Sarajevo, May 20, 1997 (IKA) – The Justitia et Pax Commission of the Conference of Bishops of Bosnia-Herzegovina held its first meeting yesterday, according to the KTA press agency. The official statement, signed by the president of the commission, Bishop Pero Sudar, emphasized: “The commission constantly wants to raise its voice for justice and peace as the fundamental values of human life in society and shall attempt to contribute to the understanding and promotion of these values.” Accordingly, the commission seeks consistent respect for all human and civil rights and the release of two priests from confinement, the Rev. Tomislav Matanović and the Rev. Ratko Grgić of the Banja Luka Diocese. The members of the commission asked all citizens to participate in their local elections this autumn and called for these elections to be organized and conducted correctly. They also mentioned the increasingly frequent pressure exerted by those who want to legalize “ethnic cleansing” and “humane relocation,” condemning such conduct and seeking the assistance of the international community to enable every citizen to vote according to his or her conscience.