Newsroom
Looting of property in Bosnia and Herzegovina has to end
SARAJEVO 25 October 2000
SARAJEVO, 25 October 2000 - While the international community is pleased with recent improvements in the implementation of the property laws in Doboj, the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina must also note the continued disturbing and offensive actions of some of the temporary occupants.
Socially owned flats and private property continue to be looted and sometimes vandalized by the departing temporary occupants. In some cases, every piece of furniture has been removed, as well as windows, plumbing and electrical fixtures, with extensive damage done intentionally to other parts of the property. These actions are reprehensible.
Removal of objects and damage to property are criminal acts under the RS property law (Instruction Point 37) and the RS criminal code (Article 221), and perpetrators of such acts can be prosecuted through both criminal and civil procedures. In the interest of the rule of law, we call on the Doboj office of the Ministry for Refugees and Displaced Persons (MRDP) to improve their monitoring of the condition of flats and private property, and to maintain proper control over vacating temporary occupants. In cases where theft and vandalism are evident, we call on the MRDP to fulfill its obligation and pursue criminal charges with Doboj prosecutor. We would fully expect the Doboj prosecutor to exert every effort to investigate such charges.
Most important, we call on the citizens of both entities to respect the law and to vacate temporary accommodation peacefully and lawfully when called upon to do so.
For more information please contact OSCE Spokesperson Luke Zahner at ++387/(0)33 292-222 or at ++387/(0) 66 144 311.
The OSCE established its present Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina on 18 December 1995. In accordance with the General Framework Agreement for Peace (GFAP), the OSCE Mission activities are to: promote Democratization and the building of a vibrant civil society, foster the development of professional journalism and monitor the rights of journalists, monitor and advance the Human Rights situation, supervise the conduct of Elections, and encourage Regional Stabilization through arms control and confidence and security-building measures. The OSCE Mission continues to work closely with other international organizations and local institutions to implement the Dayton Peace Accords.
Socially owned flats and private property continue to be looted and sometimes vandalized by the departing temporary occupants. In some cases, every piece of furniture has been removed, as well as windows, plumbing and electrical fixtures, with extensive damage done intentionally to other parts of the property. These actions are reprehensible.
Removal of objects and damage to property are criminal acts under the RS property law (Instruction Point 37) and the RS criminal code (Article 221), and perpetrators of such acts can be prosecuted through both criminal and civil procedures. In the interest of the rule of law, we call on the Doboj office of the Ministry for Refugees and Displaced Persons (MRDP) to improve their monitoring of the condition of flats and private property, and to maintain proper control over vacating temporary occupants. In cases where theft and vandalism are evident, we call on the MRDP to fulfill its obligation and pursue criminal charges with Doboj prosecutor. We would fully expect the Doboj prosecutor to exert every effort to investigate such charges.
Most important, we call on the citizens of both entities to respect the law and to vacate temporary accommodation peacefully and lawfully when called upon to do so.
For more information please contact OSCE Spokesperson Luke Zahner at ++387/(0)33 292-222 or at ++387/(0) 66 144 311.
The OSCE established its present Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina on 18 December 1995. In accordance with the General Framework Agreement for Peace (GFAP), the OSCE Mission activities are to: promote Democratization and the building of a vibrant civil society, foster the development of professional journalism and monitor the rights of journalists, monitor and advance the Human Rights situation, supervise the conduct of Elections, and encourage Regional Stabilization through arms control and confidence and security-building measures. The OSCE Mission continues to work closely with other international organizations and local institutions to implement the Dayton Peace Accords.