EXTERNAL (for general distribution) UA 352/93 Fear of arbitrary killing/fear of torture
BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA: Muslims and Croats in the Serbian controlled town of Banja Luka Amnesty International is concerned for the safety of those Muslims and Croats who remain in Banja Luka in north-western Bosnia. It believes they are at serious risk of torture, ill-treatment, rape and arbitrary killings. Bosnian Serbs and the Yugoslav National army took control of the area in April 1992, and abuses have occurred constantly since then. Reports indicate that such abuses, possibly intended to force nonSerbs from the area, have been increasing recently. Recent cases have reported arrest and ill-treatment of two members of the Party of Democratic Action (SDA), the main Muslim party in Bosnia-Herzegovina. One was arrested on 16 September 1993 and held for more then a week. He was badly beaten during his time held and needed medical care. The second victim was forced to work and was beaten so badly that he urinated blood. These cases are daily incidents of beatings of other Muslims or Croats. A report on 1 October spoke of attacks on elderly people such as the rape of two 65-year-old women and an attack on an elderly couple in which the 80-year-old wife was left naked after being attacked and beaten by men with weapons. Although the perpetrators are often unidentified, they are mostly uniformed and armed and appear to be soldiers. Their actions fit into a systematic pattern aimed at causing the remaining Muslims and Croats to flee. Other forms of pressure on them have included the bombing of houses and religious objects such as mosques. All mosques in the town have been destroyed. In 1993 there has been a steady stream of Muslim and Croat leaving Serbian- controlled areas, going to Croatia and then frequently to other countries. Almost all have paid large amounts of foreign money for bus journeys and "exit taxes" have been demanded from them. They have sought places on the convoys of buses out of fear for their security if they stay in their homes.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/telexes/express and airmail: - express your concern about reports of human rights violations against non-Serbs in the town of Banja Luka in recent weeks; - urging the authorities to take control to make sure that strict orders are given to the local forces to make sure that they respect the international human rights and humanitarian law standards; - urging them to do good and thorough investigation on the reported killings and illtreatment of local non-Serbs; - urging that individuals who give orders to kill or ill-treat, are removed from their position of authority and that they be held responsible for their actions; - demanding that those who wish to leave Serbian-controlled territory are allowed safe passage without conditions, avoidable risks or prejudice to the possibility of their return; - stressing that you and Amnesty International are concerned for victims of all nationalities APPEALS TO 1) The head of security in the Banja Luka police:Stojan upljaninSUP - Centar slubi bezbjednosti Salutation: Dear Commander Marala Tita bb78000 Banja Luka Yugoslavia (for Bosnia-Herzegovina) 2) T e epresentati e o t e osnian Serbs r ado an aradi Biro Republike Srpske Salutation: Moe Pijade 811000 Beograd Yugoslavia 3) Commander of Serbian forces in Bosnia-Herzegovina: eneral at o Mladi Biro "Republike Srpske" Salutation: Moe Pijade 8 bb 11000 Beograd Yugoslavia Note: Although postal services to Yugoslavia and Serbian-controlled Bosnia-Herzegovina are disrupted, earlier appeals have been delivered. PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY.
