STATEMENT FOR PRESS

Terrorism Supported by Centers of Political Power

 

The Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina, at the session of its Steering Board, most strongly condemned the placing of explosive device in front of the Catholic School Center in Sarajevo.

Frequent terroristic actions, since the signing of the Dayton Peace Agreement, lead us to conclude that the actions are directly connected with the policy of the present authorities. It is not the question of uncontrolled individuals and groups as the official authorities would like to present.

In the period in which terrorism, relative to its dangerous effects, has given place to warfare, the competent bodies have not discovered perpetrators in the biggest number of cases. Besides, the highest officials whose primary task is to protect security and lawfullness, have not been accountable for not performing their duties or for ineffectivness of the bodies for whose functioning they are responsible for.

In the situation in which terrorism has become everyday life in BH, the Helsinki Committee appeals to democratically elected bodies of authorities to raise a question of accountability, without delay, for all failures of the competent bodies which have brought us to the increasing level of terrorism and its being tolerated.

Having in mind the role of the international community in resolving BH crisis, we also appeal to the institutions forseen by the Dayton Agreement, to be more actively involved in preventing against terrorism and its sanctioning.
 

Sarajevo, 12 October 1997
No. 12-10/97