State media spread fear and propaganda

Socialist Party of Republika Srpska (SP RS)

Banjaluka, 6 August, 1997 (AIM) - Mr.Dragoljub Trivanoviå, Vice-president of Socialist Party of Republika Srpska (SP RS) condemned the state media, which rather aggressively and without valid arguments defend current authorities and ignore the discontent of the populace. "The suspicious surveys with highly prosaic results are being launched, which not only glorify the authorities, but also secretly call out for war and spread fear prior to the elections", said Mr. Trivanovic.

Speaking about oncoming local elections, Mr. Trivanovic emphasized that contrived data on non-Serb inhabitants threatened to endanger the results of elections because of the opposition, for the benefit of the parties from Federation." all misinformation serve as an additional pressure put on the electoral body for the purpose of the promoting the SDS" underlined Mr. Trivanovic and added that SP RS condemned the international community for rejecting the complaints of more than 3000 voters from Brcko, and requested that these citizens should be enabled to vote like all other citizens.

Representatives of SP RS requested from the international community to provide equal participation of all parties and other election participants in the voters' boards as well as immediate vote counting
at the polling location.(end)