‘Intimidation’ leads Transparency International to suspend operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina

'Intimidation' leads Transparency International to suspend operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina

By Clive Leviev-Sawyer

In the face of what it calls "unwarranted and damaging" attacks by the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina, anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International announced on July 10 2008 that it was suspending operations in the country and evacuating its staff.The development follows allegations by prime minister Milorad Dodik, prime minister of Republika Srpska, one of the entities making up Bosnia and Herzegovina, that Transparency International staff were involved in racketeering and organised crime.Transparency International said that it was deeply concerned about the safety of its staff, and after consultations with the European Union Police Mission (EUPM) to Bosnia and Herzegovina, had decided to put operations on hold and withdraw its staff.

"It is one of the few times in Transparency International's history that a national chapter has been intimidated to the point of having to suspend operations. We are deeply concerned and saddened, and stand in solidarity with our colleagues in Bosnia and Herzegovina," Transparency International managing director Cobus de Swardt said in a statement issued in Berlin.

Transparency International said that EUPM had pledged to monitor developments, "in the absence of any meaningful local police protection"."The ongoing public accusations against the only independent anti-corruption watchdog in the country and the leading NGO combating corruption provides an accurate landscape of Bosnia and Herzegovina today: a very dangerous place for voices of criticism calling for accountability and transparency in the work of the ruling powers," Transparency International said."Despite progress made, it is still practically impossible for anti-corruption watchdogs to operate in the country."

At a meeting on July 9, the Principal Deputy High Representative Raffi Gregorian gave evidence to Bosnia and Herzegovina acting chief prosecutor Milorad Barasin suggesting that the Republika Srpska executive establishment had in late 2007 begun planning a campaign of allegations to attempt to discredit Transparency International.

"It took some months until the action was put in motion and today, the staff of Transparency International Bosnia and Herzegovina lives in an extremely uncertain environment," Transparency International said.

Speaking after the July 9 meeting, Gregorian said: "It is high time to stop the propaganda campaign against Transparency International and allow independent judicial institutions to investigate any allegations in accordance with principles of due process and impartiality".A Transparency International statement on July 9 quoted Barasin as saying that the Bosnia and Herzegovina's prosecutor's office had not received any report of crimes or any witness statements alleging racketeering by representatives of Transparency International.

Meanwhile, on July 10, New York-based watchdog Human Rights Watch issued a report saying that Bosnia and Herzegovina's cantonal and district courts faced "serious challenges in their efforts to fairly and efficiently try cases of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide"."A sustained commitment by local authorities, as well as substantial international support, is needed to address the large backlog of cases," Human Rights Watch said. "Local and national authorities in Bosnia should demonstrate the political will to ensure fair and effective trials can be held."

According to the US state department report on human rights in 2007, the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina's human rights record "remained poor"."Although there were improvements in some areas, serious problems remained. There were reports of increased deaths from landmines, police abuses, poor and overcrowded prison conditions, increased harassment and intimidation of journalists and members of civil society, discrimination and violence against women and ethnic and religious minorities, discrimination against persons with disabilities and sexual minorities, obstruction of refugee return, trafficking in persons, and limits on employment rights," the state department report said.

Two war crimes suspects most wanted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic, remained at large, the report said.

A request sent to the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina by The Sofia Echo on the statement by Transparency International has not yet received a reply.