The overall political and social situation in the last two months has considerably turned for the worse, resulting in destabilization in Republika Srpska. The developments were mostly incited by the Arbitration award on Brcko, recall of the President of RS Nikola Poplasen, and events going on in the neighboring FRJ.
Aiming at soothing political security and democratic environment the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in RS has been pointing out on more than one occasion to the need for a series of significant reforms in BiH and RS, which were partly responded to, only.
Within the above context reforms of judiciary and police were suggested as priority. The present developments reveal that the important government segments are incapacitated to respond to challenges facing them. On a number of demonstrations, attacks on the International community personal and cases of terrorism and violence the law enforcement officers and judiciary proved their incapacity to function under the circumstances. Perpetrators of assaults and terrorism mostly remained unknown.
The present situation in RS was fabricated in Belgrade in a great measure. The Belgrade regime has kept supporting the political parties in RS that it could directly and strongly influence. At the moment there is no remote possibility for Belgrade to incite incidence in RS and BiH so as to escalate the ongoing conflict in the territory of Yugoslavia. Extreme nationalists have availed themselves of the above developments to consolidate nationalist feeling in the public, and to directly promote their politics at the meetings and public gatherings. Quite clear the threats were expressed to the representatives of international community in BiH, agents of democratic changes in RS and some nongovernment organizations and individuals. Nationalists have intensified their activities following withdrawal of representatives of international community of RS.
An additional complication was a six-month government cabinet crisis in RS. The two political blocks were bitterly confronted with no prospective on the horizon to solve the problem. State authorities and institutions are malfunctioning as a consequence. Lack of communication and cooperation between local and republic authorities is yet another problem.
Crime and corruption are reemerging and increasingly turning into a paradigm for functioning of a series of institutions and organs.
Media are lenient to the current state of prevailing political awareness in RS and pursue to the greatest possible extent the propaganda by broadcasting information served by the Yugoslav state media. Few independent journalists and media are exposed to violence and threat.
The processes of economic reforms, restructuring and privatization have slowed down or totally suspended.
The return of the resettled and refugees is not taking place and has been almost completely suspended. New refugees from FR of Yugoslavia have been coming to RS and to BiH. This is an additional complication to the possible solution of the problems faced by expelled and resettled people.
Incident along demarcation lines between entities herald in the possibility of escalation of any type of violence and terrorism. This is a scenario of the forces aiming at reviving chaos and terror among the citizens.
Of particular concern is manipulation with secondary school and university students. School principals, exponents of individual political parties have taken children out to take part in public gatherings to fabricate support to the corresponding party and their views. On such occasions boose was offered to the youth so that the crowd attacked premises and destroyed vehicles of the representatives of the international community.
To improve the overall situation we are of the view that a couple of essential matters should be dealt with.
As a priority, political crisis is to be resolved and consequently to appoint the president of RS and elect a new government.
The political leaders fanning hatred and violence should be removed from the theater.
Representatives of international organization should return to RS and continue their activities conducive to the implementation of Dayton treaties.
It is necessary to continue the ongoing process of reconstruction and maintain continued international assistance to RS.
Continued reassurance and support to some political parties and NGOs, associations and individuals advocating the development of democratic society in BiH is necessary.
It is extremely important that the representatives of the international community in BiH, SFOR above all, should distance themselves from the developments in FR Yugoslavia. It is important that the citizens be informed that SFOR troops in BiH do not participate nor have any connections with NATO forces active in the ongoing events in Yugoslavia. We are of the view that it is of highest importance that the citizens of RS be truly and timely informed. One of the causes of easy manipulation with citizens and their national feeling is lack of information. This is used by nationalist force to encourage the citizens to confront the international peace keeping forces.
The Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in RS has been operating in most difficult conditions since establishment. We are facing a series of quite serious threats to the organization, our members and activists. We are proceeding in highly unfavorable and hazardous environment.
Our work, our attitudes and our statements are public and open and we desire thereby to create leeway for ideas of tolerance and understanding. Our objective is to do everything within our power to prevent the poor situation of human rights turn for the worse. That is why we expect support of all international organizations concerned with the protection of human rights.
In the period under review, there is a growing interest of citizens for legal advice. In past two months 294 citizens addressed our lawyer for advice. Most of their problems are connected to restitution of private property and tenants right.
Following the promulgation of the Law abolishing the law on usage of abandoned property an increasing number of citizens are looking for legal advice to exercise their right to a flat.
Among them the most numerous were the citizens of Bosniak nationality who were forced out of their flats during the war.
The Helsinki committee prepared sufficient number of forms, circulating among the citizens along with the instructions of how to fill them and hand over to the competent communal authorities.
A new and characteristic case is worth mentioning, being the request for assistance received from a group of Romalies.
Before the war they lived in their village of Jasenje at Majevica (commune of Ugljevik). During the war their village happened to be at the front line, while the inhabitants fled away , mainly to RS area. During war operations most of their houses were damaged or demolished. No reconstruction of homes in Jasenje has started.
