DATE=4/12/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-247948
TITLE=YUGOSLAV WAR CRIMES UPDATE (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=LAUREN COMITEAU
DATELINE=THE HAGUE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: PROSECUTORS AT THE YUGOSLAV WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE
HAGUE ARE LAYING OUT THEIR CASE AGAINST TWO PROMINENT BOSNIAN
CROATS WHO THEY SAY PLAYED AN INTEGRAL ROLE IN A LONG-TERM
CAMPAIGN OF PERSECUTION AGAINST MUSLIMS. LAUREN COMITEAU REPORTS
FROM THE HAGUE ON THE TRIAL OF THE MOST SENIOR POLITICIAN TO COME
BEFORE THE TRIBUNAL, TO DATE.
TEXT: THIRTY-EIGHT-YEAR-OLD DARIO KORDIC LOOKED RELAX AS
PROSECUTORS SPOKE OF APPALLING CRIMES COMMITTED AGAINST CENTRAL
BOSNIA'S MUSLIMS IN THE NAME OF CROAT INTERESTS.
PROSECUTOR GEOFFREY NICE SAID THE VILLAGE OF AHMICI WAS TURNED
RED BY THE FLAMES OF BURNING HOUSES AND THE BLOOD OF ITS
INHABITANTS. AT LEAST 100 MUSLIMS WERE KILLED THERE WHEN THE
VILLAGE WAS DESTROYED IN APRIL 1993. DARIO KORDIC, SAY
PROSECUTORS, WAS A TOP LEADER AND POLICY MAKER. THE OTHER
ACCUSED, MARIO DERKEZ, A LOCAL COMMANDER.
PROSECUTOR NICE SAYS MAYBE THE TWO MEN DIDN'T SET OUT TO LEAD
SUCH MONSTROUS CRIMES. BUT WAR IS DIFFERENT, SAYS GEOFFREY NICE,
AND THE ACCUSED BECAME CORRUPTED BY -- AND ADDICTED TO -- POWER.
/// NICE ACT ///
IF THEY ABUSE THE POWER AND FAIL TO DISCHARGE THE
RESPONSIBILITY, THEY MUST FACE THE CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR
ACTIONS AND FAILINGS.
/// END ACT ///
BOTH MEN SAY THEY ARE INNOCENT AND ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO
CLEARING THEIR NAMES IN COURT.
DARIO KORDIC'S SEVEN DEFENSE LAWYERS SAY THE CHARGES ARE
UNFOUNDED. THEY SAY BOSNIAN CROATS WAGED A DEFENSIVE STRUGGLE
FOR SURVIVAL AGAINST THE BOSNIAN MUSLIM MAJORITY -- THE CROATS
WERE, IN FACT, TRAPPED IN SMALL ENCLAVES, JUST LIKE THE MUSLIMS
WERE TRAPPED BY SERBS IN SREBRENICA.
BUT TRYING TO PROVE THAT IN COURT IS EXPECTED TO TAKE A LONG
TIME. (SIGNED)
NEB/LC/PCF
12-Apr-99 10:00 AM EDT (1400 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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