HLS Students Sponsor 'Bosnia Week'

Students at Harvard Law School (HLS) are taking a break from case studies and mock trials to try and increase their classmates' awareness of a very real crisis taking place thousands of miles from Cambridge.

Five HLS first-years are sponsoring Bosnian Education Week, which features guest speakers, movies and slide shows on human rights.

"[We are] trying to bring information to people who still find it difficult to fully understand the issues [surrounding the Bosnian crisis] even though they are intelligent people reading the newspapers," said Maria M. Green, one of the program's organizers.

Speakers will include David Rieff, author of Slaughterhouse: Bosnia and The Failure of the West;His Excellency Muhamed Sacirbey, Bosnian ambassador to the United Nations; Stephen Walker, executive director of the American Committee to Save Bosnia; and several representatives of other human rights groups.

The group is also collecting school supplies at its table in Harkness Commons and at each event it holds this week in order to help offset shortages of educational materials in Bosnian schools.

The week is meant to have an "emphasis both on what Western governments can do to help with the Bosnian crisis, as well as on what Harvard students can do," Green said.

Handouts outlining possible courses of action are available at the program's table in Harkness Commons.

Representatives at the table noted that the group's members are divided on what action should be taken by foreign governments in Bosnia.

Shahzad A. Bahatti, who was tabling for the group yesterday, said he feels that students should rally for a lifting of the international arms embargo against the Bosnian government.

"If you're not going to help the victims, at least let the victims help themselves," Bahatti said.

Abid R. Qureshi, who was also tabling for the group, said he agreed.

But others said lifting the embargo would result in more unnecessary killing and violence.

"I fell that there isn't enough information about whether lifting the embargo would bring about more killing in Yugoslavia," Green said.

The group is encouraging students to sign form letters addressed to President Clinton, United Nations Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali and students' U.S. Representatives and Senators in Washington, D.C.

The letter to President Clinton urges him to lift the arms embargo against Bosnia-Herzegovina immediately while the letter to Boutros Ghali asks the Secretary General to support more funding for an investigation of alleged war crimes committed in Bosnia.

Chris W. Ford, a first year law student who signed a letter yesterday to Boutros-Ghali and to Senator Edward M. Kennedy '54-'56 (D- ,Mass.)supporting funding for an investigationof war crimes, commended the idea behind BosnianEducation Week.

"I think the information is presented in afair-minded way," Ford said.

Group members said they have been encouraged bythe widespread support and participation it hasgenerated for the Bosnian cause this week.

About 40 people have attended each speech ormovie event so far this week, and nearly 50letters have been signed organizers said.

The group is also advertising an event called"Walk for the Children of Bosnia," which isorganized by the New England Bosnian ReliefCommittee.

By raising pledges for a 10 kilometer walk,participants can help the Committee contribute torelief efforts for children in Bosnia Herzegovina.

Green, Qureshi and fellow first year HLSstudents Debbie Sullivan, W. Warren Binford andMark Hickernell have been responsible forcoordinating the week's events

"I think the information is presented in afair-minded way," Ford said.

Group members said they have been encouraged bythe widespread support and participation it hasgenerated for the Bosnian cause this week.

About 40 people have attended each speech ormovie event so far this week, and nearly 50letters have been signed organizers said.

The group is also advertising an event called"Walk for the Children of Bosnia," which isorganized by the New England Bosnian ReliefCommittee.

By raising pledges for a 10 kilometer walk,participants can help the Committee contribute torelief efforts for children in Bosnia Herzegovina.

Green, Qureshi and fellow first year HLSstudents Debbie Sullivan, W. Warren Binford andMark Hickernell have been responsible forcoordinating the week's events