On Wednesday night a shot was fired into a family home in Dzamdzici, Republika Srpska, killing 16-year old Meliha Duric. The High Representative, Wolfgang Petritsch is appalled by this murder.
The Duric family returned to Dzamdzici this year. This is the second shooting attack on returnees to the area since May. The RS authorities should understand that the murder of Ms Duric places in question their ability to maintain security in their entity.
The High Representative calls on the RS authorities, from the president to the police officers charged with investigating this murder, to leave no stone unturned in the search for the killer of Meliha Duric. Arresting the culprit will not right the wrong that has been done to the Duric family, nor will it compensate for the damage that has been done to the integrity of the RS. Yet maintaining law and order is a primary obligation of the civil authorities. Failure to fulfill this obligation will further jeopardise the RS’s standing in BiH and the world at large.
The High Representative extends his deepest sympathy to the Duric family and assures them that all decent people, in BiH and beyond, stand with them in d beyond, stand with them in their hour of sorrow.