Bosnia: Lawmakers Reject Srebrenica Resolution

National Congress of the Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina ONLINE NEWSLETTER – International No. 661 April 10, 2010 CONTENT 1. Bosnia: Lawmakers Reject Srebrenica Resolution 2. Serbia has more to apologize for ──────────── ──────────── 1. Arrested for raising The Golden Lilies flag of the Republic Bosnia-Herzegovina 1.1 The police ambushed Mustafic on the entrance of the cemetery Srebrenica, July 11, 2010: Ibran Mustafic, a President of Association Mothers of Srebrenica and Podrinje, came with his old mother to the main gates at the Memorial Center. Police was waiting for him. They first separated his mother from him with explanation that they will escort her into the Center. She is an old and fragile lady and she came for burial of remains of her family members. As soon as his mother was taken a way, police forced Ibran Mustafic into police vehicle. He managed to cover himself with a flag of Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina just a moment before they forced him into the car. He was released one hour after the commemoration was closed. Christian Elia, a journalist from www.peacereporter.net taped the initial straggle of Ibran with police. Police forced them to stop recording and then they removed all people with cameras, and cell phones from the area before the final arrest. NCR B&H ──────────── 1.2 Staged welcome for Tadic, the reason to ban “Golden Lilly” flags in the cemetery Srebrenica, July 12, 2010: In the attachment there are four documents that were handed over by the police to Ibran Mustafic after he was released yesterday. Please pay special attention to the record of his interrogation on page 2 under the title IZJAVA (Stetment) in the document "ZAPISNIK O PRIKUPLJANJU IZJAVE OD LICA” (Record about interrogation of the person). Please, also pay attention to the list of the confiscated items in the document: POTVRDA O PRIVREMENOM ODUZIMANJU PREDMETA (Receipt of the temporarily confiscated subjects). Under #1 in the list on the bottom of the document is “a beg with 4 white flags with golden lilies”, and under #2 and #3, in each, is one of the same flags with different dimensions”. So the Dayton police confiscated legitimate flags of Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina which was victim of aggression and whose citizens were victim of genocide. These four documents are testimony that genocide is continuing, that the genocide is not over. All the time the goal of the genocide was to create new country on a territory of a sovereign nation of Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina. For them to finalize that job, they are continuing the job of genocide using different tools, not killing but forcing survives to accept the reality on the ground established by the aggression and genocide. It was horrible to see one of mothers, a survivor of genocide, welcoming Tadic to the ceremony yesterday which was used as a photo opportunity to demonstrate to the rest of the world that survivors of genocide are pleased with creation of Republika Srpska on a territory cleansed from non Serbs. NCR B&H ──────────── 2. RECORD OF TAKING OF STATEMENT Bosnia and Herzegovina Safety Administration State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) Tuzla Regional Office Number: 17-15/1-1-04-1-128/10 Date: July 11, 2010 [Record of Signed Statement] Prepared on July 11, 2010 in official offices of Police Station in Srebrenica, in regards to the event that took place on July 11, 2010 in front of the VIP entrance to the Potocari Memorial Center, district Srebrenica. Started at 1:50PM (Individuals) PRESENT: 1. Authorized Officials: Hazim Habibovic, Zijad Demirovic, Almir Salihovic and Adis Cibralic 2. Citizen: Ibran Mustafic 3. Person Taking Statement: Zijad Demirovic Per Article 8. Republic Srpska Criminal Code (RSCC), the citizen has been advised that he has the right to speak his native language, that he has the right to a translator and the right to choose the alphabet [Latin or Cyrillic]. Q: Do you understand the language we speak? A: Yes Q: Do you need a translator? A: No Q: What alphabet would you like to be used to record the statement? A: Latin Per Article 219. Paragraph 2. of RSCC the citizen is advised that he does not have to give a statement, or answer any questions asked by the authorized official, except for questions regarding personal information. The citizen is made aware in what circumstances he is in and that, as a suspect, he has a right to an attorney per Article 150 and Article 142 of the Criminal Code. Signature of the Citizen: _________________________________ Q: Do you understand your rights? A: Yes Q: Do you need an (defense) attorney? A: Not at this stage of investigation Per Articles 146 and 147 of RSCC, the citizen is advised of his status as a privileged individual and as such he cannot be forced to and can refuse to answer questions asked by the public prosecutor or authorized officials, however he can give up this privilege and answer questions. Q: Are you going to answer the questions asked? A: Yes PERSONAL INFORMATION: First and Last Name: Ibran Mustafic Father’s Name: Mujo Mother’s Name: Mahiza Mother’s Maiden Name: Catic Date of Birth: July 25, 1960 Place of Birth: Potocari, Srebrenica district Personal ID#: 2507960183120 Address: Official: “Gornji Potocari bb, Srebrenica district Currently Residing at: “Ul. Patriotske Lige br. 22, Sarajevo. Phone Number: 061 170 803 Highest degree of Education: College (Mechanical Engineering) Occupation: Mechanical Engineer Are you employed