On the occasion of the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances observed on Sunday 30 August, Human Rights Action (HRA) and Committee of Lawyers for Human Rights (CKP) reminded that the remains of many victims of war crimes, from the Deportation of Muslim refugees, abductions in Strpci and killings in Kaludjerski laz, have still not been found. Bodies of at least ten refugees who, in May 1992, were illegally arrested in Herceg-Novi and handed over to members of Republika Srpska armed forces, as well as of 14 victims of abduction from a train at Strpci station and a victim of a crime in Kaludjerski laz, have still not been found.

Both organisations are unaware that Montenegro helped in any way locate the mortal remains of these people.

These crimes are incompletely and unprofessionally prosecuted in Montenegro, which has led to only one person to be convicted for crimes committed in Strpci.

Montenegro ratified in 2011 the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance and submitted a first report on its implementation to the UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances which monitors the implementation of the Convention. This Committee will examine the report of Montenegro at the session to be held in Geneva on 7-18 September and then will be discussed the prosecution of war crimes and missing victims.

Tea Gorjanc Prelević, Executive Director of Human Rights Action (HRA), and Velija Murić, President of Montenegro Committee of Lawyers for Human Rights (CKP)