DATE=1/22/98
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-38739
TITLE=ARRESTING BOSNIAN WAR CRIMINALS
BYLINE=FRANK RONALDS
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A GROUP OF GLOBAL POLITICAL LEADERS AND JURISTS HAVE
ISSUED A REPORT IN WASHINGTON CALLING FOR THE ARREST, BY NATO
FORCES IF NECESSARY, OF THE MORE THAN 50 INDICTED WAR CRIMES
SUSPECTS IN BOSNIA. FRANK RONALDS REPORTS MEMBERS OF THE GROUP
ALSO PRESSED THEIR VIEWS IN MEETINGS WITH TOP OFFICIALS IN THE
STATE DEPARTMENT, THE PENTAGON, AND THE WHITE HOUSE.
TEXT: FORMER CHIEF PROSECUTOR AT THE U-N WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN
THE HAGUE, RICHARD GOLDSTONE, SAID 22 PEOPLE INDICTED FOR WAR
CRIMES HAVE BEEN TURNED OVER TO THE U-N TRIBUNAL, WHILE MOST OF
THE OTHERS REMAIN AT LARGE.
MR. GOLDSTONE, NOW A MEMBER OF SOUTH AFRICA'S CONSTITUTIONAL
COURT, HEADED THE TASK FORCE ON APPREHENDING INDICTED WAR CRIMES
SUSPECTS. THE TASK FORCE REPORTED FOUR YEARS AFTER THE SECURITY
COUNCIL BOUND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO COMPLY, WITHOUT
DELAY, IN ARRESTING AND TRANSFERRING SUCH INDIVIDUALS TO THE
INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL.
MORE THAN TWO-YEARS AFTER THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORDS AGREED TO
SUPPORT THOSE ACTIONS, JUSTICE GOLDSTONE QUOTED PRESIDENT BILL
CLINTON TO MAKE CLEAR WHY THIS IS NECESSARY.
// 1ST GOLDSTONE ACT //
THE NEED FOR INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE REALLY COULD NOT HAVE
BEEN PUT MORE FORCEFULLY, OR MORE SUCCINCTLY, OR MORE
ACCURATELY THAN IT WAS PUT BY PRESIDENT CLINTON, ON THE
15TH OF OCTOBER, 1995 WHEN HE WAS SPEAKING AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT. HE SAID -- WE HAVE AN
OBLIGATION TO CARRY FORWARD THE LESSONS OF NUREMBERG.
THOSE ACCUSED OF WAR CRIMES, CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY,
AND GENOCIDE MUST BE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE. THERE MUST BE
PEACE FOR JUSTICE TO PREVAIL, BUT THERE MUST BE JUSTICE
WHEN PEACE PREVAILS.
// END ACT //
TWO OF THE MEN WHO HELPED PROSECUTE NAZI WAR CRIMINALS AFTER THE
SECOND WORLD WAR ATTENDED THE PRESS CONFERENCE. THEY URGED
FASTER ACTION AGAINST THOSE INDICTED FOR CRIMES IN BOSNIA.
THEODORE MERON EMPHASIZED IT IS ESSENTIAL TO PROSECUTE THOSE MOST
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MASS CRIMES COMMITTED IN BOSNIA.
// IST MERON ACT //
NO INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL WILL EVER BE ABLE TO TRY
EVERYBODY. NUREMBERG STARTED, AND RIGHTLY SO, FROM
TRIALS OF MAJOR GERMAN WAR DEFENDANTS. KARADZIC'S
IMPORTANCE IS TWO-FOLD. A -- HE HAS BEEN AN EXTREMELY
OBSTRUCTIVE FORCE TOWARDS ESTABLISHMENT AND ACHIEVEMENT
OF THE MAJOR BROADER GOALS OF DAYTON: RETURN OF
REFUGEES, ESTABLISHMENT OR RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF A
MULTI-ETHNIC SOCIETY. BUT BEYOND THAT, EVEN IF WE
FORGET THIS NEGATIVE ROLE OF KARADZIC, HIS PROSECUTION,
HIS ARREST, HAS ACQUIRED AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT SYMBOLIC
NATURE. THERE IS A SYMBOLISM HERE, WHICH WE WOULD NOT
ACHIEVE FROM EVEN 10 OR 15 ADDITIONAL PROSECUTIONS AND
TRIALS. I BELIEVE THAT IT IS THE TRIAL OF KARADZIC THAT
WOULD ENABLE US IN OUR PUBLIC OPINION AND SUPPORTERS OF
INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN AND CRIMINAL LAW EVERYWHERE,
TO REGARD DAYTON AS A SUCCESS.
