MOSTAR, Nov 8 (Hina) - The Catholic Church in Bosnia-Herzegovina on Wednesday called on the faithful in this country to go to the polls at Saturday's election, but it did not tell them to take part in a referendum called for the same
day by the recently-established organisation the Croatian people's assembly. Bosnian Croats should give their opinions on their position at the referendum whose conduct was suggested by the Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia-Herzegovina (HDZ BiH) after the alteration of rules for election of deputies to the House of Nations in the Bosnian (Croat-Moslem) Federation. There is no mention of the referendum, already condemned by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) mission and the Office of the High Representative, in a letter which Archbishop of Sarajevo, Cardinal Vinko Puljic, and Auxiliary Bishop Pero Sudar signed
MOSTAR, Nov 8 (Hina) - The Catholic Church in Bosnia-Herzegovina on
Wednesday called on the faithful in this country to go to the polls
at Saturday's election, but it did not tell them to take part in a
referendum called for the same day by the recently-established
organisation the Croatian people's assembly.
Bosnian Croats should give their opinions on their position at the
referendum whose conduct was suggested by the Croatian Democratic
Union of Bosnia-Herzegovina (HDZ BiH) after the alteration of rules
for election of deputies to the House of Nations in the Bosnian
(Croat-Moslem) Federation.
There is no mention of the referendum, already condemned by the
Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) mission
and the Office of the High Representative, in a letter which
Archbishop of Sarajevo, Cardinal Vinko Puljic, and Auxiliary
Bishop Pero Sudar signed and which urges Catholic believers to take
part in Saturday's ballot. The dignitaries, however, expressed
concern that voters could be confused by the entire run-up to the
election.
Sarajevo Archdiocese's dignitaries suggest to voters to cast their
ballots for "wise, honest and courageous persons" who will "promote
the welfare of all people and the equality of (Bosnia's) nations on
the entire territory of the country" which they see as the only path
towards "the construction of just society".
The international community has a few times cautioned that the
referendum is against the law and Constitution violating the ban on
electioneering.
The head of the commission in charge of the organisation of the
referendum, Josip Muselimovic, refuted accusations of the
international community.
Muselimovic asserted that all activities relating to the
referendum would take place at least 100 metres far from polling
stations and that it would respect the ban on electioneering.
He also refused its comparison with the 1991 referendum of the Serb
Democratic Party, claiming the latter had expansionist goals,
while the purpose of the Croat referendum would be the protection of
the constitutional and legal position of Croats.
(hina) jn ms