OSCE and UNHCR concerned by lists designed to discourage return

ZAGREB, 23 June 2000 - The OSCE Mission to Croatia and UNHCR are concerned about the recent appearance of unsigned lists of persons of Serb ethnicity, which presume collective responsibility of those participating in armed formations during the 1991-1995 conflict, in the towns of Karlovac, Petrinja and Sisak. The OSCE and the UNHCR condemn such actions, which are obviously aimed at discouraging return when the Government of Croatia, local authorities and the international community are making great efforts to facilitate voluntary return of refugees and displaced persons, both Croats and Serbs, to their homes.

The OSCE and the UNHCR recall that Croatia has had an Amnesty Law in force since 1996, which grants amnesty to all those who participated in military formations during the war but were not accused of war crimes. The international community supports individual prosecution of war criminals but is against any acts implying collective guilt for any group of people. Allegations of this kind should go through the regular investigative and judicial process.