Autor: Perspektiva.plus
David Dragičević, 21-year-old Electrical Engineering student from Banja Luka, went missing on the night of March 18th, 2018. His body was found on March 24 at the confluence of the tributaries of Crkvina in the Vrbas River. Police investigation found that death was caused by drowning, without the elements of the crime. After three months of pre-trial operations on June 28, 2018, perpetrators were found guilty of suspicion of murder.
At the video forum of our portal, Aleksandar Gluvić from Banja Luka initiated the issue of police violence in that city. Aleksandar is one of the members of the group “Justice for David” (Pravda za Davida) that were detained on December 30th.
To recall, in the morning of December 25th, 2018, Davor Dragičević, the father of murdered David, was detended after refusing to receive a call from the police for “endangering security”. Few days before the arrestments The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Republic of Srpska announced that criminal charges against Davor Dragičević and another 19 people were brought because they were gathering in front of the RS National Assembly on December 17th, during the special session at which the new RS government was elected.
David’s death launched multi-month protests named “Justice for David” in Banja Luka’s Trg Krajine (Krajina Square) organized through Facebook group that counts over 350,000 members. David’s parents followed by thousands of like-minded people throughout the region are seeking for the truth, for the right to find out who killed their son and the right to process the killer.
Soon after Dragičević was detained, citizens of Banja Luka started gathering in the Krajina Square in order to support him. On the same day, on several occasions there was a nagging between the crowd and the police and several opposition politicians and citizens were also detained.
Citizens of Banja Luka have been testifying police violence since December 25th. Videos spread in the media showed the obvious use of police force against young people, women, children and elder people who were in front of their shields and sticks in that moment. Support gatherings were organized the same day in other cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina and across the region.
December 30th
Davor Dragičević was released on December 26th and announced next huge gathering of the group „Justice for David“ for December 30th. Following days, gatherings were organized in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region. All eyes were on Banja Luka.
The gathering was permitted until 8 p.m. after which the citizens continued walking to Krajina Square, seeking for justice for murdered David. After the protest, part of the group went toward the parking lot near Museum of Contemporary Arts where Haris Džinović’s concert should’ve been held. Celebration of New Year’s Eve should’ve take the place at the same location.
Soon after 8 p.m. strong police forces emerged with a task to frive the citizens away from the square. Around 11 p.m. police started „cleaning the square“.
„I remember there were aroung 15 of us, maybe 5 older ladies. There were old people, women, only couple of us young men. 100 or 200 members of special police were runing toward us. I managed to run away and next day I surrendered. A lot of people were caught however“ – said Aleksandar in topic he initiated.
Since that night, Davor Dragičević and few members of the group „Justice for David“ for whom the warrants were issued are being escaped, and family and friends claim that they don’t know where Davor is.
As a result, all concerts that were planned for Celebration of New Year’s Eve were canceled.
„What’s going to happen next, when Davor will appear, will he appear, I really don’t know. I hope that he is good, I hope this won’t stop just like that, that they will not manage to silence civil rebellion which exist for almost a year in Banja Luka. I also hope that the murder of the guy who was born in the same year as me, in 1997, won’t be unpunished.“ – Aleksandar said.
You can see Aleksandar’s statement on our video forum. We invite you to join the discussion. If you were present during this ocassion in Banja Luka, don’t hesitate to share your experience with us.
