Press release

 Human rights activists need to be protected

The cruel murder of Dusko Kondor, a human rights activist, has once again returned to the agenda the status of human rights defenders in Bosnia and Herzegovina. After a period when these actors of civil society were targets of the bearers of power, when they were abused, threatened and prevented from doing their jobs, we have now entered into a phase when police, judicial and frequently political authorities are not doing anything to protect personal safety and integrity of fighters for human rights and members of their families.

Police were informed about threats against Dusko Kondor, but failed to do anything to take away automatic weapons from the person that would become the murderer of Dusko Kondor. At the same time, the competent bodies did not ensure execution of a legally binding prison sentence for the person from whom only crime could have been expected.

Not so long ago, another prominent activist, Mladen Mimic from Milici, was a victim of attempted murder by those who did not like Mimic’s relentless fight for human rights. The perpetrators of this evil act are still at large and have not been brought to justice.

An activist from Jajce, Eduard Sklenar, was practically forced to seek asylum outside Bosnia and Herzegovina in order to protect his life after countless threats, planting of explosives in front of his house and persistent inaction of police. This incomplete list of human rights defenders under threat confirms the fact that the authorities have been ignoring the obligation to guarantee personal safety to every citizen staying in this country, particularly having in mind the strict obligation under international conventions, including the UN Declaration on Rights and Duties of Individuals, Groups and Social Bodies regarding promotion and protection of universally recognized human rights and fundamental freedoms.

The proper action after the tragedy of Dusko Kondor and his family would be for someone to take over responsibility and bear consequences for this event, including resignations and acceptance of other moral and legal consequences. However, in this country, where there is no rule of law and where the personalities in power, with all due respect for exceptions, are totally free of moral scruples, this expectation seems like utopia. However, surely the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina and all others defending human rights and freedoms, have the right to request full disclosure of the murder of Dusko Kondor and exemplary punishment of his murderer, as well as serious measures in order for similar things not to be repeated ever again in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Srdjan Dizdarevic,
President of the Helsinki Committee in Bosnia and Herzegovina

No.: 15-02/2007
Sarajevo, 26 February 2007

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