OHR BiH TV News Summary, 8 April 2000

News Headlines

  • OSCE extends voting until 20:00
  • OSCE spokesperson Tanya Domi guest on TV BiH newscast, informs of the voting process
  • Center for Civic Initiatives President Zlatan Ohranovic informs of the voting process in BiH
  • Report from Mostar on voting process in that town: OSCE Press Center Mostar says that around 50% of electorate voted
  • Incident occurred in Stolac, a party official knocked a ballot box off the table, however, the incident was quickly resolved
  • Report from Zenica on voting process; Zenica LEC asks OSCE to extend voting until midnight
  • Report from Bihac on voting process, first assessments indicate that around 80% of electorate voted
  • Report on voting process in Tuzla, 364 polling stations opened in Tuzla, incomplete voter registers were the only problem
  • Report from Banja Luka on voting process, 40,53% of electorate voted in Banja Luka by 17:00, no incidents reported
  • TV BiH Banja Luka correspondent confirms that SDS is preparing press conference for 22:00 tonight
  • Collage report on voting process in municipalities of Lukavica, Konjic, Jablanica, Donji Vakuf, Blagaj, Mostar, Bugojno, Bosanska Krupa, Laktasi, Gradiska, Sarajevo, Vares, Zivinice, Orasje, Breza, Doboj, Kakanj, Bijeljina, Bosanski Petrovac, Kljuc, Bihac, Ilidza, Pale, Ilijas and Buzim
  • Alija Izetbegovic votes
  • Zivko Radisic votes
  • High Representative Wolfgang Petritsch visits polling stations, says he is hopeful of certain change
  • Milorad Dodik says this is very important election for the RS
  • Zlatko Lagumdzija votes
  • Haris Silajdzic expects the democratic will of the people
  • Rasim Kadic expects certain changes for the better
  • Mladen Ivanic votes
  • President of Croat cultural association Napredak Franjo Topic did not find his name on voter registers
  • Napredak asks, if it is true that many people were not on the voter registers, how authentic are these elections?
  • Edhem Bicakcic votes
  • Dragan Kalinic votes with tendered ballot because he could not find his name in the voter register
  • TV BiH crew finds Nikola Poplasen’s poster in Municipal Election Commission building in Lukavica, Commission President removes it after being warned by TV BiH that it constitutes violation of PEC rules and regulations
  • BiH Federation Interior Ministry spokesman Nazif Dinarevic interviewed on security situation during voting process, and he says no incidents occurred with the exception of Glamoc incident
  • TV BiH crew goes to Glamoc to investigate Friday’s incident on the premises of the Islamic Community building
  • World news
  • TV BiH to celebrate 55th birthday on 10 April
  • TV BiH web page linked to OSCE website, offers momentary update on voting process in BiH
  • OSCE to announce number of voters that participated in local elections on 9 April
  • Explosion occurs near a polling station in Pale at 20:40
  • Explosion occurs near military barracks in Lukavica at around 21:00
  • TV BiH Glamoc correspondent reports on the explosion that destroyed the Bosniak-returnee-owned Palma café, which was totally destroyed, as well as the premises of Islamic Community in the same building
  • Process of ballot counting started immediately after polling stations closed – OSCE press conference
  • EU lifted financial sanctions against Yugoslavia on Saturday

News Summary

OSCE spokesperson Tanya Domi guest on TV BiH newscast, informs of the voting process

OSCE spokesperson Tanya Domi was the guest on the TV BiH newscast on which he informed of the voting process. She said that no violence occurred during voting, but there were some attempts at boycotting the elections in the areas where Croats live. “The response of voters is good” Domi specified. Commenting on the Croat boycott of the elections in certain parts of the country, Domi said that it could only damage the parties that were participating in the boycott. Concerning the possibility of extending the voting period, Domi believes the Provisional Election Commission (PEC) will stick to the 20:00 deadline, but added that any requests by the local election commissions to extend voting would be considered by the PEC.

09:55

Center for Civic Initiatives President Zlatan Ohranovic informs of the voting process in BiH

The BiH NGO Center of Civil Initiatives President Zlatan Ohranovic informs TV BiH of the voting process. Ohranovic said that his organization had pointed out certain irregularities concerning 38 polling stations that did not open on time. He also informed that the greatest problem during elections was the incompleteness of voter registers.

02:20

Process of ballot counting started immediately after polling stations closed – OSCE press conference

The OSCE held an impromptu press conference after the completion of the voting in BiH local elections on 9 April. Counting started at 20:00. Concerning the Glamoc incident, OSCE spokesperson Tanya Domi said there are no indications this incident is related to the voting process. She added that there were attempts of fraud and intimidation during voting. Domi also mentioned the election boycott of Croats in Zepce and Gornji Vakuf. The Provisional Election Commission (PEC) has so far received around 20 complaints regarding the voting process. The voter turnout was less than anticipated, Domi concluded.

01:00