SARAJEVO, Dec 21 (Hina) - UN spokesman in Sarajevo Aleksandar Ivanko said on Saturday that the International Police Task Force (IPTF) in Bosnia had obtained information that the Social Democtaric Action party (SDA) activists had
staged a campaign aimed at preventing New Year's celebrations and Santa Claus.
SARAJEVO, Dec 21 (Hina) - UN spokesman in Sarajevo Aleksandar
Ivanko said on Saturday that the International Police Task Force
(IPTF) in Bosnia had obtained information that the Social
Democtaric Action party (SDA) activists had staged a campaign aimed
at preventing New Year's celebrations and Santa Claus. #L#
The apparently comic campaign grew to concerning proportions,
and UN representatives, Carl Bildt's Office and OSCE connected it
with recent physical assaults at reporters in Sarajevo and the
attempts to throttle the freedom of media.
Assaulted were the director of 'ISV Radio' which organized
questionnairs and publicly supported Santa Claus, as well as
reporters of the 'Studio 99' television who also launched a public
campaing in support of Santa Claus after it had become obvious that
the jovial character was being banned from schools.
Ivanko said that the employees of many primary schools in
Sarajevo had complained that SDA activists were "advising" them not
to organize a New Year's celebration and presents given by Santa
Claus.
The whole story began with Alija Izetbegovic's open letter in
which he criticized the Bosnian state television for showing
footage of New Year's celebrations and said reporters should "stop
imposing these Santa Clauses, foreign to our people".
In early December, independent local media established that
there was no written document or recommendation for the abolishment
of Santa Claus, but that most kindergartens and primary schools
complied with the unwritten law.
Ivanko said that the operation of banning Santa Claus was
being carried out using subtle methods, primarily through party
activists suggesting what should be done.
This was very visible when you walked around Sarajevo, Ivanko
said, adding that the picture of Santa Claus rarely appeared in
view.
Political analysts at the UN mission tried to discover the
motives for this bizzare campaign.
It was estimated that Santa Claus was under attack because he
was one of the symbols of unity, an integrative element which was a
great hindrance to extremists, Ivanko said.
(hina) lm
211519 MET dec 96