Police officials and MPs slam Bulj’s community border-policing idea

Sinj Mayor and Most MP Miro Bulj has said he plans to create a community self-defense organization to fight illegal migration in the Sinj area but police officials say the initiative has no basis in the law. 

Bulj has said this local policing concept would entail civilian patrols along the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina. He says the Government is failing to protect Croatia’s border.

"Our border is unprotected! Where are the European forces? Where's the army?" he said on Wednesday in parliament.

The self-defense patrols would be connected to the local civil defense organization, he said.

The majority of MPs have condemned the idea, describing it as dangerous and populist.

"These are dangerous remarks. Migration policy definitely does not fall under the domain of local government," said SDP MP Arsen Bauk.

Interior Minister Davor Božinović also described Bulj's remarks as a political stunt and said that Bulj was grossly exaggerating the extent that illegal migration was impacting his community.

"There is no basis in the law for this. I see it as politicking. Of the total number of migrants who have crossed the border illegally, only 1.4% have done so into Split-Dalmatia County,” said Božinović.

The country's top police official, Nikola Milina, said the law precisely defines who is responsible for what when it comes to security and law enforcement.

"Cooperation with the public is not in question. The police cooperate with the public, of course but it cannot be some kind of reverse process,” Milina said.

The police will continue to work to keep the county and its borders secure, he said.

Croatia has been grappling with an increase in illegal border crossings by migrants traveling along the Balkan Route to reach Western Europe. However, most of the migrants are entering through Karlovac County.