Bosnia's genocide denial denied and condemned

The international community's high representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Valentin Inzko, using the Bonn Powers, established changes to the Penal Code of this state, which is prohibited and condemns the denial of genocide and the glorification of war criminals.

Bonn's competencies give him the right to push ahead with decisions that other political actors do not show the will for such a thing.

This ruling envisions imprisonment of between three months and three years, for all those who publicly incite violence or hatred against one group or a member of a racial, religious, or other ethnic group.

At that time, the sentence of up to six months to five years will be pronounced to all persons who publicly deny, minimize or try to justify a crime of genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes, the verdict said.

“If the work was carried out in such a way that it could disrupt public order or be threatening, abusive and offensive, the chief will be sentenced to prison in no less than three years' time, the decision is further said.

The decision, according to the Office of the High Representative (OHR), stipulates that anyone who gives recognition, award or similar privileges for a person convicted of genocide or any war crime will be sentenced to at least three years in prison.

This is true even if a public object, such as the street, square, park, bridge, institution, community, or city, is appointed with a name of a person convicted of genocide, a crime against humanity, or war crime, or in some other way honours a person condemned with the judgment of a firm form for such criminal acts.

This law will take effect eight days after publication on the Office of the High Representative's official website, or a day after the publication, at “The Official Business of Bosnia and Herzegovina”, whatever happens earlier. Meanwhile, Inzko's decision comes into effect immediately.

Following the announcement of the High Representative's decision, Milorad Dodik, a member of Bosnia and Herzegovina's presidency, at a news conference Friday said Valentin Inzko has no right to impose a law banning the denial of genocide, adding that the decision is “unbaised”.

Republika Srpska rejects this decision. Genocide did not happen in Srebrenica. Serbs should not accept this decision, it is a nail in Bosnia and Herzegovina's coffin. After that, Bosnia and Herzegovina cannot work. We will call a session of the Republika Srpska Assembly this week”, Dodik said.

Republika Srpska must begin the process of dissolution, there is no dialogue in Bosnia and Herzegovina”, he added.

Meanwhile, Croatian presidency member Zelko Komsic welcomed the High Representative's decision to change the Penal Code, which prohibits and condemns denial of genocide.

This decision is based on a series of decisions by the UN tribunal (OKB), meaning the Penal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, which, beyond any reasonable doubt, confirmed the existence of genocide crime in Bosnia and Herzegovina and genocide in Srebrenica, ”, said Komsic, in a written statement for Radio Free Europe.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina this year, the 26th anniversary of the Srebrenica massacre was marked, in which Serb forces killed over 8,000 Muslim men and boys.

The International Court of Justice in The Hague found in 2007 that these killings have constituted genocide.

So far, 47 people were sentenced to more than 700 years in prison for the Srebrenica massacre.

Former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic was sentenced to life in prison, as was former Bosnian military leader, Ratko Mladic.