Victims' Associations: Cancel Registration of Political Parties Linked to Convicted War Criminals and the Legacy of Joint Criminal Enterprises

(Patria) - Seven victims' associations have called for an urgent review and annulment of court decisions registering the names of political parties linked to convicted war criminals and the legacy of joint criminal enterprises.

"We, the undersigned, express deep concern over the fact that court decisions have been made approving the registration, i.e., name change, of political parties that use terms and names in their title associated with serious violations of international humanitarian law and finally established war crimes.

We particularly point to the ruling of the Municipal Court in Široki Brijeg registering the name 'Croatian Party of Rights of BiH and Herceg-Bosna', as well as the ruling of the Basic Court in Bijeljina registering changes for the political organization 'Serbian Radical Party dr Vojislav Šešelj'.

We believe that these decisions raise serious questions about their compliance with the fundamental values upon which Bosnia and Herzegovina, the European Convention on Human Rights, international humanitarian law, and the obligation to respect final judgments of international courts are based," the associations stated in a joint press release.

The name "Herceg-Bosna," they emphasize, cannot be viewed outside the historical and legal context of international judgments that dealt with the activities of political and military structures linked to that project.

At the same time, using the name of Vojislav Šešelj in the name of a political party represents glorification of a person finally convicted of war crimes, which further insults the dignity of victims and their families.

"Amendments to the Criminal Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the Election Law of Bosnia and Herzegovina, have achieved legal solutions that clearly define the relationship towards convicted war criminals and war crimes.

Therefore, we consider it unacceptable that institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, directly or indirectly, through court registration give legitimacy to names that evoke painful memories of genocide, war crimes, persecution, camps, ethnic cleansing, and other serious human rights violations among a large number of citizens.

We remind that peace, reconciliation, and building a democratic society cannot be based on glorifying persons convicted of war crimes, nor on the political rehabilitation of projects that were the subject of international court proceedings," the associations stated.

They also note that respect for victims must represent the minimum civilizational standard of any democratic society.

Because of all the above, they demand from the competent institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina to:

‣ urgently conduct a legal analysis of the mentioned court decisions and their compliance with the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina, international law, and public order;

‣ initiate appropriate procedures to review the legality of registering political entities whose names contain the names of finally convicted war criminals or terms associated with policies that were the subject of international court judgments;

‣ determine whether there are legal grounds for annulment or amendment of the disputed registrations;

‣ ensure that future registrations of political organizations comply with the principles of protecting human dignity, victims' rights, and preserving peace;

‣ in cooperation with legislative institutions, consider adopting clear legal prohibitions on glorifying war criminals through the names of political organizations and other legal entities.

"We will inform domestic and international institutions about this, including the competent authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, international human rights organizations, representatives of the European Union, the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), and the Office of the High Representative (OHR).

Victims of war crimes have the right to expect that the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina protect the truth, justice, and dignity of victims, rather than enabling public promotion of names and symbols associated with the greatest suffering in the recent history of our country.

We will never allow convicted war crimes to be relativized and their perpetrators politically glorified. Bosnia and Herzegovina must remain a society based on the rule of law, respect for court judgments, protection of human dignity, and a culture of remembrance that respects the truth and protects victims," the associations concluded.

The joint statement is signed by the Association of Victims and Witnesses of Genocide, the Association Movement "Mothers of the Srebrenica and Žepa Enclaves", the Association "Women of Podrinje", the Association of Mothers of Srebrenica, the Association of Women of Srebrenica, the Union of Civilian Victims of War of the FBiH, and the Association of Parents of Killed Children of Besieged Sarajevo 1992-1995.