WAR-TIME BOSNIAN-SERB LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC IS BELIEVED TO HAVE
A BODYGUARD OF ABOUT 300 MERCENARIES. JUSTICE GOLDSTONE SAYS
ACTION AGAINST MR. KARADZIC, JUST AS SOME OF THE ACTIONS WHICH
HAVE ALREADY BEEN TAKEN, WOULD INVOLVE RISK.
// 2ND GOLDSTONE ACT //
CLEARLY THE CONCERN ON THE PART OF GOVERNMENTS WHO HAVE
TROOPS IN THE AREA IS FOR THEIR TROOPS. PERHAPS EVEN
MORE IMPORTANTLY IT IS FOR PUBLIC OPINION IN THEIR
COUNTRIES, BECAUSE THEY DO NOT WANT TO RISK A SITUATION
OF CAUSING OPPOSITION, IN DEMOCRACIES, WHICH CAN BE
POLITICALLY EMBARRASSING TO THOSE LEADERS. I KNOW
CERTAINLY FROM MY OWN CONTACT WITH THE NETHERLANDS, THAT
FOR THE DUTCH GROUPS WHO BORE THE BRUNT OF ARRESTS IN
VITEZ, THE RESULT WAS A FEELING OF PRIDE AND
SATISFACTION ON THE PART OF THE PEOPLE OF HOLLAND. AND
I HAVE LITTLE DOUBT THAT THE PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES
WOULD FEEL A SENSE OF PRIDE IF THEIR TROOPS WERE
INVOLVED IN THE APPREHENSION OF THESE SORTS OF WAR
CRIMINALS.
// END ACT //
FORMER U-S AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS HERBERT OKUN, AND
SEVERAL OTHER MEMBERS OF THE TASK FORCE, SAID THEY WERE
ENCOURAGED BY THEIR TALKS WITH TOP AMERICAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.
// 1ST OKUN ACT //
I THINK IT IS FAIR TO SAY THAT WE HAVE SEEN A NEW
IMPETUS IN GETTING THESE PEOPLE, KARADZIC, AND GENERAL
MLADIC. THAT WAS THE IMPRESSION LEFT FROM OUR
DISCUSSIONS AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT, DEFENSE, AND AT THE
WHITE HOUSE. NO DATES WERE GIVEN, AND THAT IS
UNDERSTANDABLE. BUT I GOT THE IMPRESSION, AND I THINK
MOST MEMBERS OF THE GROUP DID, THAT THERE IS A DESIRE, A
VIGOROUS DESIRE, TO BRING THESE TWO PEOPLE TO JUSTICE.
// END ACT //
JUSTICE GOLDSTONE HAD THE SAME STRONG IMPRESSION.
// 3RD GOLDSTONE ACT //
CLEARLY, ONE CAN NOT EXPECT DETAILS TO BE GIVEN OF
OPERATIONS. THAT WOULD BE SILLY AND WOULD JEOPARDIZE
THE WHOLE ENDEAVOR. BUT THE QUESTION OF A WILL, OF A
POLITICAL WILL, AND EVEN A MILITARY WILL, TO DO IT, IT
SEEMS TO ME, SHOULD BE TALKED ABOUT. KARADZIC AND
MLADIC AND THE OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE STILL AT LARGE
HAVING BEEN INDICTED CAN BE UNDER NO ILLUSION THAT THEIR
DAY IS COMING.
// END ACT //
THE INTERNATIONAL TASK FORCE MADE CLEAR IT WILL ORGANIZE MORE
MEETINGS IN THE UNITED STATES AND EUROPE UNTIL ITS AIM OF
STEPPING UP THE PACE OF ARRESTING INDICTED BOSNIAN-WAR CRIMES
SUSPECTS IS ACHIEVED. (SIGNED)
NEB/FSR/RAE
22-Jan-98 11:02 AM EST (1602 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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