DATE=1/22/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-225659
TITLE=YUGO WAR CRIMES (L ONLY)
BYLINE=GILLIAN SHARPE
DATELINE=THE HAGUE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
/// EDS: WATCH C-N WIRE FOR ARRIVAL AT THE HAGUE ///
INTRO: A BOSNIAN SERB ARRESTED BY NATO TROOPS EARLY THURSDAY IN
BOSNIA (IS ABOUT TO ARRIVE) (HAS ARRIVED) IN THE HAGUE TO
ANSWER GENOCIDE CHARGES AT THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL. THE SUSPECT
-- GORAN JELISIC -- IS ACCUSED OF MURDERING MUSLIM PRISONERS WHEN
HE WAS COMMANDER OF A PRISON CAMP NEAR BRCKO. GILLIAN SHARPE
REPORTS FROM THE HAGUE.
TEXT: THE SUSPECT, 29-YEAR-OLD GORAN JELISIC, IS ONE OF ONLY
NINE PEOPLE CHARGED WITH GENOCIDE, THE TRIBUNAL'S MOST SERIOUS
CHARGE. AND A TRIBUNAL SPOKESMAN DESCRIBES HIM AS A "FAIRLY BIG
CATCH."
PROSECUTORS ALLEGE MR. JELISIC WAS COMMANDER OF THE NOTORIOUS
LUKA PRISON CAMP, NEAR BRCKO IN NORTHEASTERN BOSNIA. THEY SAY HE
INTRODUCED HIMSELF TO PRISONERS AS THE "SERB ADOLF," TELLING THEM
HE HAD COME TO KILL MUSLIMS. THE CHARGES ALLEGE HE KILLED
"COUNTLESS DETAINEES" WHOSE IDENTITIES REMAIN UNKNOWN, BUT
SPECIFICALLY ACCUSE HIM OF THE MURDER OF 16 PRISONERS -- MOST OF
THEM SHOT AT CLOSE RANGE OR BEATEN.
PROSECUTORS SAY MANY OF THE PRISONERS WERE FORCED TO LIE ON A
GRATING OVER A DRAIN TO A RIVER, SO THERE WOULD BE LESS CLEANING
UP TO DO AFTER THE SHOOTINGS. THEY SAY BODIES USUALLY WERE
LOADED ON TRUCKS AND TRANSPORTED TO NEARBY MASS GRAVES.
AS TRIBUNAL SPOKESMAN CHRISTIAN CHARTIER NOTES, THIS IS THE THIRD
ARREST OPERATION CARRIED OUT BY NATO SINCE JULY OF LAST YEAR.
/// CHARTIER ACT ///
THEY'VE DONE IT THREE TIMES NOW, AND WE ARE SURE THEY'LL
DO IT AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN. THAT ALSO SIGNALS TO
ALL THE REMAINING INDICTEES STILL AT LARGE THAT THEY
SHOULD NOT THINK THAT THE PROTECTION THAT IS GIVEN TO
THEM BY THEIR GOVERNMENTS IS A SOLID PROTECTION. THEY
ARE NOT GOING TO ESCAPE. THEY ARE GOING TO BE HELD
ACCOUNTABLE ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, SO SURRENDER YOURSELF,
THAT'S THE EASIEST WAY, AND CEASE ATTEMPTING TO DISTURB
THE COURSE OF JUSTICE. YOU'RE UNSUCCESSFUL. THE
TRIBUNAL IS AFTER YOU AND NATO IS WITH THE TRIBUNAL
AFTER YOU.
/// END ACT ///
FIFTY-FOUR WAR CRIMES SUSPECTS -- MOST OF THEM BOSNIAN SERB --
ARE STILL FREE.
MR. JELESIC IS EXPECTED TO APPEAR IN COURT EARLY NEXT WEEK TO
ENTER A PLEA TO THE CHARGES AGAINST HIM (SIGNED)
NEB/GS/JWH
22-Jan-98 10:34 AM EST (1534 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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