Upon arrival to the territory of RS those Romalies were accommodated in the abandoned Romaly houses in Biljina. The majority of them were engaged in RS Army.
Their problem now lies in the fact that the Romalies started returning to Bijeljina and requesting to move in their own houses. Hence, the Romalies of Jasenje are now forced to leave these houses of others while they have no other shelter.
They are asking now the competent communal authorities for accommodation for themselves and their families.
Under the Dayton treaties, their village belongs to the Federation of BiH (Commune of Teocak).
The Romalies of Jasenje now request protection of their right to ownership and a home. One of their proposals is compensation for their property by FBiH authorities. For the time being they expressed no wish for reparation of their homes in Jasenje. They would prefer to stay in RS but the problem of their accommodation remains outstanding for the time being.
Legal assistance was requested by Danica Drazaj, refugee from Zenica and Zorka Moravek, refugee from Tuzla. From the property commission of OHR they got certificates for the return of their flats in Zenica and Tuzla, respectively. However, when they turned to the competent authorities in those cities, nobody could say whose competence it was to proceed on the basis of the certificates. This is just the beginning of such problems. More are yet to come. That is why it is necessary to enact regulation at the level of BiH to stipulate the jurisdiction for the enforcement of the decisions of the property commission on restitution.
Via its lawyer Miodrag Stojanovic, The Helsinki committee for Human Rights took part in defending Miodrag Andric in Cantonal Court in Sarajevo (FBiH). In the renewed process Andric was pronounced not guilty ( March 17) and released after four years in detention.
Miodrag Andric, the Bosnian Serb of Rogatica (RS) was arrested by BiH Army back in 1995. He was in custody for almost two years in prisons in Gorazde and Sarajevo, no charge being indicted. As late as 1997 he was brought to Cantonal Court in Sarajevo under the charge of war crimes against civilians. During the trial, which applied no international standards of just and fair trial he was sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment.
He appealed to the Supreme Court of FBiH. In February 1998, the Supreme Court returned the case to the Cantonal Court in Sarajevo for renewed process due to omissions evident at the original proceedings. During the first hearing the Federal attorney was not allowed to reconstruct the crime attributed to Andric, while witnesses from RS were not able to attend and testify in court.
At the request of the accused Andric OHR along with the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in RS enabled Andric to be represented by Miodrag Stojanovic, RS lawyer alongside with the lawyer from BiH Federation.
The renewed court legal process was held during 1998. Witnesses for the prosecution and defence were heard at court hearings. Following the reconstructions of the event ( in September and in December 1998) faults were revealed in earlier testimonies. The defence then requested 12 new witnesses living in the territory of RS to be heard. In cooperation with judiciary authorities of Rogatica ( RS) and Sarajevo (FBiH) these witnesses testified in the basic court in Rogatica.
On March 17, Chairman of the Court chamber of the Cantonal court in Sarajevo Davor Jukic declared release. The explication of the award contains the reference to the prior charge for the murder of three individuals of Bosniak nationality on the merit of testimonies by two witnesses. In the course of the renewed process, thanks to the crime reconstruction in situ, it was found that the statements given by the witnesses were absolutely unreliable. Since there was no firm evidence for the crime the Cantonal Court released Miodrag Andric.
Such a judgment reinstated confidence in the autonomy and impartiality of judicial authorities. The sentence shall mark the history of BiH judiciary as the first case when the Court of one entity released the accused from another entity. It is interesting that the first sentence of twenty years of prison term and the other releasing sentence were awarded by the same Chamber of five judges of the Cantonal Court in Sarajevo, chaired by judge Davor Jukic.
During last year two regional conferences devoted to return of refugees to Sarajevo and Banjaluka were held. Under the Banjaluka declaration it was anticipated that some 120 000 refugees and expelees of non - Serb nationality should have returned. However the plan was realized but in a symbolic manner.
Correct and precise data about the number of returnees are unavailable. No organization has yet established an information system to follow return and timetables. According to non official information some ten thousand Bosniak and Croats returned to RS last year. At the same time some 7700 Serbs returned to BiH. Poor results of implementation of Sarajevo declaration is also evident, since 20 000 citizens of Serb nationality should have returned to FBiH.
RS is currently inhabited by some 416 000 displaced Serbs from FBiH and some 60 000 Serbs from Croatia and Slovenia. Approximately 18 000 refugee families have no permanent home in RS. They are sheltered with their families, friends, or in rented premises. 59 collective centers, shelter around 6500 persons. To dismantle the centers 45 million DM are needed, while RS government has thus far procured 15 million DM.
Out of the total number of individuals sheltered in collective centers only some 600 expressed wish to return to their prewar places of residence within the territory of FBiH. The majority however want to stay in the territory of RS and predominantly in the communes where these centers are located. Destiny of the refugees, particularly those from collective centers has been often manipulated by individual political parties. This situation is particularly pronounced at time of elections. Thus for instance FBiH stated that over 90% of Bosniaks and Croats want to return to RS, while the politicians from RS claimed that only 3% of Serbs want to return to FBiH.
