Saopštenja i najave

CIK čak ne zna ni ko je nadležan

Izvještaji za Medije ● 06 Decembra 2009

Centralna izborna komisija Bosne i Hercegovine (CIK BiH) donijela je zaključak kojim se zahtjev Transparency International Bosne i Hercegovine za utvrđivanje postojanja sukoba interesa u slučaju Ramiza Džaferovića odbacuje zbog nenadležnosti, iako je Sud BiH donio odluku i naložio CIK BiH da postupi po ovom slučaju.

Podsjećanja radi, Transparency International BiH je nekoliko puta CIK podnosio prijavu zbog postojanja sukoba interesa u slučaju Ramiza Džaferovića, koji je osim što je predsjednik uprave Razvojne banke FBiH, ujedno i i vlasnik privatne firme “Džaferović” koja je obavljala revizorske usluge za preduzeća kojima je ova banka odobravala kredite. CIK je, međutim, TI BiH u više navrata obavještavala da nema osnova za pokretanje postupka na osnovu prijave TI BiH, iako je po Zakonu bila dužna donijeti i zvanično rješenje o ovom slučaju. Zbog upornog odbijanja CIK da donese zvanično rješenje, TI BiH je podnio žalbu Sudu BiH, koji je žalbu usvojio i naložio CIK da u roku 15 dana postupi u skladu sa zakonom u slučaju gospodina Džaferovića.

Međutim, CIK BiH je nastavila svoju dosadašnju praksu, pa se i u ovom slučaju oglušila o odluku Suda i ponovo se proglasila nenadležnom, navodeći čak kako nije mogla utvrditi koji je organ nadležan za vođenje ovog postupka. Uzimajući u obzir da je sam Sud BiH naložio CIK da postupa po ovom slučaju, te da je u domenu CIK BiH upravo utvrđivanje sukoba interesa izabranih zvaničnika i nosilaca izvršnih funkcija, ovakva konstatacija CIK BiH postaje apsurdna i jasno pokazuje da ova institucija ponovo odbija vršiti svoju zakonsku dužnost i zaštititi interese građana.

U Zaključku CIK BiH se takođe navodi da „postoji konstantan pritisak dijela nevladinog sektora, dijela medija, dijela političkog miljea i od strane pojedinaca na CIK BiH da vodi postupke iz područja sukoba interesa“. Čak i ukoliko se zanemari činjenica da prema sadašnjem Zakonu o sukobu interesa ove skupine imaju pravo podnositi prijave CIK BiH koje se odnose na sukob interesa, jasno je da su navedeni „pritisci“ upravo posljedica odbijanja CIK da vrši svoju dužnost. Međutim, uzimajući u obzir da CIK uporno odbija postupati po nalozima institucije kao što je Sud BiH, postaje iluzorno očekivati da će djelovati po prijavama nevladinih organizacija ili građana, čime se još jednom dokazuje da je sam institut sukoba interesa u BiH potpuno obesmišljen.

Kao zaključak, neophodno je postaviti sljedeće pitanje: Ukoliko se Centralna izborna komisija BiH iz slučaja u slučaj uporno proglašava nenadležnom po pitanju utvrđivanja sukoba interesa, koje su onda nadležnosti ove institucije i da li se nadležnost ove institucije može prilagođavati trenutnoj političkoj situaciji?

Usvajanje prijedloga Zakona o sukobu interesa – diskriminacija građana

Izvještaji za Medije ● 04 Decembra 2009

Donors say Vietnam should respect rights

Izvještaji za Medije ● 04 Decembra 2009

“Vietnam's economic performance and its international reputation are compromised by restrictions placed by the government on the personal freedoms of its citizens,” a statement by the U.S. delegation to an annual donor summit in Hanoi said.

Vietnam's ruling Communist Party brooks no opposition, and in the past year has detained or jailed several reporters, bloggers, lawyers and dissidents, and deployed an administrative decree to bring down the country's only independent policy think-tank.

The party recognises widespread corruption as a major impediment to development, but restricts the media's ability to ferret out cases.

The United Nations said governments must “own” the battle against corruption, but others would make it more effective.

“Broadening the scope for collaboration and involvement of non-State actors such as the media, mass organisations and individuals makes anti-corruption efforts more effective,” it said in its report to the meeting, called the Consultative Group.

Sweden, as president of the European Union, went further.

“The government of Vietnam has to allow media to scrutinise the power,” it said.

“Researchers, journalists and lawyers have to be encouraged to raise their voices to be able to contribute to the future of Vietnam. They should not be silenced or discouraged. Recently, however, worrying signs seem to indicate that the development is going in the wrong direction.” U.S. Ambassador Michael Michalak also noted in prepared remarks that recent events “have contributed to a shrinking of the space for honest, reliable information”. 

