Human Rights Brief
A Legal Resource for the International Human Rights CommunityALUMNI PROFILE
MAJOR FREDRIK A. HOLST
Fredrik Holst, a 1996 graduate of the LL.M. program at WCL is currently serving as a civil military cooperation officer with the Stabilization Force (SFOR). He is currently stationed in the Nordic Polish Brigade, one of the biggest units in the U.S. led Multinational Division (MND) in Northern Bosnia. Before he came to WCL, Holst was an information officer with the UN in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. He received his law degree from the University of Stockholm, Sweden.
Immediately after his graduation from WCL, Holst returned to Sweden and worked briefly at a law firm before he was recruited by the Legal Department of the Swedish Armed Forces Headquarters in Stockholm. As legal advisor for the Swedish Armed Forces, he worked on various humanitarian law issues. For instance, he traveled to Vienna for a workshop on the protection of cultural property in the event of armed conflict, an area the Legal Department feels is considerably important, but that has been neglected in the past. He also took part in the planning of the Partnership for Peace (PFP) Exercises, which are designed to implement joint training exercises with NATO countries and other countries involved in the PFP program. The purpose of these joint training exercises is to prepare different countries to cooperate in future peace support missions. Holst prepared Memorandums of Understanding (MOU), one of the basic legal documents used between nations partaking in the joint exercises.
In December 1997, Holst was selected for the position he currently holds, which involves him in a variety of issues. As well as being an SFOR officer working on civil and military cooperation (CIMIC) matters, Holst also works as deputy legal advisor to the Commanding General of the Nordic Polish Brigade. In this capacity, he gives advice on military operational issues, military discipline, and claims against the military. In his capacity as a CIMIC officer, he works mainly with democratization issues. As an SFOR officer, Holst supports the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which has the mandate of promoting Bosnia-Herzegovina's transition to a stable democracy. Holst attends regional meetings with major international organizations such as the OSCE, Office of High Representative (OHR), UN Civil Affairs, and the UN International Police Task Force on implementation of election results. During the meetings, these groups discuss how certain municipalities have complied with their obligations after elections have taken place.
Another part of the democratization process is the enforcement of respect for basic human rights principles. The main areas of concern in this arena are the right to return, right to property, freedom of movement, freedom from discrimination, due process of law, and security of persons. Holst attends Human Rights Working Group Meetings with the major International Organizations in the area. Security of persons is one of the greatest concerns at the moment. Local police, especially in so-called hard line areas, harass, intimidate, and even beat civilians based on their political views, religion, or ethnicity. SFOR can provide impartial doctors upon request from the International Police Task Force, who are dispatched to civilian victims of police brutality in order to collect evidence that many local doctors are afraid to document or report.
According to Holst, freedom of movement exists, but the division of Bosnia into two entities, Republika Srpska (RS), and The Federation, consisting of the Bosniak/Muslim and Croat sections has created some problems. Freedom of movement is hindered by the fact that the police from one entity tend to stop vehicles coming from the other side. SFOR reports on checkpoints, which are illegal if they are set up for longer than 30 minutes. The mere presence of SFOR forces is often enough to discourage the setting-up of checkpoints.
Holst has also seen evidence that internally displaced persons and refugees are returning to their homes, albeit slowly. After the ethnic cleansing many people are reluctant to return, either because they fear a repeat of the previous violence or because their homes have been destroyed or are being occupied by another family. SFOR supports UNHCR trying to encourage and support returnees.
Landmines also continue to pose a serious problem in Bosnia-Herzegovina. According to Holst, leaving the tarmac is never safe, as unexploded mines are still scattered throughout the country. SFOR does assist the local authorities in removing landmines, but due to their extensive use, the process is arduous and time consuming.
Immediately after his graduation from WCL, Holst returned to Sweden and worked briefly at a law firm before he was recruited by the Legal Department of the Swedish Armed Forces Headquarters in Stockholm. As legal advisor for the Swedish Armed Forces, he worked on various humanitarian law issues. For instance, he traveled to Vienna for a workshop on the protection of cultural property in the event of armed conflict, an area the Legal Department feels is considerably important, but that has been neglected in the past. He also took part in the planning of the Partnership for Peace (PFP) Exercises, which are designed to implement joint training exercises with NATO countries and other countries involved in the PFP program. The purpose of these joint training exercises is to prepare different countries to cooperate in future peace support missions. Holst prepared Memorandums of Understanding (MOU), one of the basic legal documents used between nations partaking in the joint exercises.
In December 1997, Holst was selected for the position he currently holds, which involves him in a variety of issues. As well as being an SFOR officer working on civil and military cooperation (CIMIC) matters, Holst also works as deputy legal advisor to the Commanding General of the Nordic Polish Brigade. In this capacity, he gives advice on military operational issues, military discipline, and claims against the military. In his capacity as a CIMIC officer, he works mainly with democratization issues. As an SFOR officer, Holst supports the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which has the mandate of promoting Bosnia-Herzegovina's transition to a stable democracy. Holst attends regional meetings with major international organizations such as the OSCE, Office of High Representative (OHR), UN Civil Affairs, and the UN International Police Task Force on implementation of election results. During the meetings, these groups discuss how certain municipalities have complied with their obligations after elections have taken place.
Another part of the democratization process is the enforcement of respect for basic human rights principles. The main areas of concern in this arena are the right to return, right to property, freedom of movement, freedom from discrimination, due process of law, and security of persons. Holst attends Human Rights Working Group Meetings with the major International Organizations in the area. Security of persons is one of the greatest concerns at the moment. Local police, especially in so-called hard line areas, harass, intimidate, and even beat civilians based on their political views, religion, or ethnicity. SFOR can provide impartial doctors upon request from the International Police Task Force, who are dispatched to civilian victims of police brutality in order to collect evidence that many local doctors are afraid to document or report.
According to Holst, freedom of movement exists, but the division of Bosnia into two entities, Republika Srpska (RS), and The Federation, consisting of the Bosniak/Muslim and Croat sections has created some problems. Freedom of movement is hindered by the fact that the police from one entity tend to stop vehicles coming from the other side. SFOR reports on checkpoints, which are illegal if they are set up for longer than 30 minutes. The mere presence of SFOR forces is often enough to discourage the setting-up of checkpoints.
Holst has also seen evidence that internally displaced persons and refugees are returning to their homes, albeit slowly. After the ethnic cleansing many people are reluctant to return, either because they fear a repeat of the previous violence or because their homes have been destroyed or are being occupied by another family. SFOR supports UNHCR trying to encourage and support returnees.
Landmines also continue to pose a serious problem in Bosnia-Herzegovina. According to Holst, leaving the tarmac is never safe, as unexploded mines are still scattered throughout the country. SFOR does assist the local authorities in removing landmines, but due to their extensive use, the process is arduous and time consuming.
The proper citation for this article in the Human Rights Brief Volume 5, Number 3, beginning at page 13 is: 5 No. 3 Hum. Rts. Brief 13 (1998).
