WOLVES FROM PALE DONATE CAR TO RETURNEE IN MOSTAR

Drago Rupar, a Serbian returnee whose car was set on fire in the yard of his family home in Hodbina near Mostar, received a new vehicle thanks to the generosity and efforts of the members of the Ersoft Club "Wolves" from Pale.

PHOTO: SRNA

The keys to the "Opel Kadett" were handed over to Rupar today in Hodbina by the president of the Ersoft Club "Wolves," Marko Đoković, who drove the car with his colleagues.

Đoković stated that they heard about the incident from the media and immediately decided to collect money to help the returnee repair the damage and quickly provide him with a car, which is of great help to him in carrying out occasional jobs that he relies on for his livelihood.

- We have been engaged in humanitarian work for a long time, and this is just one of our many actions. We are glad to be in Mostar today and that we were able to react quickly and carry out the action. We aimed to provide Drago with a car that he can use for work, transporting tools, and other necessary items, Đoković told Srna.

He noted that the position of returnees everywhere, including in Mostar, is difficult, and he hopes this donation will make Rupar's life a little easier.

- With this gesture, we also want to send a message of peace and appeal that such incidents do not happen again. As the old saying goes, 'Heroism is when I defend myself from others, humanity is when I defend others from myself.' It is easiest to oppress the weaker minority, which is inhumane and should not happen, Đoković emphasized.

He recalled that the humanitarian activities of this association began in October last year.

- Unfortunately, there are more and more actions. Primarily, we carry out actions related to illnesses. We started in the municipality of Pale and the Sarajevo-Romanija region, but we have expanded our activities to the entire BiH according to our capabilities, said Đoković.

Drago Rupar, with tears in his eyes, thanked the young men from Pale who brought him the car.

- Many thanks and great respect to the guys from Pale. I have no words for their gesture and humanity. I am extremely satisfied and couldn't believe it when they told me they would bring me a car, said Rupar.

He emphasized that the car means a lot to him because he was unable to perform occasional jobs that provide his livelihood.

- I can't talk about the incident anymore, it's very difficult for me. They did not intimidate me, and now the damage has been repaired. Their act was in vain. I am glad that these guys, and all who supported me, have shown that I am not alone, that demobilized soldiers and returnees are not alone and forgotten, Rupar added.

He thanked everyone who supported and helped him after his car was set on fire, including the Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers Staša Košarac, Deputy President of the Mostar City Council Velibor Milivojević, the Consul General of the Republic of Serbia in Mostar Vaso Gujić, and representatives of the Office of the Republic of Srpska in Mostar.

The car was set on fire on the night of June 14, and the police determined that it was an arson, but the perpetrator has not yet been identified.