Work of the Hague tribunal in Racak case criticized

BERLINER ZEITUNG ^ | 2004-01-17 | Markus Bickel

[DTA]

Berliner Zeitung, Saturday, January 17, 2004

No interest in fallen Serbs Work of the Hague tribunal in Racak case criticized
Markus Bickel

SARAJEVO/HELSINKI, January - Finnish pathologist Helena Ranta has expressed lack of comprehension regarding the work of the UN's Hague tribunal in the case of the so-called massacre of Racak.

In an interview with "Berliner Zeitung", the head of the forensic team sent by the EU to investigate occurrences in the Kosovo village of Racak in January, 1999, criticized that indications of serious fighting between Serbian soldiers and Albanian fighters on the night of 15th to 16th of January, 1999, in the Racak area had been inadequately pursued.

The tragedy in the Kosovo village exactly five years ago in which more than 40 Albanians died was used by Western politicians to convince the public of the necessity of the approaching NATO attack on Yugoslavia. U.S. diplomat William Walker played a central role. The chief of OSCE's Kosovo mission immediately accused the Serbs of having summarily executed 45 unarmed Albanian civilians in Racak. The Serbian side rejected this view and spoke about UCK fighters fallen in battle.

Photos not published

Ranta said she knows that "KLA fighters were buried near to Racak" at that time. "I had already gotten information proving that there several Serbian soldiers were also shot. Unfortunately, we will probably never find out the exact number of the Serbs that fell on that night." The question needs to be asked "why the Tribunal is not interested in this number." Ranta criticized that the indictment against the Yugoslav ex-president Milosevic in the Racak case largely follows the version of events put forward by Walker. "If ambassador Walker says that there has been a massacre in Racak, that statement has no legal effect. Even at that time I expressed that the OSCE observers had forgotten all the steps one usually expects by way of protection of the scene: its isolation, the exclusion of unauthorized persons as well as gathering of evidence." Ranta demanded the publishing of the pictures of two other photographers in addition to the OSCE photos of the scene which were also taken a few hours before the arrival of the OSCE observers.

The pictures showed "that at least one of the bodies was later moved. This body did not appear in the OSCE pictures."

Left in a lurch

During the days before beginning of the NATO attacks on Yugoslavia it was clear "that a whole series of governments had an interest in a version of Racak events which held only the Serbian side responsible," said Ranta. "However, I could not provide them with this version." She had gotten her instructions from the German diplomat, Ambassador Pauls, the representative of the German EU presidency of that time, who asked her to prepare a written tatement.

"Afterwards I had to show this individual statement to William Walker, who was obviously far from enthusiastic when he read it." Nevertheless, she agreed to participate in the important news conference on March 17, 1999. "On that occasion, I sat together with the German ambassador in Belgrade, Gruber, and a Finnish diplomat on the stage. I hoped that both men would support me." Unfortunately, that was not the case. "Instead, I had the feeling of having been left in a lurch," said Ranta. As a the result of this news conference dominated by Walker, most media considered the version of a Serbian massacre over Albanian civilians confirmed. Few days later the NATO air attacks on Yugoslavia began.

[Hoplite]

ps: Curley - didn't look it up. My bad.

[Burkeman1]

ok

[duckln]

Do you follow the proceedings at the Hague? Did you watch the part concerning Racak?

It is in the 'video archives' at 'jurist.law.pitt.edu/'.

[ehoxha]

The fighting between the KLA and the Serbs around Racak was addressed by numerous witnesses as part of the prosecution's case. .......and the 'eyewitness' testimony was directly contradicted by ABC that same day.

Hoplite, why won't you address the simple issue that KLA Commander Buja testified at the ICTY that he rounded up 'volunteers' from the village that day ?

Hoplite, why won't you address the simple issue that Racak was a anti-KLA village ?

[Burkeman1]

Honesty and you don't meld easily. Me thinks about everyonwe who reads this will agree. But for the moment wake hoplite up! Get him home safe at least!

[vooch]

What happened to the 11 KLA fighters that were removed from the scene by the KLA, the 16 hours the KLA controlled the scene at Racak

exactly, wraith. KLA Commander Buja (sp?) testified that he had some 11 KIA just at Racak that day.

[Wraith]

KLA did not want the world to know the KLA were involved. Thaci publicly announced that killing Serb policeman was the best way to attract the Serbian VJ and MUP. Predictability at its best. General Shukri Buja i/c of the KLA operation in Racak and was responsible for the constant harassment of the LDK in that area.

[A. Pole]

"However, I could not provide them with this version."

Bump.