REFERENDUM IS OPPORTUNITY FOR SRPSKA CITIZENS TO RESIST SCHMIDT’S HARASSMENT

BELGRADE, AUGUST 14 /SRNA/ – The referendum in Republika Srpska will mean the defense of Srpska and its institutions, and at the same time it will be an opportunity for citizens to resist the moves and abuse of Christian Schmidt, Professor Milimir Mučibabić told SRNA.

He believes that the announced referendum is the only realistic option, but also a scale that will clearly show what the people in Republika Srpska want. Mučibabić pointed out that it should not be overlooked that Republika Srpska has a Law on Referendum, which makes the initiative for its holding legally indisputable. "The provision does not infringe upon the vital interests of the other two peoples, but rather protects its own interests and institutions," Mučibabić said. According to him, a referendum of the citizens of Republika Srpska will also mean the preservation of Dayton BiH and peace, unlike the Sarajevo referendum of March 1992, which led to war. Mučibabić pointed out that the most legitimate thing is to show both to oneself and to the world that the will of the citizens is on the side of Milorad Dodik, who holds the most important position in Republika Srpska – the presidency. He finds it comical that someone would question the highest level of democracy called a referendum and try to erase democratic principles of elections with a rubber, noting that such a state of affairs in BiH indicates "that the devil has come for his due". "The idea of a referendum is to show the democratic will to the world, and that the will of the people is the only assumption upon which all democratic states build their institutions. Milorad Dodik is not in this case an isolated individual; he is the institution called the president of the state," he said. Mučibabić stated that the referendum is an opportunity for Serbs to become united and show the utmost seriousness. "The importance of the issue dictates that, for a moment, particular party interests be forgotten and the harsh reality recognized. These are matters for realistic reflection. Those who have no awareness of the current moment of political action in BiH should be pitied," Mučibabić stressed.