Usvajanje prijedloga Zakona o sukobu interesa – diskriminacija građana

Izvještaji za Medije ● 04 Decembra 2009

Transparency International Bosne i Hercegovine (TI BiH) najoštrije osuđuje usvajanje prijedloga Zakona o sukobu interesa od strane Vijeća ministara na sjednici održanoj 3.decembra.

Kako je TI BiH već upozoravao, radi se o prijedlogu zakona koji se suprotstavlja međunarodnim obavezama Bosne i Hercegovine, direktno usmjerenom protiv interesa građana i javnog interesa u cjelini, jer će građanima biti onemogućeno da prijavljuju sukob interesa, a javni zvaničnici će praktično biti potpuno zaštićeni.

Predloženim rješenjem se u potpunosti obesmišljava institut sukoba interesa, a proceduralni dio prijedloga zakona predviđa potpuno apsurdna rješenja, prema kojim bi praktično bilo nemoguće sankcionisati kršenja zakona. Kako je TI BiH ranije upozoravao, prijedlog Zakona omogućava javnim zvaničnicima i da se nesmetano angažuju u privatnim preduzećima, te se privatni interes pretpostavlja javnom. Takođe, umjesto da se pooštri kaznena politika, Zakon predviđa samo novčane kazne za počinioce, koje, u poređenju sa mogućnostima koje prijedlog Zakona daje javnim zvaničnicima za sticanje ogromne lične dobiti, imaju samo simboličan karakter.

Osim što je predloženo zakonsko rješenje katastrofalno po odredbama koje predviđa, sam dosadašnji postupak njegovog usvajanja bio je na granici legalnosti i odvijao se u potpunoj tajnosti. Direktnu odgovornost za ovaj  neprihvatljiv i netransparentan potez snosi Ministarstvo pravde BiH, kao ovlašteni predlagač.

TI BiH će od Parlamentarne Skupštine BIH zatražiti organizovanje javne rasprave, te očitovanje Venecijanske komisije u ovom slučaju, kako bi se u drugom dijelu procedure drastično izmijenila neprihvatljiva rješenja koja sadrži usvojeni prijedlog.

Adoption of the Law on Conflict of Interests proposal – discrimination of citizens

Izvještaji za Medije ● 04 Decembra 2009

Transparency International Bosnia and Herzegovina (TI BiH) strongly condemns the adoption of the Law on conflict of interest by the Council of Ministers at its session held on December 3rd.

As TI BiH has warned previously, this is the law proposal that contradicts international obligations of Bosnia and Herzegovina, directly aimed against citizens’ interests and public interest in general, since it would be impossible for citizens to report conflict of interests and public officials would practically be fully protected.

The proposed solution completely ridicules the institute of conflict of interests, and the procedural aspect of the proposed law predicts absurd provisions, according to which it would be virtually impossible to sanction violations of the law. As TI BiH has already warned, the Law proposal enables public officials to be engaged in private enterprises, and the private interest is put above the public. Additionally, instead of tightening the penal policy, the Law predicts only monetary fines for perpetrators that, compared to the opportunities that the proposed law offers for gaining enormous personal gain, are only symbolic.

Besides being catastrophic by the provisions it predicts, the very procedure of its adoption so far has been on the border of legitimacy and in complete secrecy. Direct responsibility for this inacceptable and non-transparent move is of the Ministry of Justice BiH, as authorised nominator.

TI BiH will request for the Parliamentary Assembly to organise a public debate and call for the Venetian Commission to react on this issue, in order to drastically change inacceptable solutions in the second round of the procedure.

Donatori upozorili Vijetnam o nepoštivanju ljudskih prava

Izvještaji za Medije ● 04 Decembra 2009

“Vijetnamska ekonomska politika i međunarodna reputacija je narušena zbog restrikcija od strane vlade te ličnih sloboda njenih građana”, izjavio je američki ured na godišnjem sastanku donatora u Hanoiu.

Vladajuća Komunistička partija nema opoziciju, te je u poslijednjih nekoliko godina uhapsila nekoliko noinara, blogera, pravnika, te razvila administrativni sistem po svojoj mjeri.

Partija prepoznaje rasprostranjenost korupcije kao glavni razlog nerazvijenosti, ali medijima je takođe onemogućen rad kako bi izvještavali o korupciji.

Ujedinjene nacije su uputile vladi poruku da mora sama voditi bitku protiv korupcije, ovo je najefikasniji načini.

Proširenje saradnje i uključivanje medija, organizacija civilnog društva, pojedinaca stvara pogodno okruženje za borbu protiv korupcije.

Predstavnici Švedske, trenutno predsjedavajuća Evropske unije su izjavili da “Vlada mora omugućiti pristup medijima”.

“Istraživači, novinari i pravnici moraju biti osigurani za rad u svom poslu, jer je njihov glas veoma važan i oni mogu da doprinesu boljoj budućnosti Vijetnama. Oni ne treba da budu ućutkani. Skorašnji događaji su zabrinjavajući jer vode zemlju u pogrešnom smijeru.

