Odjel za ljudska prava/vladavinu prava

SUMMARY Four cross-IEBL arrests occurred during March, including two detentions on war crimes charges (with the eventual release of one of the detainees) as well as two arrests on common crimes charges related to incidents pre-dating the conflict. Obstacles to return continue to be recorded in Drvar and Stolac with minority houses targeted with ex [...]

Protection Of Minorities Arrests Conducted in Travnik and Sarajevo Cases UN IPTF reported that cantonal police arrested two suspects, one of whom has been charged, in connection with a case in Travnik (Fed) in which a Croat man died on 11 September from injuries sustained in a physical altercation two days prior.

FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT Brcko Supervisor Orders End to Fee Collection On 30 August, the Deputy High Representative and Supervisor for Brcko Ambassador Farrand issued orders for the RS police to stop charging for "RS visas" and for road tolls from travellers crossing into Brcko using the bridge from Croatia.

FREEDOM OF THOUGHT / EXPRESSION / ASSOCIATION DNZ Participation in Round Table Causes Walk-Out On 20 August, OSCE organized a political party round table in Velika Kladusa (Fed), including for the first time, a participant from the Democratic People's Union (DNZ), the party associated with former autonomist leader Fikret Abdic.

RIGHT TO RETURN Returnees' Property Damaged UN IPTF reported that on 16 August, three Croat-owned houses in the village of Curcica Lug in the Bugojno (Fed) area were damaged by explosives and a fourth house was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade.

PROTECTION OF MINORITIES Bosniak Homeowner Regains Access to Property OSCE reported that on 4 August, a Bosniak man successfully gained entry to his home in Banja Luka (RS) in the presence of OSCE, UN IPTF, court officials, and local police who monitored as he changed the locks on the doors.

THREATS TO LIBERTY AND SECURITY Missing Men Found in Zenica Prison On 4 August, two Serb men who had been registered by the ICRC as missing since September 1995 were freed from the Zenica military prison where they had been held for 1˝ years in clear violation of the prisoner release provision of Annex 1-A of the Peace Agreement.

FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT Harassment of Cross-IEBL Motorists Reported A Bosniak motorist told UN IPTF that he was stopped by police in Sipovo (RS) on 26 July who told him that he could not use the road "because he is a Muslim." The policemen made him pay 200 DM in order to pass.

FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT FOM Violations Illegal Checkpoints Reported in RS On 23 July, UN IPTF discovered an illegal checkpoint on the road from Sarajevo to Pale (RS). When UN IPTF asked the RS police to dismantle the checkpoint, the officers refused, citing orders from their superiors.

PROTECTION OF MINORITIES Posavina Officials Discuss Housing Solutions On 10 July, Posavina Canton authorities, OHR, UNHCR, OSCE, and UN IPTF met to discuss housing problems in the Canton following reports of moves by the authorities to evict Bosniak displaced persons currently living in Orasje (Fed).