kind of security gap.

"Trubar administratively belongs to Bihać, but it is located in a gap where it is not connected to either Bihać or Drvar. Migrants saw that gap, looted people and the church. Thank God there are no dead or injured, but operational work is required - the ministries of interior must act, regardless of canton or entity," Hurtić said.

Speaking about penal policy and prosecution, Hurtić emphasized the need for urgent legal amendments.

"The criminal code must finally be activated and greater accountability introduced for any harassment, pressure, or insult toward returnees. When penalties are high, many will think twice before doing anything," the minister said.

He added that attention must also be paid to those smuggling migrants from the Drina area toward Bihać.

"These migrants did not arrive by plane, but on foot. The moment problems reach our homes, you will not care whether the smuggler is named Jovan, Omer, or Ante, you will care that your family and mine are endangered," Hurtić warned.

Hurtić stated that around 1,300 migrants are currently in the Lipa camp.

"For them, it is, so to speak, a training ground - to regain strength, restore themselves with food, fill their backpacks, and head toward the EU. The numbers change daily, and on the ground we have a situation where the border police have practically one vehicle covering 50 kilometers of border. This must be reinforced," Hurtić concluded.

Drvar Mayor Dušica Runić stressed that the time has come for competent institutions to finally take responsibility, noting that the scenario from 2020 is being repeated due to systemic neglect.

She stated that the human rights of returnees were severely violated on a major Serb holiday, adding that it is devastating that this border area has become an open migrant route.

"Our joint appeal is primarily directed to the Border Police of BiH to urgently increase personnel on the ground. Trubar population is elderly, houses are kilometers apart, thus these people now justifiably fear for their lives," she emphasized.

Runić added that it will not be allowed for returnees to become victims of institutional inertia while responsibility is shifted from one side to another.

Deputy to the House of Peoples of the FBiH Parliament Goran Broćeta expressed dissatisfaction with the work of federal institutions, directly calling out the FBiH Minister of Interior Ramo Isak.

"The fact that this issue has reached the level of BiH is the only glimmer of hope, but I am appalled by the disregard of the Federal Ministry of Interior. I read Minister Ramo Isak’s statement that he is not familiar with the situation, which is absolutely untrue, as I personally called him and have material evidence on my phone that he was informed. It is unacceptable for the federal MoI to turn a blind eye to attacks in returnee villages," Broćeta stressed.

According to him, it is symptomatic that villages assigned to another municipality after the war are becoming “no man’s land,” with authorities in Bihać acting as if these people do not exist, leaving them without passable roads in winter and now at the mercy of migrants.

"As a deputy, I will raise a series of questions about security failures and seek amadments to penal policy. This must be stopped, because the current situation clearly benefits someone, while returnees pay the price," Broćeta said.

After the meeting, Hurtić, Broćeta, priest Zoran Milovac, and head of the Association Stevo Rokvić visited Trubar and the family home of returnee Nedeljko Zeljković, whose house was broken into by migrants who stole his life savings.