Milosevic Says Kosovo Massacre Staged by Rebels

— 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.

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.

Its not what you want to hear so you don't go there right. Your man Walker is a documented liar who pointed the finger and Liars don't do well in court because of an apparent lack of credibility. Look that word up in your dictionary. I'm sure it will mean something different. Walker was the boss and as you know the Boss sets the tone.

Their are many aspects when looking for the truth hoplite and one is admitting objectively that their is a flaw in some certain piece of information be it from your own prospective or that of another’s. You take your position to personally and only see the perceived flaws in others and not in your own position. This my friend handicaps you for two reasons, one, your lack of objectivity is apparent to everyone and two, who wants to deal with someone like yourself that is inflexible that will not admit anything especially if it hurts your own position. Your pride is your worst enemy hoplite and it puts peoples backs up. Maybe a little on the anal side I suspect.

It is you that is very disappointing and quite frankly like the rest of the locals I too am turned off. I have not taken sides in any of this and remain in the middle because there you will be able to see things more clearly. Try it sometime maybe put the uniform/pride back in the closet and see two sides rather than one. I have my differences with Vooch but at least he has the maturity to agree when it is apparent. Your type A personality will not allows this. Your problem.

I have mentioned this on several occasions of which the information originated from a friend of mine who was a member of the OSCE KVM before the evacuation of Kosovo. My friend mentioned the falsified OSCE reports and now the Media has been reporting it. It was a matter of time but unfortunately Hoplite can't admit that it may have something to do with William Walker lying to the BBC about having contact with the US State Department not to mention his premature condemnation of the Serbian VJ about the Racak massacre . Three very suspicious things all associated to Walker. But its all coincidence and does not have a shred of weight like Ranta screwed up forensic examination or lack of it right Hoplite. Its so easy playing it safe.

Gee Wraith, I'd love to review your evidence objectively, but am constrained by the fact that

YOU DON'T HAVE ANY.

Or did I miss something in the preceeding threads?

You're arguing for acquittal on the basis that the defence doesn't have a case and are now reduced to innuendo to make up the shortfall - nice jibe about Ranta and her report - why don't you put your money where your mouth is and back up that statement?

It'd be a great place to start.

Here, I'll help you: Start off your response with "The reasons Ranta's report are flawed are..."

A little pissed are we. Your memory has once again failed you because I had already went over it with you. Remember the one year of contaminated scene at Racak before Ranta examined it. Selective memory or is it Alzheimers setting in. I hear there are support Wild Willie Walker posters for sale somewhere in the State Department but know one can remember or wants to admit it.

Hoplite 1) Walker lied to the BBC, 2) the KLA stopped one of two OSCE KVM patrols (my info) and their were 2 patrols dispatched , 3) OSCE field reports where falsified (My info) which was confirmed by OSCE KVM who spoke to the news media and subsequently published it. I believe the score is 3 to 0 in my favor.........

1) Walker's statement isn't evidence in the matter of who murdered the people at Racak.
2) If true, doesn't bear directly on who murdered the people at Racak, and each side's stopping a patrol renders it inconclusive circumstantial evidence.
3) The OSCE field reports don't bear directly on who murdered the people at Racak, the EU-FET report does.

Also, Ranta's team produced 1428 pages of report on the autopsy results on the 17th of March, 1999, and then an additional 194 page supplementary report on the 21st of June, 2000, which covered the subsequent crime scene investigation which had been blocked by the Serbs while they were in control of Kosovo.

The initial report refuted the Serb claims of KLA uniforms and combatant status.
The supplementary report proved that the men were shot in place, vindicating Ranta's initial claims on the matter.

So you're racking up tons of useless points here - how about racking up some points for actual facts pertinent to your claims of KLA manipulation of the bodies?

1) Walker's statement isn't evidence in the matter of who murdered the people at Racak. 2) If true, doesn't bear directly on who murdered the people at Racak, and each side's stopping a patrol renders it inconclusive circumstantial evidence. 3) The OSCE field reports don't bear directly on who murdered the people at Racak, the EU-FET report does.

1) Walker's statements i.e prematurely condemning the Serbs for the so called Racak massacre While the U.N. to this day has not declared which side is suspect is an obvious flag pointing to a cover-up that they do not want to be involved with if they want to maintain their reputaion.

2) The UCK preventing that OSCE KVM patrol from going to RACAK i.e. to witness and prevent any atrocities points to the UCK needing time to evacuate their known dead UCK fighters (11)(Fact) so to sanitize Racak leaving only the dead villagers/props for the media to find. A very obvious cover up scenario. Walker was waiting for this.

3) Walker the head of the OSCE mission in Kosovo was routinely reporting to General Clark ( Clarks Admission to BBC) and to Madlaine Albright ( Albright admitted routine contact with Walker as well)while Wild Willie Walker lied to the BBC saying he had no contact with the previous right up until the Racak incident in an attempt to portray himself and his position with the OSCE Mission in Kosovo as be non conflicting. Why the lies Hoplight. Simply points to a cover up.

4) Walker the head of the OSCE mission in Kosovo and recent media reports have indicated that former OSCE KVM people have come forward and stated that their field reports were being altered? Again I had heard this in Kosovo back in 1999 from a former OSCE KVM member and have posted this on FR. Walker's the boss who was manipulating information published by the OSCE. To ensure the cover up. OSCE was paying the bill and I wonder where the money came form.

5) A lot of controversy linked to Walker who is the common denominator Hoplit and is not based on speculation but facts. So why all this SO THAT NATO COULD HAVE AN EXCUSE TO INVADE KOSOVO!!!!!! The BAY OF TONKIN WAS THE SAME THING so the US could have public support for getting involved in the Vietnam conflict.

6) Ranta an experienced Forensic examiner failed to conduct a very basic test, the test to identify traces of gun powder residue on the bodies. The first test to be done in any shooting incident. Ranta and friends reek of incompetence or were manipulated. Why not the test which simply equals support of the cover up.

7) As far as who killed the Racak Villager I believe they died defending their village which is why did they not evacuate before the Serbs came . The UCK we know had 11 dead and in knowing the UCK FIRST HAND these villagers were forced to defend Racak thats why the majority were men and LDK supporters. Fodder for Thaci. The US backed UCK set the stage for Walker to point the finger.

I'm sure you will be a bone head and ask me for the smoking gun, the signed documents etc in the name of convincing you and why Ranta and her friends are the only credible thing. Don't look at the one thing but all of them but I know you will continue to be a bone head.

1. The ICTY is an organ of the UN, Wraith, and the Security Council refers to events at Racak as a massacre in its' documents.

2. The UCK, per you, were blocking the KVM from entering the village at exactly the same time the Serbs were in the village themselves and were blocking KVM personnel from entering the village.

So what are you suggesting? The Serbs surround Racak, but leave a road unguarded where the KLA place a roadblock in order to stop the KVM from entering the village to witness KLA activities in areas of the village which the Serbs didn’t enter?

Ridiculous.

3, 4, and 5. Again, simply not pertinent to your claims of KLA manipulation of the evidence.

6. Incorrect. The Serbs used the outdated paraffin test, as was noted by the Finns. The Finns used the SEM-EDX method. Please do some basic research and develop a baseline knowledge yourself before presuming to speak of other's competence.

"I believe"
And you do so without any supporting evidence beyond a stopped KVM patrol and repeated concerns about the veracity of William Walker, who’s statement isn’t central to the evidence in the matter.

In short, Wraith, we’ve just spent a week getting down to the nuts and bolts of your case, and there ain’t a whole lot of anything there – is there.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.