Justice for David

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“Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.”

“In a gentle way, you can shake the world.”
Mahatma Gandhi

David Dragicevic – a 21-year-old kid from Banja Luka, Bosnia, was well known for his warm and inviting smile, unique style and dreadlocks. Unfortunately, I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting him in person but would have been privileged to have known him. David, better known among his friends as Djakac – endearing slang term for Pupil – was an intelligent, just, socially-active, well-liked by his friends and family, brilliant young man with a bright future who studied Computer Science, wrote poetry and went out of his way to help the ones in need. Those who were fortunate enough to know David speak volumes of him. Whether it was waking up early in the morning to buy fresh, warm bread from a nearby bakery to feed an elderly homeless man or help his friends with their homework, David never shied away from lending a helping hand to most vulnerable citizens of Banja Luka.

Fed up with ever-growing corruption, greed, drug cartels, social injustice, lack of employment opportunities, mass exodus of his friends and young people in search of a better life abroad, David was quoted as saying:

“Watch me, I’m going to change the world!”

– to his closest friends. His song lyrics read:

“It seems that I won’t make it very far
As I’m only a peon in this story
I’m not going anywhere, I’ve committed a crime: being just another kid from the ghetto”

As a social activist prior to his death, David attended demonstrations in Banja Luka, demanding truth and justice for a growing number of unsolved murders in the region, ultimately himself becoming a victim of oppressive, totalitarian and unscrupulously manipulative regime. He was an angel who walked this Earth briefly. His untimely death united a deeply polarized and divided nation [fragmented as a result of the ’90’s civil war] something no politician has been able to do in twenty plus years.

Those who are not familiar with country’s complex history of violence, Bosnia&Herzegovina was one of six republics of former Yugoslavia. Civil war in early ’90’s ultimately resulted in breaking up of Yugoslavia along with Bosnia&Herzegovina further breaking up into two autonomous, constitutional and legal entities called Republika Srpska [RS for short] and Federation of Bosnia&Herzegovina [or The Federation], with a capital in Sarajevo and administrative center in Banja Luka. Hundreds of thousands of Bosnian citizens were displaced world-wide in the ’90’s, taking refuge from violence, my family included. It was around April of 2018 when I first learned of David Dragicevic. A friend of mine had added me to a Facebook group called “Pravda za Davida”, which translates into “Justice for David”. First thing that caught my attention was a plethora of contradictions and inconsistencies surrounding this young man’s brutal death.

On one hand, top echelons of Republika Srpska government – Milorad Dodik, then President of RS, Dragan Lukač, Interior Minister, along with coroner Željko Karan and police inspector Darko Ilić – ruled David’s death an accident and suicide. In a series of televised interviews, they painted David as a thug who broke into a house and robbed it on the night of his disappearance. They then continued on to claim David, walking across a small bridge, fell into ankle-deep creek and drowned. They also claimed traces of LSD drug were found in David’s toxicology screens, thus labeling him a drug addict. Arguably, given David’s physical appearance, authorities believed their story would easily be digested by the public and soon forgotten.

Arguably – if it weren’t for David’s father, Davor Dragičević, who reported his son missing and immediately launched a city-wide search after receiving an SMS text message from David on the night of his disappearance reading: “If anything should happen to me, the perpetrator is F.Ć.” Father knew his son – a decorated athlete – did not use illicit drugs. David’s friends vouched for it too, not to mention the fact that Banja Luka did not have a toxicology lab. Add to mix were disturbing graphic images briefly appearing here and there before Facebook removes them of David’s brutally beaten body and evidence of rape. This grieving father along with David’s closest friends – emotionally charged by David’s ruthless character assassination – took to city of Banja Luka main square, demanding truth and justice for David.

For months, I followed daily live streams from “Justice for David” group and a growing number of people gathering at city square, anxiously anticipating any progress in David’s case. I, like many others, was hoping someone would be brought to justice as Davor and his supporters gathered at the square daily, regardless of rain, snow or cold. A makeshift memorial containing a red heart-shaped circle on the ground, along with David’s picture, candles, flowers and teddy bears grew bigger with each passing day, yet police investigation seemed to have stalled or stopped all together. Davor launched his own investigation believing foul-play and police cover-up were involved.