These are estimates only, because no political party has precise data about where the displaced or expelled citizens would like to settle permanently.
To simplify the procedure for application by citizens to regain thier property and tenancy rights, the relevant ministeries of FBiH and RS have signed a joint declaration to the effect of uniform application for return. During this year general census of expelled and displaced inhabitnats should have started under the supervision of UNHCR. On that occasion the individuals should declare where they want to return or exchange or sell, namely claim compensation for thier properties. Following that census only, plans could be drafted and implemented.
In the period under review the interantional organizations tried to intensify the activities relating to the return of refugees to thier homes. They could rely on recently enacted law abolishing the law on utilization of abandoned property in RS. In most of the communal officies of the Ministry for refugees and displaced persons applicatins are received for the restitution of tenancy right and personal property. Refugees from abroad and from areas in FBiH keep coming to towns where they lived before the war requesting restitution of thier porperty and flats. Few citizens request their own property in towns southeren of Zvornik. Local authorities in that part of RS are still reluctant to the possibility of return of non-Serb refugees, primarly of all Bosniaks and Romalies.
The possibilities of return from one to another entity was discussed at the round table in Travnik ( 15 February) organised by OHR. The geathering was attended by representatives of communes of Central Bosnian cantones and relevant interantional organizations. The possibility of return and safety guarantees to returnees were discused.
One of the first steps towards return is the visit by refugees to their prewar places and homes. In the period under review more than one such visit was arranged with no incident. The visits take place on religious holidays when members of different confessions pay visit to graveyards.
Most of such tours were organised on the occasion of Orthodox Day of the Dead, 13 and 14 February, when the Serb refugees in RS visited their villages and graveyards in BiH Federation. Some 100 Serb refugees from Petrova (RS) visted their villages of Krtola and Dizje (FBiH); some 200 Serbs from Janje ( RS) visited Srebrenik (FBiH); around 550 Serbs who fled Bjeljina, Ugljevik, Lopare and Brcko visited Tuzla and some surrounding places (FBiH).
Bosniak refugees who are living in the territory of FBiH visited on 16 February for the third time their village of Grapska (RS, Doboj commune).
Only one incident was registered in Sarajevo when women of Bosniak nationality attacked a group of Serbs with sticks, who were visiting the graveyard Rogacisa.
The international organizations are looking for the possibility of safe return, within thier competences, also to the places in the eastern part of RS where thus far no return of minority non - Serb population has been registered (communes of Zvornik, Vlasenica, Han Pijesak, Sokolac, Pale).
Some 50 Bosniaks, prewar residnets of Kozluk (RS) visited it. However, due to the protest of the local Serb refugees they could not visit their homes. They just paid their visit to the graveyard.
The Bosniaks expelled from Visegrad ( RS) visited their city for the first time on 15 February. Accompanied by the local police and IPTF they visited the Head of the commune and discussed the possibility of more frequent visits to this city and free movement.
The representatives of international organizations are particularly concerned with return to the communes of Visegrad and Zvornik, because at the onset of war all Bosniak population had been expelled. Local authorities have not yet considered the possibility for return of Bosniaks to these areas.
Non-Serb refugees from some towns would gladly return to their homes but this is impossible for the time being, because their houses in RS are occupied by Serb refugees.
Over 700 refugees of Bosniak and Croat nationality applied for return to Teslic, thus far.
In Pelagicevo (RS) repair works are in progress on some 100 houses intended to house Croat population. USAID and EKO finance reparation of each house with 10,000 to 15,000 DM. In Gornje Novo Selo (commune of Pelagicevo, RS) renovation of 24 Croat houses is under way).
Serbs who fled Sanski Most (FBiH) want to return there. Thus far some 900 families have applied. 780 of them requested reinstatement of their tenency rights, the rest their houses. Some 100 Serb families want to go back to the village of Sanica.
Thus far 42 Serb families returned to the village of Sanica. 24 of them returned to their flats and 18 to the repaired houses.
To the village of Klisa (Commune of Zvornik,RS) 125 Bosniak families have returned. They had been accomodated under tents.All of them had to repair their houses to make them fit for living. Thanks to their great perseverence they managed to return to the destoyed village. Currently, more houses are being repaired in Klisa to receive their prewar owners when completed.
In the village of Tesanj (FBiH) only 18 flats were returned to the Serb refugees out of 110 requested. Due to poor results of return this commune shall not be able to get the requested status of open city.
Association of Serb refugees who want to return to Bosanski Petrovac (FBiH) expressed their fear that the plan for return of 2,156 Serb families to this city shall fail. The reason is the establishment of assailant center in this city for Albanians, fleeing Kosovo to FBiH. Otherwise, without the Albanian refugees, there are over 4,000 Bosniak refugees in the territory of RS, already.
