The Government of Republika Srpska (RS) is holding a session to fulfil yet another wish of RS President Milorad Dodik, further undermining the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The issue at hand is Dodik’s announcement that a border police force for RS will be established.
While at first glance, Dodik may seem like the main culprit behind this latest step toward dismantling Bosnia and Herzegovina, journalist Slobodan Vasković argues that he is merely an executor, while the real masterminds lie elsewhere.
Milorad Dodik has announced the formation of a Republika Srpska Border Police. Additionally, he stated that a Working Group has been established to draft the necessary legislation.
Step by Step
The decision came after a long journey, across seven mountains and seas, before the Central Arrest Warrant for Milorad Dodik, Radovan Višković, and Nenad Stevandić finally reached the Border Police of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and other law enforcement agencies.
Immediately after Dodik announced his decision on the social media platform X, fresh accusations followed, claiming he was undermining the state of BiH.
I cannot agree with such assessments; the truth is that it is now BiH’s own institutions that are dismantling the state – not by direct action, but by allowing Dodik to gradually, step by step, solidify Republika Srpska as a de facto state. An unrecognized state, but a state nonetheless.
BiH’s institutions are enabling this through their inaction – by failing to summon Dodik for questioning as ordered by the BiH Prosecutor’s Office, by not attempting to arrest him, or even forcing him into hiding after the warrant was issued. And this warrant was not issued today – it was issued several days ago.
Dodik did what, for him, was the logical move:
“You want to arrest me? You won’t! Now I will be the one arresting you and preventing everyone I declare an enemy from entering or leaving RS – from or into neighbouring states that border BiH, and soon only RS.”
If this law is passed, Dodik will easily take control of the border – he will simply deploy RS police officers to replace the BiH Border Police. No one wants a conflict, so it will happen in the blink of an eye. A major advantage for Dodik is that RS police already control a significant portion of BiH’s border, as the BiH Border Police lack sufficient personnel.
It’s also worth noting that an amendment establishing the RS Intelligence Agency has already been passed. While the agency currently operates as a shadow organization, transitioning it into a “legal service” will be easy.
In short, BiH’s security system does not exist, despite official claims that it “operates” across the country. Their lies to the public only further prove their incompetence in protecting the state – something that, to be fair, many of the heads of these agencies do not even want to do.
And if there’s any doubt about their dishonesty, just look at the publicly known fact that RS police do not exchange any data with other agencies. They have even disconnected all fax machines in their offices to cut off communication entirely.
For the latest decision to form the RS Border Police, Dodik should not be held accountable, but rather the heads of security services in BiH, whose inaction has opened the door for the creation of yet another unconstitutional institution, assuming the BiH Constitution still means anything in the country.
They are the architects of this situation, and Dodik, in this case, is merely the executor of their plans.
It no longer matters whether someone will choose to react today, tomorrow, or in two months—what is already clear is that Dodik is no longer the sole culprit for the destruction of the state.
This observation does not absolve Dodik of responsibility for anything, but it certainly broadens the network of those willing to part with the state and officially turn it into several gulags.
Herceg-Bosna
Let’s be realistic: What’s stopping the HDZ from soon, when they deem the moment right, starting the establishment of Herceg-Bosna as a third entity/state within the territory defined as BiH?
Honestly, Herceg-Bosna has never truly disappeared from the Western Herzegovina region. In the blink of an eye, and there it is—a new “state-building” entity.
What about the International Community? All their grand support for BiH is clearly starting to slowly melt away.
I don’t even consider, like Dino Konaković, indirectly calling on them to arrest Dodik. That’s not their job. However, Konaković, who has described BiH’s security institutions as incompetent, is indirectly calling for their response.
Maybe, just maybe, Zukan Helez will save the day; by ordering a triple strong one, instead of just the usual double, and continuing to meddle in neighbouring countries, like the last street vendor who knows nothing but has heard something. He walks through the “institutions,” shouting and shouting, typical of a dilettante from the bottom of the barrel.
Dodik has never been weaker or more afraid; he has never had less support from the people. The institutions of RS have long ceased to function because he has taken them over. However, Dodik has allies within BiH’s security institutions who support him and his efforts to tear apart the state.
Few would reject such a gift; Dodik, certainly, is not one of those people, writes Vasković in his blog.
Written by our correspondent D.I.