I travelled to Europe for two weeks in June of 2018 and among other cities, visited my birthplace as well. I was only in Banja Luka for a few days, but made it a point to visit main city square, which by this time citizens had renamed to “David’s square”. It became a central gathering place for an increasing number of people demanding truth and justice. Every day, people gathered peacefully to hear Davor count yet another day of receiving no answers from authorities. The day I came to the square was no different than any other day I saw from faraway via Facebook feeds – except while I was there in person, I could feel the emotion, the sadness, the emptiness and eerie feeling of a young life brutally taken. Davor walked with conviction inside the heart shaped circle, kneeled down in front of his son’s picture, made the sign of a cross and kissed the picture. It broke my heart to see Davor stand back up in complete silence, raise his fist in the air promising he’ll see it through that justice is served and David’s truth comes out. Another eerie moment listening to community quietly sing in unison David’s “Kid from the Ghetto” song – heart wrenching memories my kids and I brought back home from our visit. Never once did we feel unsafe or in danger.

Davor had an aura of an honest man, resolved and determined to bring those who killed his son to justice, so that what happened to David never happens to another child. He often expressed he was not interested in politics, even though many encouraged him to run for office. At some point government officials had walked back parts of their previous statements and ruled David’s death as murder. Civil unrest grew stronger as these statements introduced more unanswered questions.

Who killed David and why? Why did the police fail to open an investigation into first degree murder of David Dragičević? Who ordered the press-conference where David was painted as a thug and drug addict? Other irregularities were also evident in pictures taken by Fire Department who retrieved David’s body from the creek showing a corpse found on dry bed contradicted by images released by RS Police, who was dispatched to scene later, showing David’s corpse in the water. Video surveillance images turned up of alleged “robbed house” providing no evidence of David being present there on the night Police claimed he was. Instead, eyewitness report surfaced and just as quickly disappeared of a woman claiming she saw a group of boys ambushing a young man and beating him up in immediate vicinity of the creek where David’s lifeless body turned up days later.

For months, David’s mother Suzana and father Davor demanded truth from authorities, only to be repeatedly shut down. Suzana took deceased David’s hair samples to Vienna, Austria requesting independent toxicology screen analysis which came back negative for any illicit drugs. While grieving parents diligently worked day after day to clear their son’s name, community support grew stronger, gathering in tens of thousands from nearby cities, while thousands of others tuned in from abroad following live Facebook videos group “Justice for David” posted.

Meanwhile authorities – instead of focusing on a murder investigation, thus clearly establishing they want David’s real truth to remain concealed – planned a carefully coordinated attack on group “Justice for David” hoping to intimidate it’s members into capitulation. On Christmas Day, 2018 riot police was dispatched to city square heavily armed with clubs, shields, helmets, their faces covered with black ski masks. Using excessive force, disturbing images once again flooded my Facebook feed, of riot police beating up an unarmed old woman lying on the ground and parents shielding their young kids from police clubs. Totalitarian oppression of Banja Luka citizens basic human right to peaceful assembly in full swing. Since October of 2018, Milorad Dodik publicly threatened to “sweep the square”, but waited until after being elected chairman of tripartite Presidency to fully deliver on his promise. While police “swept” unarmed and unresisting citizens from David’s square, making several arrests, city utilities were dispatched to “clean up”, removing the red heart shaped circle, pictures, teddy bears, candles and any semblance of a makeshift memorial.

In response to police brutality, European Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Lars-Gunnar Wigemark posted a statement on his twitter page:

Deeply concerned with events unfolding in Banja Luka since this morning, including arrest of Davor Dragicevic and several supporters of the #JusticeForDavid movement as well as political leaders. The European Union is about to react officially. We urge all to avoid violence.

In response to countless videos of unnecessary police brutality which quickly circled around Facebook world, protesters gathered in record numbers over the next few days, exceeding ten thousand. More riot police was dispatched to square, accusing protesters of disturbing peace and safety and causing damages to pop singer Haris Džinović concert stage equipment – who was expected to perform that night. RS controlled news agencies claimed protesters caused the concert and all other planned New Year’s Eve events to be canceled and as a result, police issued a statement banning all further gatherings of group “Justice for David”. RS controlled news agencies further went on to claim city of Banja Luka sustained financial damages due to cancelled planned events and tourists leaving the city in fear. Were they afraid of peaceful assembly or armed riot police wearing ski-masks?