Return of refugees and displaced population to individual cities will be stepped up by allocation of free building sites and corresponding construction of flats and houses. In Bijeljina 36 flats are currently under construction to house Serb refugees now occupying Bosniak houses. Bosniak refugees in Germany should return to these houses, being the owners.
In Visegrad are constructed 530 houses for refugees. There are 12,500 Serb refugees in that city. Some 2,000 of them are accomodated in six collective centers in this commune.
The inhabitants of the village of Klisa (commune of Zvornik, RS) continue returning to their village. They spent almost a year in a tent settlement near the inter-entity delineation line. During that peiod they repaired their destoyed houses and started moving in. Over 130 families did so, thus far. Currently, other houses are being repaired and 210 families intend to return within a couple of months. The repair costs of 110 Bosniak houses are financed by the Swedish humanitarian organization SRSA.
In moving into their renovated houses the inhabitants of Klisa encountered no problem. Their safety was guarded by local RS police and IPTS members.
Although less and less incidents have been recorded as of lately, there were some regretfull cases in the period under review. Among otherwise rare incidents, one occured in the village of Gajevi (commune of Lopare, RS). Only Bosniaks used to inhebit the village, but they were expelled during the war. In the course of last year, the population of Gajeva was coming to this village to repair the houses destroyed. However, they were harassed by Serb extremists from naighbouring villages. By end February the returnees were even fired at. On such an occasion a 13-year old boy of Bosniak nationality was wounded, Mersad Hajdarevic. Luckily, the conflict remained at that.
Otherwise, cooperation between the Bosniak and Serb authorities and police along the line of delineation of the Tuzla Canton and RS communes, is good, by and large.The zone of delination is bussy with house repairs. In Gajeva 24 houses were built for Bosniaks.In the neigbouring villages of Brda and Kalata 60 houses are being repaired. In Koraja 450 Bosniak houses are about to be repaired. All the works are finnacially assisted by USAID and humaniratiran organization CIPS.
Shooting occured in Prijedor (RS) where unknown persons of Serb nationality fired are Bosniak returnees. The incident ended with no injured.
Fire was recorded along the line of inter-entity delineation near Bosanska Krupa (Unsko-sanski canton FBiH). Again, without casualities.
Of all the provisions of the Global UN Declaration on Human Rights, freedom of movement is least endangered. It is evident from ever more frequent travelling from one to another entity, and abroad, as of lately.
Freedom of movement was greatly promoted by uniform car plates. Also,bus lines between cities in different entities are increasing. In the period under review, bus line between Sarajevo (FBiH) and Bijeljina (RS) was reopened. The buses of the Sarajevo "Centrotrans" and Bijeljina "Semberija-transport" are commuting twice a day from each city.
Freedom of movement was promoted also by large open markets near the line of interentity delineation lines. Such are Arizona market on the route Brcko (RS) - Tuzla (FBiH) and Virdzinija between Zvornik (RS) and Kalesija (FBiH). Along with bargain hunting the population of both entities restore their mutual relations and friendships broken by the war.
By adoption of new uniform passports the citizens of Republika Srpska have got a travelling document of their own for the first time, opening world at large. Passport issuing authoties are less burdened and the procedure takes 15 days.
Since mid-February RS has its own air-liner "Air Srpska" that would facilitate travelling to European destinations.
Under the auspicies of Banjaluka "Independent" newspaper and commercial firms in RS, Banja Luka hosted commercial fair of BiH. Manufacturers and individuals exhibited their goods and services, there. Thus, commercial cooperation was established among the firms from the two entities.
Representatives of the communes of Petrovo (RS) and Gracanica) (FBiH) have agreed to cooperate in the joint construction of a bridge over the river of Sprece, to create a shortcut between the two communes.
Availing themselves of the freedom of movement and safety, guaranteed by the police of either entities, refugees and displaced persons were visiting their prewar homes and graveyards, more frequently.
Serb refugees from the commune of Zvornik (RS) visited the cemetery in Lijas commune (FBiH) on 13 February.
In spite of favorable conditions, there are still cases of restricted or prevented freedom of movement. The problem is more pronounced in the eastern part of RS where local authorities issue no personal or property documents to the citizens of non - Serb nationality. Without these documents they can not move freely.
The authorities still do not passport to the citizens of all nationalities under investigation proceedings. Due to such an attitude of RS authorities passports can not be obtained by several thousand RS citizens who therefore can not travel abroad.
Prevention of freedom of movement occurred on 22 March on the main road in RS between Bijeljina and Brcko. On that day the members and sympathizers of Srpska Radikalna Stranka blocked the traffic protesting against check points by SFOR. The traffic was stopped for 14 hours but there were no further complications.
SFOR patrol forcefully stopped the official car driven by co- chairman of the Ministry of Council of BiH Svetozar Mihajlovic
(representative of RS) on the same day. After routine control Mihajlovic continued his way to Bijeljina.
