Posted on 04/15/2002 12:30:01 PM PDT by joan
— By THE HAGUE (Reuters) - Slobodan Milosevic at his trial on Monday accused separatist Kosovo Albanian guerrillas of fabricating an alleged atrocity by Serb forces in 1999 in a bid to spur a shocked West into attacking Yugoslavia.
The killing of about 45 ethnic Albanians in Racak in January 1999 shocked the outside world and was widely credited with stiffening NATO's resolve to launch its 11-week campaign of air strikes against Yugoslavia two months later.
The former Serb strongman, accused of genocide and crimes against humanity in Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo in the 1990s, could face life behind bars if convicted at the end of Europe's biggest international war crimes trial since World War Two.
The Hague tribunal heard last week from a Western observer that dozens of unarmed men dressed in slippers and rubber boots were found shot in the head at Racak in 1999 after Serb forces entered the village. Milosevic disputed the testimony.
Milosevic told the war crimes court that ethnic Albanian Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) guerrillas shifted corpses around Racak to an open mass grave as part of a ruse to convince Western observers that Serb forces had butchered villagers. He said Serb forces had only killed KLA guerrillas in gun battles.
"It may be, as Serb authorities claim, and many Europeans tended to believe, that the victims were in fact killed in the shoot-out reported by police and then aligned to give the appearance of a massacre," Milosevic said quoting from an Italian press report.
IN COLD BLOOD
The 60-year-old accused, who is conducting his own defense at the United Nations court against charges he has rejected as "false," vigorously challenged testimony that Racak's villagers had been gunned down.
Retired British general Karel Drewienkiewicz, who served in Kosovo with a mission of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), said he was convinced a massacre had taken place and had not been staged by the KLA.
"I know what I saw on the hillside and it was not manipulation...it was men who had been gunned down in cold blood," said Drewienkiewicz.
Drewienkiewicz acknowledged, however, that a fierce battle had taken place between KLA guerrillas and Serb forces at Racak and that there had been a "lapse" of some 15 hours overnight before Western observers viewed the scene.
Last week Drewienkiewicz told the court he saw men shot in the head at Racak. They had been dressed in carpet slippers and rubber boots.
Since his trial opened in February Milosevic has accuses the West and Islamic militant group al-Qaeda of supporting a "terrorist" campaign by the separatist Kosovo Liberation Army to destabilize the Balkans.
He declined to enter pleas to the charges against him. Not guilty pleas were entered on his behalf. The trial is expected to last at least two years.
Learn the rules, Wraith - support your version of events or hang it up.
You've got nothing, and it's showing, Wraith.
Are you waiting for evidence to support your hypothesis?
If so, how long am I to wait?
Don't get huffy - simply back up your statement or admit you have nothing to do so with.
If you can't, then nothing more needs be said.
Come on Hoplite if you have a bit of common sense you would realize that this is for a reason. You have never been to the Balkans and yet you attempt to give the perception that you know. Well you don't have a clue and if you did you would understand why Albanians remaining unnamed means they will remain breathing. Come on prove the KLA did not put those bodies in the ditch during the 15 hours the KLA where in control of Racak? You will not answer this because you can't. 15 hours Hoplite.....We shall see....
It's a simple case of one version of events being documented with findings, and the other being nothing more than a make believe version devoid of any basis in reality.
Now either you have something to anchor your version of events (the bodies being moved there) in reality, or you're just wasting your breath attacking the only scenario that has anything to back it up.
Funny you didn't think so not so long ago,. I was different from the rest, now its irrelevant? Its irrelevant because its not the so called Walker official point of view . The fact that the BBC caught him lying about his contact with the U.S. State department heavies while running the OSCE right up until Racak really hurts his credibility and you support his view. Your supporting a liar hoplite. Think about it. That’s where you need to begin questioning the reality of it all. Stop trying to rip apart a first hand point of view when all you have are the arranged perceptions and people like the questionable William Walker who presented them. Admit it hoplite, Walker lied to the press, could he be lying about Racak considering the circumstances of his past history. Admit it, you have to agree with this because its a fact. If not you do have a problem. I saw the BBC Documentary and so did the world. A hard bullet to swallow but I know your eggo will not allow you to admit it in any reply. If you want to be objective bring forth the objectivity and park the eggo. If not you are wasting your time.
Sadly, you're in good company here.
The only thing you've said is that a Kosovar Albanian told you that a KVM patrol was stopped by the KLA on the 15th.
That does not equal the KLA manipulating the crime scene at Racak.
What does equal a scenario is the witness statements (from Pro LDK villagers, per you), forensic evidence, and the autopsy results - all of which point to Serb culpability for the killings.
Now, do you have anything to bring to the table other than the KVM patrol being stopped by the KLA?
Now, do you have anything to bring to the table other than the KVM patrol being stopped by the KLA? As for what you want brought to your table please refer again to my post #76. I believe your selective memory is working again. You know this problem of yours really puts up a barrier for example statements like “this is your last chance” etc. Last chance for what to make Daddy happy. Give me a break. Their is lots more Hoplite and patients is something you need to develop. Don't bother replying unless you want to acknowledge that William Walker is a confirmed documented liar, you know the guy that pointed the finger at the speed of light......
William Walker, by the way, is providing none of the evidence pertinent to the matter at hand, so if you wish to discuss his shortcomings I suggest you do it with some of the usual suspects rather than trying to use him as a device to extricate yourself from the factual deficit your position is suffering from.
I had expected better from you, Wraith - you're turning into a regular G. Dority.
we've already established that the KVM reports were falsiifeid by higher ups......therefore your reliance on them does nothing for your case.
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