Two cities in FBiH introduced new rules, will Tešanj too?
The Bugojno Municipality Official Gazette published the decision of the Bugojno Municipal Council on public order and peace, according to which citizens can be punished for writing on social networks.
The decision states that a fine of 200 to 500 KM will be imposed on anyone “who harasses citizens or officials with threats, insults, threats, insults, disparagement, rude and insolent behavior or other forms of harassment, through SMS messages or comments that violate public order and peace of the person to whom the comments are directed, via e-mail, on social networks and on public portals that serve as a public service to citizens in providing information used by a person who can to identify”.
According to writing Detectorbefore the decision was made, the municipal authorities referred to the Law on the Principles of Local Self-Government in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, according to which municipal and city authorities can pass their own laws on public order and peace, which are otherwise under the jurisdiction of the cantons.
Specifically, in the case of the Municipality of Bugojno, as well as the Municipality of Kakanj, which made a similar decision more than a year ago, the authorities are trying to expand the definition of “public place” to include social networks and the Internet.
However, it is questionable whether local communities have the authority to redefine the concept of a public place beyond higher legal acts, as well as to limit freedom of expression in a way that could be contrary to international standards and extremely manipulative.
For this reason, decisions that treat online space as a public place have caused numerous criticisms and warnings that they could open up space for selective punishment of citizens, journalists and political dissidents.
More than a year ago, at a session of the Kakanj Municipal Council, a similar decision on public order and peace was unanimously adopted, which punishes threats, insults, belittling, rude and insolent behavior or other forms of harassment of citizens or officials in public places or social networks, or via e-mail and SMS messages.
This decision gave authority to the police, whose officers started issuing misdemeanor warrants, but confirmed that they do not have a special rulebook on behavior or methodology, writes klix.