Right to work ranks among the most abused ones in RS irrespective of nationality or religion.
It means that there is high unemployment, since over 70% of labor active population are jobless. The labor market bureaus listed over 130 000 job seekers of all qualification structures.
In the area of Semberia, Posavina and Podrinje there are over 30 000 and in area of Banjaluka around 45 000 of job seekers, in eastern Hercegovina 12 500. Prospects for their employment are meager because reconstruction and development of large firms are at a stalemate. Most of socially owned companies operate at minimum capacities at the verge economic and technological brake down.
The right to work is particularly endangered when non - Serb population in RS is concerned. It is a notorious fact that most of them were sacked at the onset and during the war in BiH. most of the firms in RS are still reluctant to employ non- Serb workers.
Bosniaks and Romalies attempting at private businesses can not obtain necessary licenses. Employs in socially owned firms including non economic activities, receive very low and irregular wages. That is why the strikes are frequent. 350 workers of "Bosna-prevoz" in Doboj went on strike because they got no payment since November 1998. Workers of timber industry "Romanija" of Sokolac received no salary for 3 months and went of strike while salaries in "Jadar" of Zvornik are 5 months late. Particularly difficult is the situation in social firms in the commune of Srbinje (Foca). There are some firms were salaries were not paid in the last eight months. Due to restricted availability of public information in this commune and very strong and local power wielders, it is impossible to get insight into all social difficulties facing this commune.
Judging by a number of media, both in the territory of entire BiH and in RS, it may be stated that media enjoy full freedom and autonomy.
According to the latest data ( March 1999) 347 electronic and printed media are registered in entire BiH.
Most of the printed media (dailies and magazines) are published in Sarajevo, Banjaluka, Tuzla and Mostar. Considerably higher number of printed media are published in the area of FBiH than in RS. Totally 25 newspapers and 50 magazines are published.
Electronic media are considerably exceeding the printed ones. Throughout BiH 280 radio and TV companies are registered.
In keeping with the earlier operation Press section of Nordic-Polish SFOR brigade, with a headquarters in Doboj (RS) held on 11 and 12 February the second seminar for journalists of electronic and printed media from the zone of responsibility of that multinational unit. The seminar was held in Doboj, attended by journalists from both entities. The lecturers at the seminar were experienced journalists from Sweden and Norway.
The lectures concentrated on the codex of ethics in newspapers, radio and TV, research journalism, double check of sources and cooperation with TV cameramen and production of TV programs in Sweden.
The lecturers were frankly speaking also about professional tricks on the radio, survival of local radio stations, their funding and marketing. The seminar participants have seen video tapes obtained via media exchange with Swedish TV.
7.2 Control over electronic media
Since electronic media tend to be missused and advance false information convenient to individual parties or public segments, an Independent media commission (IMC) was formed within OHR, which to follow up and evaluate their work.
IMC set 31 March as a deadline for all electronic media to submit request for operating licenses and frequencies. Unless complied with the medias would be deprived of frequencies.
Thus far certain faults have been observed in some media,hence IMC pronounced its first fines (27 February). Croatian radio station Mostar was fined with 600 KM. TV channel S of Pale was fined with 1500 KM and TV Sveti Georgije of Banjaluka with 1000 KM. Warning was issued to TV BN, Radio Sprsko Sarajevo and Radio Vlasenica for non submission of the requested tapes of their program.
IMC also considered the possibility to ban foreign TV programs which were illicitly broadcasted in the territory of BiH. This applies also to Channel 3 of Croatian TV and IMC proposed to stop broadcasting. Also, IMC is of the view that Srpska radio televizija (SRT) should stop broadcasting the program of Radio televizija Srbije (SRT).
Nikola Poplasen, President of RS was also dissatisfied with primarily SRT and the Independent newspaper. Mr Poplasen compared those media with the media campaigns that were carried out by fascist Germany before and during WW II. It was met with an open revolt by all association of journalist and Minister of information in RS Government Rajko Vasic.
7.3 Campaign against the media
In the period under review media in RS had often been the target of attack, either physical of verbal. Dissatisfied by media were all disfavored by current political or information situation.
The first private and alternative RT station in Bjeljina : TRV PIM stopped broadcasting its programs on 5 February. The reason was that the manager of Thermal electric plant Boro Bozic ordered switch off of electricity to the transmitter of that station. The transmitter is positioned on the antenna pole (ownership of Thermoelectric plant) at the hill of Baljak above Ugljenik. Thermoelectric plant and RTV PIM had signed the five-year agreement on using the antenna pole. However manager Bosic claimed that the agreement was signed by an unauthorized person. The agreement was signed in April 1998, signed by the then acting director Arsen Tesic. At the time Bosic was co-chairman of the BiH Ministerial Council.
