SDA HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR FORGED APPLICATIONS FOR VOTING

SARAJEVO, Dec 28 (Hina) - The Election Appeals Sub-Commission that acts within the OSCE mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina, on Tuesday said that the ruling Moslem Party of Democratic Action (SDA) was responsible for electoral manipulations during the registration of voters for elections that were conducted in Bosnia in 1998. According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the OSCE (Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe) mission, a thorough investigation has established that there were cases of abuse during the registration of voters - Bosnian citizens- done with assistance of Bosnia's consulate in New York. A great number of applications forwarded from that consulate were filled in in the same manner which stirred suspicion of OSCE representatives, in charge of the supervision of the conduct of the election. The probe also established that data were used for submission of false applications for the voting. Although the investigation did not lead to a name of the person that should be regarded as liable for such manipulations, the Appeals Sub-Commission concluded that the consulate is responsible for failing to prevent the abuse of data which it possessed. The SDA party had direct benefit of this manipulation, and therefore the OSCE decided to apply penal measures. The sub-commission decided to remove up to 15 names proposed by the SDA as its candidates at municipal elections, scheduled for April 2000. Candidates, eliminated from the electoral race, cannot be replaced by others. (hina) ms