IPTF discovered war prisoners in Zenica

IPTF, SFOR, OSCE and UNHCR

Banjaluka, 5 August, 1997(AIM) - The joint press conference of international organizations was held in Banjaluka today. The press statement of IPTF confirmed that Mr. Nenad Skrbic and Mr. Dusan Skrebic from Teslic were released from the prison in Zenica after the visit of the international police. The prisoners were discovered using the information given by their family, while the local authorities in Zenica could not provide any documentation in connection to these two cases. " The Special Envoy of UN Secretary General, Mr. Kai Eide wants to emphasize that imprisonment of these two Serbs, without any legal foundation and for a longer time period, represents serious breach of international human rights as well as the Dayton Agreement". The federal authorities are required to carry out an investigation in connection to this case and identify those responsible.

Spokespersons of SFOR, IPTF, OSCE and UNHCR condemned the obstruction of return of B&H refugees to villages around Jajce, torching of their homes and pronounced these events as serious breach of Dayton Accord.

Mr.Niberg also mentioned incidents vin Svjetliča near Doboj, where Serb expelled Bosniaks, who were reconstructing their homes, using agricultural tools and that one Bosniak was beaten up in the Hodzici village. He further stated that an incident also happened in Petrovac, in which group of Serbs, coming in the UNHCR bus to the town to visit their houses, was attacked. According to Mr. Niberg, the local police did not act to prevent these incidents in any way.

Mr. Fabio Gergole, OSCE spokesperson, announced that representatives of Temporary Election Commission are meeting municipal representatives today in Brcko. He also added that 30 percent of weaponry in RS and F B&H was destroyed so far, in comparison to the second phase of reduction plan.

With respect to local elections, SFOR spokesperson stated that in the period between the 8th and 21st of September all exercises of military force and ceremonies outside the military camps, as well as air plane and helicopter exercises, would be prohibited.(end)