and where: Currently Unemployed, Voluntarily Serving as the President of the Board for the “Mothers of Srebrenica and Podrinje” organization. Marital Status: Single Nationality: Bosnian Citizenship: Bosnia and Herzegovina Identity confirmed based on Personal ID# 10FSB2399, issued by the “Ministry of Internal Fairs” (Police) of Republic Srpska, Srebrenica. Signature of the Citizen: ____________________________ After learning his rights, the individual gives the following: STATEMENT Q: Mr. Mustafic, what can you tell us about the events that took place on July 11, 2010 in front the VIP entrance to the “Potocari Memorial Center”, district Srebrenica? A: As far as I am concerned, nothing happened. As a person with the proper accreditation, I tried to enter the Potocari Memorial Center, because the victims of the Srebrenica Genocide have priority over the rest of the individuals that are gathering in Potocari on the 11th of July and whose governments have partially or in full capacity participated in the execution of the (Srebrenica) Genocide. Q: What did you carry in your bags? A: In my bags I carried some food, water, medications and five (5) big flags of the Legal and Legitimate Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina and as a defender of the sovereign, indivisible, intact and democratic Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina and as a former representative in the Parliament of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina I have an inalienable right to fight for the homeland to which I gave my sworn allegiance. Q: Mr. Mustafic, why didn’t you follow directions and consequent Orders given to you by SIPA authorized officials? A: Because a victim of Genocide, which was proven by the judgment of the International Court of Justice, has immeasurably larger credibility to enter his home than the president of the country which participated in the aggression and Genocide in Srebrenica. It was not my intention to be and remain in the presence of the political elite, who out of moral credibility should be ashamed of their presence at the Memorial Center and assuming the role of “honorary guests.” I do not belong to nor with that human slime (sljam). I belong with the living victims of the Genocide. Q: Do you have something to add to your statement? A: In case of any additional pressure on me or any other living victim of the Genocide, our defense will be represented by Professor Dr. Francis A. Boyle in collaboration with Amnesty International. I was arrested by SIPA, to whose inspectors I gave the statement. Coincidently, this took place at the Police Station of Republic Srpska; the institution which, according to the judgment of the International Court of Justice, committed the Genocide. The citizen was advised that according to the Article 65 of RSCC he has the right to read the STATEMENT or have it read to him. Q: Do you have any complaints regarding the STATEMENT? A: No. Q: Do you wish to make any additional statement? A: No. Q: Are you going to sign the STATEMENT? A: Yes. Questioning ended at 2:20PM. SIGNATURES: Citizen: Ibran Mustafic Person Taking Statement: Zijad Demirovic Authorized Officials: Hazim Habibovic, Zijad Demirovic, Almir Salihovic (SIPA inspectors) Adis Cibralic (Inspector of the Republic Srpska Police) ──────────── 3. Comment by Professor Boyle on Ibran’s statement to the Bosnian police Preventing Ibran to raise The golden Lilies Flag and to attend to his brother burial is violation of European conventions of human rights and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights I read Ibran's statement. It is good that he referred to Amnesty International and me. That will make them think twice about prosecuting him. As I said I have already informed Amnesty International in the London Headquarters about their violation of his rights to freedom of speech and freedom of expression and freedom of political opinion and freedom of family association in violation of the European Convention on Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, both of which BIH is a party to. In the event of a trial we can ask Amnesty International to send an Observer. In the event of his conviction and incarceration, we can ask Amnesty International to designate Ibran as a Prisoner of Conscience, which means that everyone in Amnesty International on a worldwide basis will work for his release from prison. Professor Francis A. Boyle Attorney for the Mothers of Srebrenica and Podrinja Board of Directors, Amnesty International USA (1988-92) ──────────── 4. What happened with “Ibran’s banners” Below is one expert form some Spanish media, translated by Google, where we see that Bosnian police replaced Ibran’s banners with their. Recall that Ibran’s banners were private property of “Mothers of Srebrenica and Podrinje” in a private yard on the hill above the cemetery. “.... He also participated in events commemorating the Serbian president, Boris Tadic, whose presence was met with criticism from victims' associations, who accuse Serbia of hiding the Bosnian Serb commander Ratko Mladic, one of the most responsible for genocide, which is still fugitive. A representative of the "Mothers of Srebrenica", Ibrán Mustafic, was arrested by the police before the commemoration for his vehement criticism of his presence. Tadic was justified in ensuring that wants to contribute to reconciliation of peoples. The authorities withdrew banners with the phrase: "Serbia = Genocide." In its place was a black banner with white letters which was written: "May we never forget the genocide."” ────────────