OSCE MAKES NEW RULES FOR BOSNIAN LOCAL ELECTIONS

SARAJEVO, Oct 17 (Hina) - The OSCE's (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe) top rule-making body for Bosnian elections, the Provisional Election Commission on Thursday decided to change some rules for local elections due to be held 23-24 November. The Commission ruled that Bosnian citizens would be allowed now to cast their votes only in municipalities where they had permanent residence in 1991. Thus, it rescinded a rule that refugees could go to polls in municipalities where they had not been living in 1991. Refugees cannot be registered in electoral rolls of municipalities where they had no permanent residence in 1991 under the 1991 census, except in rare cases defined by new rules on elections, according to a statement by the OSCE mission, which explained virtual rescinding of the P-2 form (abused by Bosnian Serb authorities who had made Serb refugees to try to vote, thanks to the form, in towns where Moslems and Croats had majority before the war). The Provisional Election Commission said refugees could file an application form to be allowed to vote in municipalities where they had not been living in 1991 only if they had convincingly documented evidence of their permanent abode in new municipalities as of December 14, 1995. Such applications must be submitted by November 16, the OSCE mission said in Sarajevo. (hina) mš 172028 MET oct 96