Posted on 12/07/2002 8:13:22 PM PST by Dinsdale Piranha
Amsterdam - Judges at Slobodan Milosevic's war crimes trial took the unprecedented step on Friday of revealing that a secret witness testifying against the former Yugoslav president was one of his key allies.
Milan Babic, an ex-rebel Croatian Serb leader, is one of the most high-profile witnesses to testify so far at Europe's biggest international war crimes trial since World War 2.
Until Friday, he had testified behind a screen and was known only as witness C-061. But judges lifted his "protected witness" status after Babic's lawyer told the court his client wanted to reveal his identity to openly counter allegations made by Milosevic and aid reconciliation in the former Yugoslavia.
Babic and Milosevic openly crossed swords Babic's lawyer added that as a result of media reports in the Balkans, his identity was already widely known and said members of Babic's family had been threatened.
Babic was a central figure in the breakaway Krajina Serb republic (RSK) in the 1990s as the collapse of the former Yugoslavia spurred Serb nationalists to fight for territory in Croatia and Bosnia.
A burly dentist dressed in a dark jacket and grey jumper, Babic was regarded by tribunal prosecutors as one of Milosevic's key allies during a campaign to expel non-Serbs from about a third of Croatian territory in 1991-92.
"This morning presiding judge (Richard) May has said that henceforth the witness will be addressed by his full name Mr Babic and that the protective measures have been lifted," tribunal spokesman Christian Chartier said.
Babic was named by the International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia (ICTY) as a suspected member of a "joint criminal enterprise" led by Milosevic, although he has not been indicted by the court.
'Mr Milosevic in 1991 you waged a horrific war' Milosevic is accused of providing Krajina Serbs with money and military support in a campaign to remove non-Serbs from the hinterland of Croatia's prosperous Adriatic coast. The campaign was seen as a prelude to the brutal Bosnian war in 1992-95.
Babic and Milosevic openly crossed swords during cross examination for the first time on Friday. Babic's image had previously been scrambled on court room closed-circuit television monitors.
Milosevic accused Babic of fanning the flames of conflict with Croatia in the autumn of 1991 and of playing into the hands of Croatia's then-president Franjo Tudjman by giving Zagreb an excuse to attack Serbs in the region.
"Is it clear to you, Mr Babic, that it was evident to me then that you were actually helping Tudjman with your vehement radicalism which went against the interests of the Serbian people in the Krajina," Milosevic said.
Babic, whose posts in Serb Krajina included that of "foreign minister" before the enclave was recaptured in a massive Croatian offensive in 1995, in turn accused the former Serbian and Yugoslav president of betraying the Serb people.
"Mr Milosevic in 1991 you waged a horrific war. You dragged the Serbian people into that war. You did not protect the Serbian people. You brought shame upon the Serbian people. You brought misfortune on the Croatian people, upon the Muslim people," Babic said.
Milosevic has been on trial since February charged with ethnic cleansing in the Balkans in the 1990s. The charges against him include crimes against humanity in Croatia after Zagreb declared independence from Yugoslavia in 1991.
Milosevic, who does not recognise the UN court, refused to plead. Not guilty pleas were entered on his behalf.
And now Babic has asked the ICTY for amnesty because his life and his family have been threatened in Belgrade.
What say the Milosevic supporters now?
Can you elaborate?
"Babic was named by the International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia (ICTY) as a suspected member of a "joint criminal enterprise" led by Milosevic, although he has not been indicted by the court."
LOL!
And, hey, talk about the kettle calling the skillet black!
It's called "justice" in the world court.
Babic brought misfortune upon himself as he left the RSK Military unprepared with his own living mightily nice, while the real Serbs in the fields and frontline were unknowingly being set up for a fall by THE BOTH OF THEM- BABIC AND SM.
Babic is a criminal who stole and was a fat cat. He and Martic are in the same boat. They, not SM, but they are the blame for the HVO and Black Shirts to move into Knin and W.Slavonia in 1995. They lacked the backbone to say "We will defend the RSK citizens". How many VW's did Babic steal and sell enmasse for his personal gain while the "average" Serb went hungry?
Some things will never ever become forgotten in Serbian history.
Of course, the Croats have their own dirty little whores, but at least I give the Croats credit where it is due. They were organized and not factional. That is what doomed the Serbs, that factionalized fighting and bickering which was exploited by the US/NATO beginning in late 94. The final wedge was put into place the late summer 95. That explains how the US was able to disguise their own guys as Serb Priests during 1995 to pinpoint the targets.
I have no way of knowing. Babic was in Croatia where they speak Croatian and Milo was in Serbia where they speak Serbian, so there was probably a translation problem.
LOL
You call this "evidence?"
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.