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Sanctions issued for election fraud in Srebrenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina
SARAJEVO 16 November 2000
SARAJEVO, 16 November 2000 - The Provisional Election Commission (PEC) passed a decision regarding attempts at widespread fraud by the SDS in the Srebrenica municipal elections.
Election observers present in Srebrenica reported numerous attempts to vote more than once, and the PEC received statements from six polling supervisors showing large-scale frauds or attempts of frauds, including attempts to vote more than once by using voter notification cards and false identification cards. Members of the Polling Station Committees (PSCs) in charge of identification checks also deliberately falsified the number of signatures when counting them at the start of counting. Because much of the fraudulent activity involved diversion of voter information cards, the PEC concluded that the MEC must have at least been aware of the irregularities.
There were many eyewitnesses who reported seeing Momcilo Cvijetinovic intimidating voters inside polling stations and an close associate, Dragana Petrovic, was observed directing voters outside polling stations. Cvijetinovic was already removed by the EASC from elected office in Srebrenica, and the SDS was officially warned of the continued negative influence Cvijetinovic has exerted in Srebrenica through his status within the SDS. Cvijetinovic spoke on behalf of the SDS during the election campaign on TV Srebrenica and in a public tribune held in Potocari. In the latter case he used inflammatory language clearly in violation of the Rules and Regulations.
The PEC therefore decided that the half of the mandates won by the SDS in the Srebrenica municipal elections would be taken away from the party. Those mandates will not be allocated and will remain vacant. The PEC further demanded that the SDS take the necessary steps in order to rid the party of any individual previously sanctioned by the EASC, and instructed the SDS to provide it with evidence of these dismissals and the new composition of the SDS municipal board by 24 November. The SDS was also required to issue a press statement announcing the dismissals of the above-mentioned people. Failure to comply will result in the party losing the other half of its mandates in the municipal assembly.
The PEC also removed the President of the Municipal Election Commission, Rade Goljic, and the two other Serb members of the MEC, Nego Jevtic and Veseljko Perkovic. All three will, pursuant to Article 115 of the Rules and Regulations, be banned from holding any public elected or appointed office. The PEC also forwarded a copy of the decision to the UN Judicial System Assessment Program (JSAP) and to OHR for appropriate actions against Mr. Goljic, who is currently employed as a judge to the Basic Court of Srebrenica.
For more information please call OSCE Spokesperson Luke Zahner at ++387/(0)33/292-222 or ++387/(0)66/144-311.
Election observers present in Srebrenica reported numerous attempts to vote more than once, and the PEC received statements from six polling supervisors showing large-scale frauds or attempts of frauds, including attempts to vote more than once by using voter notification cards and false identification cards. Members of the Polling Station Committees (PSCs) in charge of identification checks also deliberately falsified the number of signatures when counting them at the start of counting. Because much of the fraudulent activity involved diversion of voter information cards, the PEC concluded that the MEC must have at least been aware of the irregularities.
There were many eyewitnesses who reported seeing Momcilo Cvijetinovic intimidating voters inside polling stations and an close associate, Dragana Petrovic, was observed directing voters outside polling stations. Cvijetinovic was already removed by the EASC from elected office in Srebrenica, and the SDS was officially warned of the continued negative influence Cvijetinovic has exerted in Srebrenica through his status within the SDS. Cvijetinovic spoke on behalf of the SDS during the election campaign on TV Srebrenica and in a public tribune held in Potocari. In the latter case he used inflammatory language clearly in violation of the Rules and Regulations.
The PEC therefore decided that the half of the mandates won by the SDS in the Srebrenica municipal elections would be taken away from the party. Those mandates will not be allocated and will remain vacant. The PEC further demanded that the SDS take the necessary steps in order to rid the party of any individual previously sanctioned by the EASC, and instructed the SDS to provide it with evidence of these dismissals and the new composition of the SDS municipal board by 24 November. The SDS was also required to issue a press statement announcing the dismissals of the above-mentioned people. Failure to comply will result in the party losing the other half of its mandates in the municipal assembly.
The PEC also removed the President of the Municipal Election Commission, Rade Goljic, and the two other Serb members of the MEC, Nego Jevtic and Veseljko Perkovic. All three will, pursuant to Article 115 of the Rules and Regulations, be banned from holding any public elected or appointed office. The PEC also forwarded a copy of the decision to the UN Judicial System Assessment Program (JSAP) and to OHR for appropriate actions against Mr. Goljic, who is currently employed as a judge to the Basic Court of Srebrenica.
For more information please call OSCE Spokesperson Luke Zahner at ++387/(0)33/292-222 or ++387/(0)66/144-311.