The owner of RTV PIM Branko Peric is convinced that this is but Bosic's revenge for the presence of this television team at the moment when he physically attack Jezdimir Spasojevic, the head of Urban planing department of Bjeljina commune. RTV PIM launched proceedings with the Basic Court in Bjeljina, via lawyer. The Court ruled out, under emergency procedure, that the transmitter be urgently connected to electricity supply, but nobody dared to.
Fifteen days later RTV PIM was forced to dislocate transmitter and restart broadcasting radio and TV program.
The litigation however has not been finalized. The next hearing will be held by mid- April.
After deposition of sixteen managers of media houses throughout RS by RS government last year, some local authorities headed by Srpska demokratska stranka (SDS) and Srpska radikalna stranka (SRS) refused to comply. In places where these parties are strong local media were meddled by new managers.
Radio Prnjavor was particularly disturbed. Following the appointment of new manager by RS government, local SDS authorities first sequestered one part of premises and gave them over to the Magistrate Court. The intention of local SDS was to move out radio Prnjavor from these premise completely. However, employees in the Radio managed to stay in a small part of premises. Communal authorities then curbed financial subsidies, but they went on in spite of it.
When the citizens gathered in Zvornik (March 6) to protest against the Arbitration award on Brcko and recall of the RS president Nikola Poplasen, the crowd attacked the premises of radio Osvit. A group of extremists first broke the doors and window panes and then broke into the desk of Radio Osvit. At that time two PCs were broken, mixette and other equipment. The reason for attack and destruction of equipment is that radio Osvit is an independent, autonomous house that has never been submissive to the influence of nationalistic parties. Employees on duty were helpless in preventing attacks and demolitions and had to withdraw for personal safety from outraged offenders.
At the time of extraordinary meeting of the National assembly of Banjaluka ( 7 March) in front of Banski Dvori some 100 protesters gathered. Two of them attacked the team of the Alternative Television of Banjaluka. First, they verbally insulted cameramen and journalists and then physically assaulted Zoran Popovic, a journalist. According to the later statements the demonstrators thought that it was the team of Serb television, whose attitudes and reports were dissatisfactory.
In Banjaluka, under the chairmanship of US Embassy at the time of anti-NATO demonstrations for bombing Yugoslavia (26 March) the group of demonstrators had beaten photo reporter of Independent newspaper Bojan Gacic and cameraman of alternative television Banjaluka, Predrag Milasinovic.
In doing their professional job, shooting demonstrations, they were attacked and beaten by elderly men, who mixed with secondary school and university students. One of them shouted out :"Foreigners, foreigners, you are shooting to send it abroad!".
"This led the others to start beating me"! said Gacic later on. The offenders knocked him down and destroyed his professional equipment. One from the crowd took out his pistol and targeted Gacic. Only when Gacic cried out he was no stranger they stopped. The whole event was watched by a group of policemen on duty who didn't want to stop the perpetrators.
On the occasion of this incident the editorial board of independent newspapers submitted demarche to the Ministry of the interior of RS requesting that journalist should be let normally go about their jobs.
The incident was deplored also by the Independent association of journalist of RS (NUN RS) that also requested safety for journalists. In their view the campaign against independent journalist was backed by those who got used to media subservient to their politics, and journalists executors of their orders.
NUN RS invited its membership and all the journalists in RS to demonstrate the highest degree of professionalism in doing their job.
NUN RS warned that in the course of March some journalists boycotted press conferences of international organizations. These moves were inadmissible because journalist should by no means manifest their political conviction on the job.
Harassment of journalist was deplored by Association of journalist of RS (UN RS) requesting the law enforcement officers to provide for normal work conditions to all the journalists, cameramen and photo reporters.
The Office of the High Representative (OHR) for BiH raised its voice in connection with the campaign against journalist and individual medias. The Office deplored all the attacks on journalists in upholding the right of every individual and organization to express freely its views, even to demonstrate, but peacefully and in democratic way. It was particularly stressed the journalist should be able to freely and safely perform their tasks. The statement of OHR says among others :" Free media constitute one of the pillars of each and every democracy. Only flow of objective information shall let the citizens form their views. Journalists must be allowed to work smoothly and safely and to have free access to all the events of public interest."
At the same time the Office invited the local police to investigate the cases and take necessary measures against the perpetrators.
7.5 IMC bans no RTS broadcasts
IMC rejected the allegation that it banned the broadcast of news and political programs of Radio Television Srbija (RTS). IMC sent a letter to some radio and TV stations in RS informing that in its "preliminary findings it was found that information and other political programs of RTS are consistently and systematically partial and contain serious omissions of important facts and statements that are factually false".
IMC stated that Radio and TV stations in RS, broadcasting news or programmers of RTS are expected to "provide balanced information and opinion to compensate for considerable faults in these programs".
IMC requested that all the programs broadcasted in BiH be in keeping with IMC Broadcasting Codex, which clearly sets out standards and rules for program contents.
