The Independent State of Croatia (NDH) bears the mark of genocide, and any attempt to relativise it or to once again promote Ustasha ideology in this region represents an additional blow to the victims of that period, historian Miloje Pršić told Glas Srpske.
He was commenting on the decision by the Government of Republika Srpska to adopt a draft law amending the Criminal Code of Republika Srpska, introducing two new criminal offences: the public promotion and glorification of Ustashism and the Ustasha ideology of the NDH, as well as the public display and promotion of the flags and symbols of the so-called Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
According to Pršić, the authorities in Republika Srpska should have regulated these issues earlier, both in relation to Ustasha ideology and to the wartime symbols of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which he says were associated with numerous crimes during the 1990s. He also argued that one should not ignore the fact that mujahideen units appeared under those wartime symbols, and that, in his view, the political goal of those structures was the creation of a state based on Alija Izetbegović’s Islamic Declaration.
A good move
“That process must be stopped. It is a good thing that the Government of Republika Srpska has proposed that all of this be criminally sanctioned. I would remind you that similar legal solutions have long been in force in certain European countries, such as Austria. At the same time, I believe it is right that these provisions also include the symbols of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which we have seen in recent days at sporting events in the United States and Canada. People talk about coexistence and a shared state, while at the same time displaying wartime insignia,” Pršić said.
The Government of Republika Srpska, which adopted the draft yesterday, said the amendments followed the adoption of the Resolution condemning and banning the promotion and glorification of the ideology and symbols of the NDH, Ustasha, Nazi and fascist ideologies and symbols, as well as the conclusions of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska adopted at its 35th special session.
Protection of society
The Government said the aim of the amendments is to protect society and prevent the spread of ideologies that incite hatred and intolerance, while prescribing appropriate criminal sanctions.
Under the proposed provisions, anyone who publicly promotes, glorifies, spreads or encourages a positive evaluation of Ustashism and the Ustasha ideology of the NDH through the media, social networks or public gatherings would face a prison sentence of up to three years. The same penalty is envisaged for publicly displaying, exhibiting, wearing, producing or distributing symbols, flags, salutes, slogans and other insignia promoting Ustashism or the Ustasha ideology. If the commission of these offences results in disorder, violence, public disturbance or other serious consequences for communal life in Republika Srpska, the proposed sentence rises to between two and five years in prison. The same penalty would apply to organisers, financiers or other persons who assist in the commission of these criminal offences.
As for the second new criminal offence, the public display and promotion of the flags and symbols of the so-called Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the draft provides that anyone who publicly displays, exhibits, wears, produces or distributes such insignia would face a prison sentence of up to three years. If the act leads to disorder, violence or public disturbance, the prescribed sentence would be between two and five years in prison.
The National Assembly of Republika Srpska has instructed the Government to prepare, within 60 days, amendments to the law regulating the removal of monuments and symbols that promote Ustasha and fascist ideology and are considered offensive to religious, moral and national sentiments.
Arrest in Doboj
A woman from Maglaj, Sadeta H., was arrested on Wednesday after driving through Doboj with a wartime Bosnian flag displayed on her vehicle, thereby committing several offences under the Republika Srpska Law on Public Order and Peace.
The Doboj Police Administration said the person identified as S.H. had displayed the wartime flag on a passenger car and, after police intervention, refused to remove it from the vehicle. She was subsequently deprived of liberty.
Source: Glas Srpske
