Sanjin Bu�o Statement on His Arrest During Protests Last Wednesday

Sanjin Bu�o, member of OWPSEE team and experienced human rights and social justice activists in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Southeast Europe, was arrested during the protests last Wednesday, February 13, in front of the Government of the Canton of Sarajevo. Provoked by diverse interpretations of the information surrounding his arrest, Bu�o addressed the media and the general public with a public statement, with the aim to clear up certain muted points and accusations against him. The statement, in its full text, follows.

I, Sanjin Bu�o, was arrested last Wednesday, February 13, at 15:45 hours, while taking part in the protests in front of the Government of the Canton of Sarajevo on charges, as stated in the records of detention, violent behaviour and actions and not, as some media reported, excessively aggressive behaviour. Further in the procedure, I was properly informed that I am suspect of a number of offences: violent behaviour, causing damage to private property, instigation to violence and destruction of private property, as listed in the corresponding provisions of the Criminal Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

I find the arrest totally unfounded and unnecessary, and I state categorically that I have not committed, in all my actions during the protests, a single violent act, nor did I, at any time, instigate and provoke violence and/or creating damage to private property. The veracity of my claims is easy to test and all the participants in the protests will confirm it.

In fact, during the whole duration of the protests, I invested extreme efforts to calm down the situation and to prevent violent and delinquent actions by individuals and groups, being myself attacked by the groups of thugs that openly called to storm and thrash the Government Building.

I don�t approve or support violence, but I do believe that the violence directed at the Government Building was less expression of hooliganism than a reflection of the state of mind and spirit of the citizens of Sarajevo and their opinion about the work done by Cantonal institutions and their responsibility.

I also want to note that the officers of Cantonal Police Department that arrested me used excessive force and rough treatment, in spite of my expressed will to cooperate and to go with them. In my opinion, the use of excess force was an obvious attempt to scare the gathered citizens, forcing them to dissipate as soon as possible, which I learned did, in fact, happen.

I took no part in the organization of the protests, but as a citizen, I openly supported the call of the Dosta! Movement to the citizens to join the protests in great numbers. I do find the protests and the demands presented by the citizens justified and openly support them.

I find the actions of Cantonal institutions and officials extremely irresponsible, uncivilized and undemocratic. The demagogy and speculations used by the City Administration, Cantonal and Federal Governments are, in my view, open call to the citizens to continue the protests and demand change of heads of said institutions. If there is a need to accuse somebody of instigation to violence, that it would undoubtedly be the said institutions which, through their work and (non)actions, constantly push the BiH public into desperation and demands to hold the authorities accountable.

I would like to use this opportunity to condemn the public statement issued by the Government of the Canton of Sarajevo, which paid for its publication with tax-payers` money, the same people it labels mob, hooligans and anarchists in the said statement. I also call on the citizens of Sarajevo that, according to the Government give it full backing, to come forward and publicly state their opinions of it.

I would also appeal to the media to report correctly and impartially, since taking sides can only contribute to further deterioration of already critical situation in Sarajevo and BiH.

Yours Faithfully,

Sanjin Bu�o
Fighter for Social Justice and Human Dignity