8. VIOLENCE AND ATTACKS AGAINST INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS PERSONNEL
The two-month period ( from February 1 to March 31) in RS will be known as the time of numerous provocations, protest meetings and attacks on representatives of international organizations in charge of conducting Dayton peace treaties.
All of these incidents were caused by daily political events and crises in RS and NATO air strikes on FR Yugoslavia.
First protest meeting of citizens and incidents occurred after the announcement of the Arbitrage decision declaring Brcko a district and decision of High Representative for BiH Karlos Vestendorp recalling Nikola Poplasen, as President of RS. Both decisions were made on the same day (March 5) and provoked general reactions of Serbian nationalist parties and individuals. It is obvious that nationalists prepared their response to such decisions in advance.
The first and the heaviest incident occurred on 5 March in Ugljevik. That evening around 5 P.M. local inhabitants and four American soldiers of SFOR's multinational division Sjever confronted verbally and then phisically. The verbal conflict took place in restaurant "Kontinental". SFOR members left the restaurant and went to thier vehicle, but a larger group of civilans followed scolding and insulting them. One of the civilians hit an American serviceman with a stick, but when he tried to do that again, the servicman fired twice from his pistol. The perperator, Krsto Micic, was seriously injured and died on his way to Bjeljina hospital. Micic was a Vicepresident of Srpska Radikalna stranka in the neighbouring commune of Lopare. Investigation into the case was carried by SFOR, IPTF and local police.
The murder of Micic provoked turbulent response and great dissatisfaction in Ugljevik and Lopari, because Micic was unarmed and was shot in the street where some people were walking. The executive Council of the Assembly of the commune of Ugljevik issued the statement qualifying Micic 's murder as a "criminal act by the serviceman of US forces within SFOR".
An extraordinary session of the Assembly of the commune of Ugljevik was held next day, which strongly condemned the murder of Micic and rejected the official statement of SFOR headquarters concerning the incident because "it was grounded on false allegations and shielded the responsibility of a SFOR member".
On 5 March in Prijedor in the eveneing two explosive devices were thrown to the facilities and vehicles of IPTF and Simik centre. A 12 year old boy was injured and significant material damage infflicted.
The Prijedor police appealed to the citizens to "restrain from any actions against representatives of the International community and foregin citizens, because such excesses may only inflict damage to Republika Srpska". Police recomended to the owners of restaurants to close their facilities later in the afternoon for the possibility of repetition of similar incidents.
At the city square in Bijeljina on March 6 the members and sympathizers of Srpska demokratska stranka (SDS) and Srpska radikalna stranka (SRS) organized support gathering for RS President Nikola Poplasen and against Arbitrage award on Brcko. During the meeting some 10 young men hit stones and damaged two vehicles of American military observer mission JCO, within SFOR. Members of JCO were in the vehciles watching the meeting only. At the time of attack all panes were broken of the vehicles while JCO members suffered no body injury. From one vehicle a warning pistol shot was heared. The vehicles left at the high speed, while the perpetrators mixed with the crowd.
On Saturday 6 March in Gradiska a hand granade was thrown on the building where IPTF office is located around 8 P.M. One IPTF vehicle was damaged but no casualties. The investigation was carried out by local police in cooperaion by IPTF. Perpetrators were not located.
Derventa was also a site of an incidence. Unknown persons broke the panes on the building of SIMIK centre. The investigation and prosecution were held by local police, in cooperation with the international police (IPTF).
Local police of Doboj prevented a more serious incident in this town.
On the support gathering against the deposition of RS president Nikola Poplasen and Arbitrage Award on by Srpska demokratska stranka (SDS) and Srpska radikalna stranka (SRS) the demonstratives, at one point of time, surrounded two SFOR vehicles and made a move towards them. But, thanks to the fast respons of local police who surrounded the vehicles by making the protective corridor there were no bigger incidents. The demonstratives verbally disapproved the police act. The SFOR vehicles left the crowd safely, and the demonstrates continued the protest walk in the city.
New attack on vehicle of JCO, American military observer mission with SFOR, occurred in Bijeljina on March 21. Unknown offenders threw a bomb between two jeeps of JCO. Both vehicles were damaged, and on the building behind them, panes were broken.
In front the OHR's office in Banjaluka in the night of March 21 exploded two bombs. There were no casualties and one vehicle of OHR was damaged. The offenders were not found.
A few hours before the explosion in the OHR office, the so called state of alarm no. 2 was sounded, which means that the employees may move only in safe and well known places.
The vehicle of French military forces within SFOR in Visegrad was hit by a bomb on March 24. The explosion just damaged the vehicle, with no injured. Perpetrators were not traced.
Two IPTF vehicles (March 25) parked in front of the building of the International police were hit by Molotof cocktail. Fire was quickly extinguished by IPTF officers.
Following this attack on IPTF, the transporter of the Russian brigade within SFOR came and took them to Tuzla. Perpetrators were not traced.