 Američki ambasador, Michael Michalak je takođe ukazao na prethodne događaje te dodao kako treba uložiti ogromne napore da bi se stanje popravilo i poboljšalo.

Inadequate laws expose whistleblowers and impede fight against corruption

Izvještaji za Medije ● 03 Decembra 2009

In addition to revealing a legal void, the report also identifies ambivalent or negative attitudes towards those who report malfeasance in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania and Slovakia. Such negative perceptions, the report found, deter insiders from exposing corruption.

“Inadequate protection will result in crime going unreported,” said Miklos Marschall, Director for Europe and Central Asia at TI. “Whistleblowers must be shielded from retaliation. There must also be effective mechanisms to investigate their allegations.”

Whistleblowing is a key component in the fight against corruption. Those within public institutions and the private sector who speak out about wrongdoing potentially save lives and resources, as was the case when a doctor disclosed the cover-up of the SARS outbreak in China. Poor or no follow-up of initial reports, as in the Madoff pyramid-scheme scandal in the United States, can cost investors millions.

The TI report, Alternative to silence: Whistleblower protection in 10 European countries , shows that with the exception of Romania, none of the countries analysed currently have stand-alone whistleblower protection legislation. Hungary and Lithuania are in the process of drafting legislation. Further, in many countries, the act of reporting may be superseded by other laws which prohibit the release of information while libel and defamation regulations deter whistleblowing, the report found.

“Whistleblowers face high personal risks, particularly when there is little legal recourse to save them from dismissal, humiliation and even physical abuse,” said Anja Osterhaus, Programme Coordinator at TI and author of the report. “When illegal or unethical behaviour is reported, we all stand to gain. Companies, public bodies and non-profit organisations should introduce mechanisms to encourage internal reporting and provide a safe alternative to silence.”

Of the 10 countries studied, eight are from the former Soviet block and have inherited negative connotations associated with the concept of whistleblowing, which is seen as synonymous with being an informant, traitor and snitch. Ireland suffers a similar legacy, connected to years of political unrest, and in Italy the notion of whistleblowing is often equated with treason.

TI and its chapters in the 10 countries analysed, call for a two-pronged approach to protect and thus benefit from whistleblowing:

Countries must introduce and enforce comprehensive, stand-alone whistleblower legislation that protects informants and ensures claims are followed up. Additionally, there is a need for a clear mechanism to review procedures and their implementation in a transparent manner.

An educational process to de-stigmatise whistleblowing is also essential so that citizens understand the value of disclosing wrongdoing and how this benefits the public good.

The aim of the report, which was co-funded by the European Commission, was to identify and assess existing legal mechanisms in the 10 countries analysed.

Neadekvatni zakoni izlažu Zviždače i sprečavaju borbu protiv korupcije

Izvještaji za Medije ● 03 Decembra 2009

Transparency International warns that Jamaica faces state capture

Izvještaji za Medije ● 02 Decembra 2009

Zarobljena država

Izvještaji za Medije ● 02 Decembra 2009

graft classes at schools

Izvještaji za Medije ● 25 Novembra 2009

The justice ministry launched the "Anti-Corruption Class" with a lecture and a discussion at a school in the eastern city of Osijek and will hold similar classes in all secondary schools this year, the justice ministry said.

Croatia hopes to wrap up EU accesion talks next year and join the bloc in 2012, but Brussels has said it must first step up its fight against corruption and strengthen its judiciary. The campaign has gained momentum since Jadranka Kosor took over the conservative government, following the sudden departure of her predecessor Ivo Sanader, who unexpectedly quit in July.

Since then, a former defence minister in Sanader's government was indicted for corruption, paving the way for a first anti-graft trial of a top government official.

Croatia's inefficient judiciary has meant that few trials have been completed and even fewer have led to convictions.

Last week the government sacked the state highway company HAC's chiefs amid media allegations of illegal business deals.

Deputy Prime Minister Damir Polanec quit last month after a series of corruption scandals prompted calls for him to go.

Also in October, police arrested several managers, including the former and current chief executives, of leading food group, Podravka. They accused them of trying to buy a majority stake in Podravka using the company's own funds.

"Corruption here is primarily the result of cultural heritage and mentality, that is why we welcome such preventive measures," said Zorislav Antun Petrovic who heads the local unit of Transparency International, an anti-corruption body.

Hrvatska počinje sa predavanjim o korupciji u školama

Izvještaji za Medije ● 25 Novembra 2009

Swiss judge sets precedent in global corruption fight

Izvještaji za Medije ● 23 Novembra 2009

Presedan u dosadašnjoj sudskoj praksi

Izvještaji za Medije ● 23 Novembra 2009

BiH ulazi u period opasne neizvjesnosti

Izvještaji za Medije ● 17 Novembra 2009

Corruption threatens global economic recovery, greatly challenges countries in conflict

Izvještaji za Medije ● 17 Novembra 2009