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down barriers which restrict the free flow of information to and from the country, the Internet will function as a global newsroom, allowing international communities to maintain a watchful eye over Bosnia while simultaneously providing its citizens with up-to-date accurate media reports. Thus, with the world watching, Bosnians can begin rebuilding their infrastructure.       The role of the Internet in Bosnia today, however, is even more significant given the hostilities that still simmer beneath the surface there. While fighting in the region has

region," comments Suzanne Price, a second year law student and Project Director at Chicago-Kent.       Backed with the support of the United States Information Agency and with the generous donation of a $25,000 Internet server by Sun Microsystems, Project members are cautiously optimistic. "Everyone involved is aware of dangers inherent to this type of mission," says Alex Rozman, one of the Project's student directors. "There are certainly factions of people in Bosnia who would like to see our project fail." With this in mind, project participants are working

quieted, the restoration of peace initiated by the Dayton Accords is contingent upon the availability of, and access to, unbiased information within the region.       For instance, efforts to implement the Dayton Peace Accords in Republika Srpska, the Serbian-controlled half of Bosnia, have been frustrated by opponents of peace who are using their influence over the media to broadcast messages of intolerance and anti-Western sentiment. In reaction to this problem, Project Bosnia has launched a new initiative.

"Our latest efforts in Rebuplika Srpska represent an extraordinary opportunity to end-run traditional channels of communication by utilizing the Internet to provide a forum to disseminate free and independent information."

closely with supporters in Bosnia to ensure that the project does not become a victim of the very oppression that it seeks to remedy.       With the global community committed to peace, however, supporters of Project Bosnia are confident that new information channels such as the Internet will help support the Dayton Accords. "Our latest efforts in Rebuplika Srpska represent an extraordinary opportunity to end-run traditional channels of communication by utilizing the Internet to provide a forum to disseminate free and independent

In attempt to circumvent the problems in Republika Srpska ("RS"), Dean Perritt and a group of Chicago-Kent student volunteers traveled to the RS city of Banja Luka the fall of 1997 to lay the groundwork for the installation of the region's first Internet server. "We are pleased with the support we have received from the United States Information Agency and from other agencies of the United States Government in developing the concepts for the server in Banja Luka and in arranging transportation for the hardware to the

information," states Will Sadler, Executive Director of Chicago-Kent's Center for Law and Computers.       "An ombudsman who discovers human rights violations can use the Internet to exert pressure on the abuser by mobilizing world opinion," adds IV Ashton, fellow Project director from Chicago-Kent. "Simply by posting her findings on the Web, or mailing her findings to our law school so that we can post them, would alert the global community."

rule. (Serbia, Croatia, Montenegro, Macedonia and Slovenia) with Bosnian Muslims officially recognized. After Tito's death in 1980, the communist system unraveled and nationalism filled the ideological void. 1990—Serbian Republic President Slobodan Miloshevich embraced an extreme Serb nationalist agenda, wanting to unite all Serbs living in Yugoslavia under his regime. 1991—Slovenia and Croatia seceded from Yugoslavia. Slovenian independence was recognized; Croatia and Serbia fought until a United Nations brokered cease fire left nearly 1/3 of Croatia under Serbian control. 1992—Bosnia declared its independence from Yugoslavia. Fighting began between

Bosnian Muslims, the Serb Nationalists within Bosnia and the Serb Republic. The Serbs overran 70 percent of Bosnia's territory, cleansing conquered areas. 1993—Croat Nationals within Bosnia began their own ethnic cleansing campaign. 1995—The United States stepped in to stop the fighting. Out of their intervention came the Dayton Accords which provided for the establishment of two republics within Bosnia-Herzegovinia: the Serb Republic and a federation of Bosnians and Croats. The Accords also established the Constitutional Court at the federal level of nine judges, six from Bosnia-Herzegovinia and three from other countries; and the Accords also provided for an international tribunal of Ombudsman to bring war criminals to trial and

oversee the prosecution of human rights abuses. 1996— National elections were held to select the tri-presidency and fill offices on the federal level. 1997— Municipal elections were held. Present— Approximately 25,000 troops from around the world, a majority from the United States, are on a peacekeeping mission in Bosnia. Their mission has been extended for another two years.

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