In the afternoon of March 25 a larger group od citizens hit with stones and eggs the Offices of US embassy in Banjaluka in protest against air strikes on Yugoslavia. American flag was taken off the building and window panes and spot lights were broken. More then 1000 students and pupils took a walk through a city in protest against air strikes in Yugoslavia.
Protesting against air strikes on Yugoslavia the Nevesinje secondary school pupils attacked on March 27 the members of the Spanish brigade within SFOR, downtown Nevesinje. They first hit the soldiers with eggs and then with stones.
SFOR members withdrew and did not respond to provocation. A couple of SFOR vehicles went with broken panes but none of the soldiers was injured.
A large group of protestants gathered in Brcko od March 25 to protest against NATO forces air strikes on Yugoslavia and against the award on Brcko. Walking along the streets they gathered in front of the Office of the International supervisor for Brcko, Robert Farand. They hit the building with eggs and stones. All window panes were broken and the facade damaged. There were no casualties.
The personnel of the Supervisor's office left the city a day earlier, consequently the building was empty at the time of assault. Thanks to the intervention of local police the incident was contained and the protestants dispersed after half an hour.
On 26 March another assault took place in front of IPTF in Bjeljina, although it was emptied of the personnel of this international organization. A bomb was thrown in front of the building around midnight. There were no casualties. Local police stated that perpetrators were arrested but gave no names or motives for the assault.
An unknown person hit an explosive device on 28 March on a house of the OCSE Center for democratization in Visegrad. The investigation on the spot revealed that a hand grenade "Zolja" was fired. Detonation broke the panes on the house itself and in the neighborhood. There were no casualties. Perpetrators were not traced.
An IPTF vehicle, parked in front of the building of the International police in Pale was hit by an explosive device on March 28. The vehicle was damaged but no casualties. Following the incident the IPTF representatives, accompanied by SFOR vehicles, left Pale for the territory of FBiH.
Two incidents occurred in Doboj on 29 March. First, tires were flattened on two IPTF vehicles. The incident ended at that, only.
A couple of hours later unknown perpetrators put one IPTF vehicle on fire, "Toyota" make. The vehicle was burnt down. No casualties.
After there two successive attacks the representatives of the international police left the city.
Within its activities of informing the public of its work, the Helsinki committee for Human rights held one press conference in the period under review. The Conference was held on March 22 in the premises of the National library "Filip Visnjic" in Bijeljina. Branko Todorovic, Chairman of the Helsinki Committee exposed upon the current state of human rights. Miodrag Stojanovic, the lawyer of the Helsinki committee spoke of the situation in judiciary and on the outcome of the trial of Miodrag Andric, defended by him in the Cantonal court in Sarajevo (FBiH).
Miodrag Andric also spoke imprisonment experience in Gorazde and Sarajevo jails, trials and release.
The conference was attended by journalists and observers of international organizations as follows :
- PAN Radio Bijeljina; Srpska radio televizija (SRT) Banja luka; Srpski radio Bjeljina; RTV BiH Sarajevo; RTV BN Bijeljina; Semberske novine Bijeljina; SRNA; Reporter Banjaluka; Radio DAS Bijeljina; Panorama Bjeljina; Ekstra magazin Bjeljina; Oslobodjenje Sarajevo; ONASA Sarajevo; Radio Slobodna Evropa; ECMM; UN Civil Affairs.
10. HELSINKI COMMITTEE PRESS RELEASES
Following the topical developments the Helsinki Committee issued following press releases:
The Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Republika Srpska welcomes the ruling of the Court chamber of five judges of the Cantonal court in Sarajevo, releasing Miodrag Andric from criminal charges.
This ruling reinstates the confidence of the citizens of Bosnia and Hercegovina in proper functioning of independent judiciary in observance of the international legal standards and constitution of BiH.
The Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Republika Srpska is looking forward to the time when the judiciary authorities of both entities in Bosnia and Hercegovina will serve justice, law and legal security for all the citizens in BiH.
In Bjeljina Press service
22 March 1999 of HCF HR
The Helsinki Committee for Human rights in Republika Srpska strongly condemns a series of bomb attacks on the representative of the international community in RS. These attacks are primarily directed against the citizens of RS and are aimed at presenting them in the eye of world public in negative connotation, as inclined to terrorism.
In our view a large part of responsibility for the acts of violence is shouldered by extremist political leaders who publicly incite violence, hatred and chaos. It is of great concern that the MUP officers are unable to find perpetrators of such acts.
The representatives of the international community are present in RS and BiH under the agreements and obligations that RS signed and undertook. They made peace and helped reconstruct our country. Assaults against them represent primarily a desire of certain forces in RS to slow down reconstruction and progress in RS and cause insecurity, chaos and lawlessness.
We hope that all progressive forces in RS will join in the strongest condemnation of terrorism and violence.
In Bjeljina Press release
24 March 1999 of Helsinki Committee