At that moment it seemed to me that they were exaggerating, but then I recalled what a month ago Branko Todorovic, one of the leaders of the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Bosnia-Hercegovina, complained about on the Jahorina Mt. "Man, the Americans are destroying our Helsinki Committee because we drew attention to the illegal manner in which the Arabs were stripped off of their BH citizenship. Are you aware of the pressure they applied? They cut off all their donations, blocked donations coming from other donors, they are inviting other members of the Committee's Governing Board to individual interviews. They are offering everything we want, if only we condemn Srdjan. I refused. I do not intend to betray Srdjan," Branko told me at the time.
Branko's friend Srdjan is Srdjan Dizdarevic, president of the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Bosnia-Hercegovina. Branko, together with another Srdjan's friend, Slavo Kukic, has, however, recently condemned Srdjan because of his criticism of a whole series of violations of the BH Constitution, laws and the European Convention About Protection of Human Rights that took place during the deportation of the "Algerian group".
A journalist of the London the Independent, Robert Fisk, in the article under headline "Congratulations, America. You have made bin Laden a happy man" [published on January 22, 2002], wrote the following: "Now we learn that US troops arrested six Arabs when they were released from a prison in Bosnia. The Bosnians announced that, since the Americans would not disclose the evidence that might be used against them in a trial - to protect US 'intelligence sources' - the men should be released from their Bosnian prison. Which they were - only to be seized by the Americans. And what did the Washington Post tell us in all seriousness? That, the operation was reportedly conducted by US troops acting 'independently of the Nato-led force (in Bosnia)'.
"Really? Is the Washington Post that stupid? Are we? Is that what law and order is all about? Yes, the West is fighting a cruel enemy. Anyone who has read the full video statement by Osama bin Laden in December must realise that the war against him - indeed the conflict in Afghanistan - has only just begun. But already we are turning ourselves into the kind of deceitful, ruthless people whom Mr bin Laden imagines us to be. Shackled, hooded, sedated. Prepared for a trial without full disclose of evidence. With a possible death sentence at the end, we are now the very model of the enemies Mr bin Laden wants to fight. He must be a happy man. "
I know that this is not much but who cares. I dedicate this text to courageous and honorable Srdjan Dizdarevic. If this country, Bosnia-Hercegovina, avoids the fate reserved for her, that of colonial slime or "European Algiers", the contribution of Srdjan Dizdarevic and of what he did and still does, will be immeasurable. The Orwellian hell through which he is going through these days, with many stabs in the back by his former close friends and collaborators, could be a "Phyrric victory" of vultures who are already celebrating. Unfortunately, they include many of my colleagues, journalists.
And for those who wonder why we should care about violations of human rights of only six suspicious Arabs, let me mention the fate of that German who kept quiet when they started taking away from his neighborhood, first whores, then Jews, then Communists...