 |
Human Rights Watch/Helsinki Says Upcoming Elections Can Undo Dayton
LOS ANGELES, June 7 (Berserkistan) -- Human Rights Watch/Helsinki said on Friday that the upcoming elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina will unravel the the Dayton accords on Bosnia. In a Sarajevo media conference Holly Cartner, Executive Director of the organization said, "The failure of Dayton is in the making, and the U.S., West European governments and the International Implementation Force (IFOR) must bear responsibility."
"Unless immediate and decisive steps are taken to enforce respect for human rights, ensure the right to return for refugees and displaced persons, and bring to justice those responsible for war crimes, the elections which Secretary of State Warren Christopher insists should go forward in September will be a charade," said Cartner.
"While holding the elections in Bosnia may be in the best interest of Mr. Clinton's own reelection campaign," she continued, "it is certainly not in the best interest of those who believe in a Bosnia that is not partitioned along ethnic lines, and where the ethnic slaughter of thousands is not simply forgotten in an effort by foreign
governments not to upset their own domestic political agendas."
Human Rights Watch/Helsinki claims that it will be difficult for many Bosnians to participate in the elections given limited movement throughout the territory, press restrictions, and the inability of refugees and displaced persons have to return to their homes. In addition, the group says the presence of indicted war criminals -- in particular Bosnian Serb political leader Radovan Karadzic and military commander Gen. Ratko Mladic -- maintain predominant political and military control.
"If the elections go forward under these conditions, the international community will become an accomplice to a lie," Cartner said. "The message will be sent that compliance with the Dayton agreement is not necessary or even expected, and it is likely that interference and intimidation by hard-liners will result in a corrupt election, serving to undermine the entire peace process and to increase the likelihood of renewed conflict."
"If the Clinton administration and the rest of the international community are truly committed to creating the best possible conditions for free and fair elections," said Cartner, "they can start by insisting that Karadzic and Mladic are turned over to the Hague. With 60,000 NATO troops in Bosnia, the means exist, but it is blatant hypocrisy for the Clinton administration and Western governments to speak of creating the conditions for free and fair elections, when they are unwilling to use the means at their disposal to do so."
While acknowledging "the tremendous accomplishment of bringing an end to the fighting in Bosnia and Hercegovina," Human Rights Watch offered a list of recommendations to the parties to the Dayton accord, to the international community, to IFOR, and the IPTF. Among them:
Human Rights Watch is a nongovernmental organization established in 1978 to monitor and promote the observance of internationally recognized human rights in Africa, the Americas, Asia, the Middle East and among the signatories of the Helsinki accords. |
Berserkistan, June 5 · Frowick Angers OSCE Staff with Spin on Elections
Berserkistan, June 4 · Major Powers: Elections Must Stay on Schedule
Berserkistan, June 3 · Voter Registration Begins in Bosnia
Berserkistan, June 2 · Bosnia’s Elections Remain on Track Despite Karadzic
Berserkistan, June 2 · Bosnia: Fair Elections, but Not At Any Price
Human Rights Watch Gopher Menu
Berserkistan is a world news service of Michael Linder Productions, Inc.
©1995-1996, All Rights Reserved