On the night of December 30th, 2018, during yet another round of arrests, David’s father Davor disappeared and has not been seen in public since. His Facebook account deactivated as well. Reports soon surfaced that he was alive, but remains in hiding fearing for his life. No one knows his whereabouts and police are searching for him.

On December 31st, pop singer Haris Džinović publically debunked the police statement indicating even though he had come to Banja Luka, he never planned to hold the concert that evening due to practically no response. Perhaps citizens of Banja Luka and broader region gathered in support of grieving parents – Davor and Suzana – in thousands? Members of group “Justice for David” posted videos debunking damaged stage equipment.

As gatherings were officially banned by authorities, David’s mother Suzana posted to “Justice for David” Facebook page she was planning to light a candle for her son at 6pm that same evening at Christ the Savior Cathedral Church. She found locked church doors. Upon insisting to be allowed entry and asking custodians if God had working hours, Church door was opened an hour later, allowing her and a few dozen others access inside. Group moved their daily gatherings in front of the Church, lighting a candle for David. However, at first sight of group members raising their fist in the air while saying “Justice for David” or quietly signing “Kid from the Ghetto” song, police immediately started ordering citizens to clear out from Church courtyard.

Suzana Radanovic has since left the country and continues her plight for justice for David from Vienna, Austria. Authorities continue to bring up false allegations against its citizens, recently naming nineteen individuals responsible for a cancelled Haris Dzinovic concert and threatening them with hefty fines and up to sixty days in jail.

On January 21st, 2019 video recordings show police arresting more members of group “Justice for David” simply for quietly pacing at David’s square, unarmed and not provoking anyone. Among them two men, a Slovenian citizen and a United States citizen, who were charged with disturbance of peace. One of them, my father, Zaim. He was wearing a baseball hat with “Justice for David” logo on his head. Authorities released him hours later, but refused to allow him contact with United States Embassy or Consulate, violating his basic rights. Members of group “Justice for David” have since demanded authorities to provide an explanation in writing why gatherings have been banned, to no avail.

While RS authorities remain silent to demands of its citizens, they continue to suppress thousands who still want to know only one thing – WHO KILLED DAVID? And while these days individuals can be detained randomly for saying “Justice for David” at Banja Luka city square, members of the group are strongly urging RS government to review the Annex 4 of the Constitution, outlined in Dayton Peace Accords signed in 1995 and calling on European Union and Human Rights Commission for Bosnia and Herzegovina to intervene.

If International Standards truly applied in Bosnia and Herzegovina – and rights and freedoms outlined in the European Convention for Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms or had priority over all other law – David Dragicevic would not be in hiding fearing for his life, charges would be brought against police inspector Darko Ilic and coroner Zeljko Karan for providing false and misleading statements surrounding David’s cause of death and at the very minimum, each individual police officer along with their commanding officers would be brought to justice for heinous crimes committed against citizens of Banja Luka between December 25th, 2018 through January 21st, 2019, as evident from pictures below.

Excerpt taken from:

https://www.state.gov/p/eur/rls/or/dayton/52607.htm

Article II
Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
Human Rights. Bosnia and Herzegovina and both Entities shall ensure the highest level of internationally recognized human rights and fundamental freedoms. To that end, there shall be a Human Rights Commission for Bosnia and Herzegovina as provided for in Annex 6 to the General Framework Agreement.
International Standards. The rights and freedoms set forth in the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and its Protocols shall apply directly in Bosnia and Herzegovina. These shall have priority over all other law.
Enumeration of Rights. All persons within the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina shall enjoy the human rights and fundamental freedoms referred to in paragraph 2 above; these include:
(a) The right to life.
(b) The right not to be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
(c) The right not to be held in slavery or servitude or to perform forced or compulsory labor.
(d) The rights to liberty and security of person.
(e) The right to a fair hearing in civil and criminal matters, and other rights relating to criminal proceedings.
(f) The right to private and family life, home, and correspondence.
(g) Freedom of thought, conscience, and religion.
(h) Freedom of expression.
(i) Freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of association with others.
(j) The right to marry and to found a family.
(k) The right to property.
(l) The right to education.
(m) The right to liberty of movement and residence.