KARAN: DEMOCRATIC WILL OF PEOPLE OF REPUBLIKA SRPSKA IS NOT ACCEPTED IN BiH; WE WILL NOT ABANDON DEFENSE OF SRPSKA

BANJA LUKA, DECEMBER 25 /SRNA/ – Member of the SNSD Main Board Siniša Karan said that the shameful annulment of election results proves that the democratic decision of the citizens of Republika Srpska is not accepted in BiH when the outcome is not to the liking of political Sarajevo and certain international actors, supported by the illegal Christian Schmidt.

"The additional problematization of already imposed and unnecessary elections through the annulment of voters' will at 136 polling stations clearly shows that even such a coerced electoral process is not accepted if the result does not suit certain centers of power. Annulment of elections is not a technical issue, but a direct negation of the electoral will of citizens. When the result is disliked, elections are repeated and the crisis prolonged, thereby harassing not only political actors but the people of Republika Srpska as a whole, as well as its institutions," Karan said. He pointed out that the objective is clear and obvious – exhaustion and destabilization. "This is no longer about elections or democratic procedures, but about a continuous attempt to ensure that the process is never concluded, so that Republika Srpska and its citizens are kept in a state of permanent uncertainty, pressure and political blackmail. However, even in these imposed elections, the will of the people of Srpska was clear – support was given to the policies of President Milorad Dodik and SNSD," Karan emphasized. He recalled that since Dayton until today, Republika Srpska has been subjected to attempts, through various means, to strip it of what is guaranteed by the Constitution: its competences, institutions and the right of the people to decide for themselves – and that today this pressure is being exerted through imposed laws, political pressure and the abuse of the judiciary. Karan said that such efforts will never be enough for those behind them and that the annulment of election results represents a continuation of attempts to undermine Republika Srpska. "Republika Srpska is not the cause of this crisis, but it is forced to defend itself. Calmly, democratically and decisively, we will protect the right of the people to vote, to decide and to have their decision respected. Those who accepted pressure have led to this situation. The opposition rejected Serbian unity and accepted the demands and dictates of those who do not want a strong Republika Srpska. As a result, the people have been placed in a position to defend themselves in elections that should never have been held. This is the struggle of Republika Srpska for the right to independent decision-making," Karan said. He added that Srpska, together with its friends, must find mechanisms that will guarantee its right to independently decide how it wants to live, rather than having imaginary institutions dispute election results. Karan stressed that the Serb people remember, recognize pressure and know how to respond – democratically, calmly and decisively. "Srpska does not undermine but preserves; it does not threaten but resolutely defends its right to choose and to have that choice respected. We will not be subdued, because a people who know what they are defending always prevail," Karan concluded. According to him, it should now be clear even to those who refused to see or hear that the issue was never Milorad Dodik personally, but rather the policies that protect the interests of Srpska and its people. "We will not abandon that policy, because we have the support of our people," Karan said.