OHR BiH TV News Summary, 16 April 2000

News Headlines

  • BiH police officers depart for East Timor to participate in UN peace mission there
  • Unknown perpetrators demolish memorial constructed for fallen HVO members in Podbrijezje, Zenica
  • Seventh anniversary of Ahmici crimes denoted
  • Report on return of Bosniaks to Prijedor after protocol signed between Sanski Most and Prijedor municipalities
  • World news
  • Circle 99 Independent Intellectuals discuss the Risks of Free Journalism
  • International Helsinki Federation concerned over respect of human rights in southeastern Europe
  • SFOR spokesperson denies allegations of BiH Federation Commission that SFOR prevented the initiation of an investigation at the military training center Barbara in Glamoc field
  • The new structure and composition of the BiH Council of Ministers – main topic of the TV BiH newscast
  • Report on BiH wonders in Glamoc – the Three Glamoc Miracles
  • Report on establishment of BiH’s joint sports fishing team
  • Sports
  • Weather

News Summary

Unknown perpetrators demolish memorial constructed for fallen HVO members in Podbrijezje, Zenica

Unknown perpetrators demolished and razed a memorial constructed for four fallen HVO members in the Zenica settlement of Podbrijezje on Sunday. The destruction of this memorial occurred immediately after its unveiling to the public. According to HDZ Zenica President Josip Pojavnik (one of the initiators of the memorial), this act of destruction occurred after midnight. Pojavnik said that they would build another memorial at the same site that would be both bigger and better. This is the way to remember our soldiers, who gave their lives for our country, said this HDZ official.

01:07

Seventh anniversary of Ahmici crimes denoted

Seven years ago, on 16 April 1993, 126 inhabitants were killed in the village of Ahmici. The village was torched and the remaining inhabitants expelled, a TV BiH journalist reported. Returnees to Ahmici and those who expect to return will not allow this crime to be forgotten. They are doing this through the lasting memory of the tragedy and the village’s reconstruction. Ahmici inhabitants held a prayer vigil on Sunday to remind of the crime and said they would do the same each year on 16 April. They stressed that they would gather at the same place annually and remind that 16 April 1993 would not happen again. Ahmici inhabitants thanked USAID for the reconstruction of power and water supply networks and the local school, and said they were still expecting the reconstruction of 30 other facilities. Ahmici citizens with pleasure talk about this assistance and the return because that is the most important thing for them at this moment. However, they do not want to comment on this Sunday’s act by local Croats. On a day when Ahmici Bosniaks mark the seventh anniversary of their suffering and loss of their loved ones, these Croats, at a holy mass celebration in a local graveyard, unveiled an enormous memorial cross to Croat victims. In response, Ahmici citizens say there only desire is to return to their Ahmici.

01:47

Circle 99 Independent Intellectuals discuss the Risks of Free Journalism

This week’s topic of the Circle 99 Association of Independent Intellectuals was the Risks of Free Journalism. Participants at the discussion concluded that there is not enough critical and investigative journalism in BiH, and that NGOs and journalists’ associations must be more agile in the protection of journalists’ rights. Beside physical attacks and court proceedings that journalists must face because of the stories they write, media houses are in very bad material situation and are exposed to the pressures of conditioning marketing cooperation. Participants pointed out the lack of journalistic institutions that exist to protect journalists exposed to pressure. The international community will provide $4.5 million to finance independent media that will be divided among BiH Federation TV, TV OBN and the IMC.

00:47