CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS REQUEST AN EMERGENCY MEETING WITH THE OMBUDSMAN REGARDING THE REPORTS ON POLICE TORTURE

After six organizations of civil society submitted several letters to the Institution of Human Rights Ombudsman of BiH requesting from the officials of this institution to visit all persons detained by the RS police in regard to the gatherings that took place on 25th December 2018, they will also deliver these requests to the Ombudsman personally, today at 14.00h, in Akademik Jovan Surutka 13 Street.

Civil society organizations demand from the Ombudsman to use its powers and authorization to examine the allegations that emerged in the media according to which an excessive and illegal force had been used by police officers during the arrests of certain citizens, and later torture and humiliating treatment in the official police premises.

Organizations also request from the Ombudsman to continue with the close monitoring of RS police activities directed towards the members of Pravda za Davida group and all other citizens who decided to peacefully gather and express their opinions in regard to this case. They propose that in the spirit of democratic practice, the representatives of the civil society organizations dedicated to the protection of human rights and freedoms should be present during the visits to the detainees.

Organizations remind once again that BiH has ratified the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, by which it has undertaken a series of obligations related to the prevention of such actions, and in this regard we consider it specifically significant to establish monitoring activity of the Institution of the Ombudsman in the following period in order to protect citizens who express their public protest and dissatisfaction with the work of the prosecution in David Dragicevic case. They also remind of the fact that spontaneous gatherings of citizens are international standard and that such actions performed by RS police endanger the right to freedom of gathering and expression.

Organizations signatories:

Transparency International BIH

Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Banjaluka

Center for Environment

Citizens’ Association Ostra Nula

Perpetuum mobile

Center for Youth KVART