VZCZCXYZ0003
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHVJ #2408/01 3121729
ZNR UUUUU ZZH (CCY TEXT ADX: TEXT ADX: 29AE4D MSI3799 600)
P 081729Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7347
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/JCS WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUFOAOA/USNIC SARAJEVO

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 
------------------------------- 
 
¶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" 
------------------------------ 
 
¶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 
--------------------------------------------- --------------- 
 
¶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 
------- 
 
¶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