$ B REPORTERS VITEZ, Aug 8 (Hina) - Spokesmen from UNHCR Mans Nyberg, International Police Task Force (IPTF) Alan Roberts, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Tomas Miglierina and IFOR Sector South-West Major
Williams Smith on Thursday spoke to Croat, Moslem and Serb reporters in Vitez about the freedom of movement and human rights as regards the oncoming elections in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
SER
$ B REPORTERS
VITEZ, Aug 8 (Hina) - Spokesmen from UNHCR Mans Nyberg,
International Police Task Force (IPTF) Alan Roberts, Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Tomas Miglierina and
IFOR Sector South-West Major Williams Smith on Thursday spoke to
Croat, Moslem and Serb reporters in Vitez about the freedom of
movement and human rights as regards the oncoming elections in
Bosnia-Herzegovina. #L#
Refuting Serb reporters' statements that IFOR were responsible
for the lack of electricity in the Banja Luka area, Major Smith
said that this was an insinuation and that a British organization
for overseas development had invested 17 million US dollars so far
in creating conditions for the supply of electricity in the area.
Alan Roberts stressed the dissatisfying cooperation of the
local police, especially in Bugojno, citing cases of human rights
violations that ended tragically.
A 55-year-old Moslem had been apprehended in Banja Luka on 31
July for allegedly having a weapon in his possession, who had died
in the Banja Luka prison on 1 August, Roberts said.
The local police in Drvar had arrested and abused a Serb
married to a Croat woman for not having appropriate documentation,
and requested him to leave Drvar, he said.
The Moslem Police had abused the people in western Bosnia
because they openly expressed support for Fikret Abdic, he said.
There were constantly cases of abuse and evictions from homes
of persons in mixed marriages in Banja Luka, Roberts said, adding
that all this was done to the knowledge of municipal authorities
and could have negative consequences on the elections.
Nyberg cited positive examples, stressing the visit of some 40
Serbs to Petrovac on August 4, as well as the visit of about 20
Moslems to Sipovo.
Until yesterday such visits had been impossible, Nyberg said,
adding that they were examples which gave strength to all those
with good intentions to continue in the implementation of the
Dayton peace accords.
(Hina) lm
081949 MET aug 96