BOSNIA - CAR BOMB KILLS OUTSPOKEN GOVERNMENT

UNCLAS SARAJEVO 002408

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR (DICARLO),EUR/SCE (HOH/FOOKS),NSC FOR BRAUN

C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (ADDING CAPTION)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV KCRM KJUS PINR EUN BK
SUBJECT: BOSNIA - CAR BOMB KILLS OUTSPOKEN GOVERNMENT
CRITIC IN BANJA LUKA


1. (SBU) SUMMARY. On November 6, a car bomb killed civil
servant Milan Vukelic in Banja Luka. According to media
reports, Vukelic was an outspoken critic of the government
and had been the target of attacks in the past. Unknown
perpetrators burned his vehicle and set fire to his mother's
house in separate incidents earlier this year. This latest
incident will likely heighten tensions and further discourage
dissent aimed at the government. END SUMMARY.

Car Bomb Kills RS Civil Servant
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2. (SBU) A car bomb killed civil servant Milan Vukelic at
8:45 PM on November 6 while he was driving his vehicle
through Banja Luka, the capital of Republika Srpska (RS) - an
entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). The attack also
injured the two passengers who were riding in the vehicle,
who were reportedly associated with a cafe owned by the
victim. Vukelic was a civil engineer employed by the Banja
Luka construction institute (BLCI),a state-owned company
that supervises construction projects on behalf of the city
administration, including the issuance of permits and
collection of fees.


3. (SBU) We have heard unconfirmed speculations that the
bomb was remotely detonated, indicating a sophisticated and
targeted attack; but also that it was on a timer, and not
intended to kill. We have no police information on the
results of the investigation to date. This is the first such
incident in Banja Luka since the 1999 car bomb attack on
Zeljko Kopanja, the owner of Banja Luka daily Nezavisne
Novine, in which Kopanja lost both of his legs.

Victim had received "Warnings"
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4. (SBU) Vukelic had complained to the RS police about death
threats in the past, and even appeared on the local
television show "Unsolved Cases," publicly stating that he
received death threats and was the victim of earlier attacks.
According to Vukelic's statements, his car was burned in May
2007 and a house belonging to his family was set alight in
August 2007. No one was injured in those incidents. During
the program, Vukelic described his allegations against the
director of the BLCI. He also claimed that RS police advised
him not to pursue investigation of these matters, saying it
could lead to, "further threats."

Motives Include Criticism of Government, Possible Mafia ties
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5. (SBU) Speculation is rampant in the BiH media about
motivations behind the attack. Some have portrayed Vukelic
as a whistle blower who was attempting to expose
irregularities in city government procurement and
contracting. Others, including, Vlado Jovanic, chief of the
special investigation unit (SIU) of the RS police, say that
the victim was closely involved with local "mafia", and
received kickbacks through his work issuing construction
permits. Another theory involves a property dispute related
to the victim's cafe.


6. (SBU) Several of our media contacts told us that Vukelic
was the main source of information related to corruption
allegations against the RS government over construction
projects. In particular, Vukelic allegedly provided
information related to Integral Engineering, a company with
close ties to RS prime minister Milorad Dodik, that is
currently working on two highly controversial projects: the
construction of the new RS government building and the Banja
Luka/Gradiska highway. We heard that Vukelic provided
information to the Banja Luka-based weekly magazine Patriot,
the only major media opposition to the government, related to
those projects. Patriot has reported that Vukelic filed
criminal charges against BLCI director Cedo Savic for
corruption, including blackmail and abuse of office.

RS Police Label this a "Terrorist Attack"
--------------


7. (SBU) According to media reports, Head of RS criminal
police administration Gojko Vasic called the incident an,

"organized terrorist attack... most likely carried out by
professionals", and said that the RS Ministry of Interior
(MUP) will "do everything to find the perpetrators." Vasic
confirmed that Vukelic complained of death threats and asked
for MUP protection, but added that RS law does not allow
police to authorize protection on the basis of threats alone.
Vasic also confirmed that Vukelic had submitted criminal
charges to the RS MUP, the RS prosecutor's office and the BiH
federal SIPA police, alleging criminal activity at the BLCI.
Jovanic told amcit ICITAP senior advisor Robert Arce that the
investigation will be extremely sensitive, especially if it
gets too close to high-level RS political figures. We hear
that the investigation will be lead by the RS prosecutor's
office.

Comment
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8. (SBU) COMMENT. It is too early to determine whether the
murder of Vukelic resulted from his alleged involvement with
organized crime figures or whether there is a political
connection. However, the case will likely have a stifling
effect on anyone who might consider speaking out against
corruption in the RS. The apparent lack of concern exhibited
by the RS police in light of earlier threats is also
troubling. Although media commentators have highlighted that
the murder of Vukelic could serve to protect PM Dodik's
interests, such a conclusion is premature. END COMMENT.
ENGLISH