Amnesty – 1996

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Amnesty – 1996

1996

Intermediate Implementation Intermediate implementation

The High Representative for the implementation of the civilian aspect of the peace accords informed the UN Secretary General in his first report that he had encouraged “both the Federation BiH (sic) and Republika Srpska (sic) to adopt amnesty laws covering all crimes except war crimes as defined by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia or crimes unrelated to the conflict.” According to the High Representative, the law would “help both reconciliation and freedom of movement.”1

On 12 February 1996 members of the parliament (Federation level) passed the new law following a two hour debate. Under the law “all individuals who committed criminal acts (related to the conflict) except those who committed acts of violation of international humanitarian law as defined by the International War Crimes Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia will be subject to amnesty.”2 As of 23 March, according to the Office of the High Representative (OHR), the Republika Srpska was yet to adopt the amnesty law.3

In his December 10th report, OHR High Representative informed the UN Secretary General that the amnesty law in the Republika Srpska was passed, but there was a fundamental flaw, as it excluded persons who deserted or avoided military conscription, which he suggested “must be corrected.”4

  1. “1st Report of the High Representative for Implementation of the Bosnian Peace Agreement to the Secretary-General of the United Nations,” Office of the High Representative (OHR), 1996, accessed May 2, 2011, http://www.ohr.int/other-doc/hr-reports/default.asp?content_id=3661.
  2. “Bosnia’s republic parliament passes amnesty law,” Agence France Presse — English, February 12, 1996.
  3. “Report By The High Representative On Compliance With The Peace Agreement,” Office of the High Representative (OHR), 1996, accessed May 2, 2011, http://www.ohr.int/other-doc/hr-reports/default.asp?content_id=3663.
  4. “4th Report of the High Representative for Implementation of the Bosnian Peace Agreement to the Secretary-General of the United Nations,” Office of the High Representative (OHR), 1996, accessed May 2, 2011, http://www.ohr.int/other-doc/hr-reports/default.asp?content_id=3667.