The Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina failed to adopt a decision to declare a Day of Mourning after the triple murder in Gradacac which shocked the country and led to a series of protests. Ministers from Bosnia’s Republika Srpska (RS) entity voted against it.
The ministers from the RS argued that this entity already declared Wednesday a Day of Mourning and called on the FBiH Government to do the same.
During the extraordinary session of the Council of Ministers, the Government of Republika Srpska sent a statement that August 16 is being declared as the Day of Mourning in the territory of the entity.
The decision represents an move to diminish the importance of the state level government and transfer decisions to the entity level.
The first victim of the brutal attack, Nizama Hecimovic, is being laid to rest on Monday, and the Tuzla Canton and Brcko District have declared a day of mourning.
Hecimovic was first beaten and then killed by Nermin Sulejmanovic, who then killed two more people, wounded several others and finally committed suicide.