Komsic says theft by politicians must end

21/03/2008

Can public corruption in BiH be reined in?

By Zeljana Grubisic for Southeast European Times -- 21/03/08

BiH Presidency member Zeljko Komsic. [Getty Images]

Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) presidency member Zeljko Komsic blogs regularly about issues affecting the country. In a recent post, he takes on the issue of corruption -- something he says "really undermines BiH".

"Yesterday I signed a statement on revoking stolen property because I don't want to be ashamed by the widespread opinion that all BiH politicians are thieves. We're not all the same and I don't want to be a part of the stereotype," Komsic writes.

He calls for an end to hypocrisy about corruption. "It is generally known that, for the most part, 'dirty money' of politicians comes from fraudulent privatisations, fixed-up tenders and jobs -- just like organised crime. I think that our district attorney offices have shown their inability to address the issue," he writes.

Komsic also makes a pitch for legislation proposed by his party, the Social Democrats. The bill in question would pave the way for seizing property that has been acquired through criminal activity.

Although his party is the sponsor, Komsic says he would support the measure no matter who proposed it. "Not because of the party, but because of the need for such a bill," he writes.

Komsic's blog post has attracted hundreds of comments -- some favorable, others more sceptical. Camus, for instance, praises Komsic for setting "a positive example" for the public. In a similar vein, Xlady11 writes: "Mr President … from every decision you make it is clear that you are for BiH and BiH in Europe."

But mirnesa, more cautiously, worries that the initiative will remain a "dead letter". Another commenter, Bobowac, finds it too convenient that Komsic is bringing the subject up "just before the [local] elections".

For zekeriyyah, the topic is old news. "It's been three years that you've been talking about revoking illegally acquired property! Change the story," he complains.

"I applaud the idea," writes krug114, "but also consider it deeply UTOPIAN. I also think that we are all aware of that utopia. That's why I am asking for an answer for two questions: 1) What do you wish to achieve with this move? And 2) Do you think this initiative will bring any results and which ones?"