The information that large quantities of explosives and weapons were discovered in the Borik sports hall in Banjaluka deserves special attention. The fact that lethal weapons were discovered in the hall where a large number of leading officials of Serbia and Republika Srpska (Republic of Srpska) were present is not to be dismissed; however, detailed analysis of media headlines in Serbia creates a certain level of doubt as to the credibility of the entire story. This construction is, above all, shallow and unconvincing. Why is the plot of this play placed in Republika Srpska? Why is this crisis connected to Dodik? And why did the Serbian police send their officers to Banjaluka, without previously obtaining permission from the Sarajevo authorities? Several shaky claims have appeared in the media, followed by strengthening statements made by leading state officials, like the state secretary Slobodan Homen, who said that this was in fact a serious threat to Tadic, resulting from his dedication to the fight against organized crime. In the last few days, media speculated that the weapons were meant for the assassination of President Tadic and the Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Irinej – and that everything was connected with the mob, ruled by the mysterious Saric. Other media claimed that Albanians were “behind the assassination attempt”, and yet some other that these were Bosniaks, that is, al-Qaeda.
And what exactly do we know for sure? First of all, the fact remains that weapons and explosives were found. Furthermore, a sixty-one-year-old invalid has assumed the responsibility for hiding the weapons and confessed to these claims. His claims can be easily and quickly verified by the police in Bosnia or in Serbia, as well as his alleged ties to criminal groups in Serbia and Bosnia. We know that the weapons were found “laying around”. All of this bears the mark of a Secret Service that has been creating similar false dramas for the last fifty years. The same Service which organized this deplorable construction, has been thriving for decades on fabricating crises, which then require the very same Service in order to be solved. Media wizards, who are preparing the alchemy for parliamentary elections and Tadic’s reelection, also need this construction. The success of the media campaign consists of the creation of confusion amongst citizens, who are sensitive to the topic of assassination, because of the trauma the Serbian society went through in 2003. Media keep talking about an assassination attempt, without clear evidence or serious analysis. Moreover, cautious and inarticulate statements by Minister Dacic reveal that the Ministry of Internal Affairs does not have sufficient evidence to confirm an assassination attempt. However, the effect was achieved where citizens are concerned, that is, the impression that the president is endangered has been created. Probably Tadic himself feels endangered and frightened, because the Service intimidates not only citizens, but public officials as well (this model has been tested on many leading officials of the SFRY during the period of real-socialism). Thus, spin masters just had another ace delivered to them on a silver platter, which they can use to promote Tadic, since it is clear that they don’t have many aces up their sleeve.
But what is particularly sickening in this newest episode is the comparison with the assassination of Zoran Djindjic. Today, all media and public officials keep reminding us that the treats to Tadic should be taken seriously, because, only nine years ago, a Prime Minister was assassinated in this country. Comparing Tadic and Djindjic is distasteful in every sense, this one included. Djindjic was assassinated by this same Service, which is still controlling a better part of life in Serbia, and which is the one inventing such incredible scenarios. What Slobodan Homen should know is that the Serbian mafia does not kill the Serbian Patriarch, nor the man whose policies in the previous six years as president have never substantially threatened the fundamental values of Milosevic’s and Kostunica’s Serbia.
Peščanik.net, 20.01.2012.
