Serb Gets Life For War Crimes

CBS News/AP ^ | 7/31/03 | AP

[NYC Republican]

(AP) The U.N. war crimes tribunal sentenced a prominent Bosnian Serb politician to life imprisonment Thursday for exterminating and persecuting Bosnian Muslims, but acquitted him of genocide.

It was the first time in the court's 10-year history that a life sentence was passed.

Milomir Stakic, a 41-year-old doctor, was found guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity for establishing a network of brutal prison camps where hundreds of Muslims were killed and thousands tortured, raped or treated with extreme brutality in 1992.

“Dr. Milomar Stakic is hereby sentenced to life imprisonment,” said Judge Wolfgang Schomburg, reading the verdict as Stakic stood, looking stunned. The court said he would be eligible for parole in 20 years.

Although it has never been imposed before, Schomburg said the maximum penalty was “not restricted to the most serious crime” of genocide.

It was the third time the court has handed down an acquittal of genocide charges, the most serious crime to come before the court and the hardest to prove. The court has convicted only one person, Bosnian general Radislav Krstic, of genocide.

The balding, bearded Stakic had faced two counts of genocide and six counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes for the murder, rape and torture administered in the camps set up in the Prijedor region of northwestern Bosnia during the summer of 1992.

The outcome was being watched closely for its possible influence on the war crimes trial of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic, who also faces two counts of genocide among the 66 charges against him.

Without referring to the Milosevic case, however, the judge said the genocide ruling applied only to Stakic and should not mean another trial cannot reach another conclusion when presented with other evidence.

To prove genocide, the prosecution must prove a prior intent to destroy an ethnic group wholly or in part.

The Milosevic trial has been adjourned until Aug. 25 because of concerns about his health.

The court said that as the top administrator of the Prijedor region, Stakic was responsible for the atrocities committed there.

He presided over establishment of two notorious detention centers where thousands of Bosnian Muslims and Croats were held captive until international exposure forced the Serbs to close them.

Stakic's indictment listed specific incidents of murder and brutality, such as the killing of 120 people taken in two buses from the Keraterm and Omarska camps in August 1992, the month the camps were closed.

Stakic has been at the tribunal's detention unit since he was handed over by Serb authorities in March 2001. In the seven months of hearings that ended last April, 101 witnesses testified.

Stakic claims he was a “marionette” in Bosnian Serb wartime politics and had no real power.

But the court ruled that he actively carried out his duties as president of the Prijedor administration, signing orders that perpetuated hatred of non-Serbs and assisting military campaigns of “ethnic cleansing” of tens of thousands of civilians.

By conservative estimate, more than 20,000 people were deported from the Prijedor region as part of a policy of ethnic cleansing, the judge said.

Both sides will have two weeks to file an appeal of the judgment by the three-member panel of judges. The U.N. tribunal cannot impose the death penalty.

In the only previous conviction of genocide by the Yugoslav court, Krstic was sentenced to 46 years in prison for his role in the July 1995 killings of at least 7,500 Bosnian Muslims in the enclave of Srebrenica, then a U.N. protected zone.

Until Thursday, Krstic's was the longest sentence imposed by the court.

The court's two most-wanted suspects, former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic and wartime military commander Ratko Mladic, were also indicted on genocide charges for the massacres.

[Steve Van Doorn]

“Too bad 911 didn't happen BEFORE the Slobo butcher wars, right?”

Considering two of the 911 terrorists where KLA the terrorists that the Germans trained and Clinton supported, maybe at least two of the terrorists wouldn’t have been on those planes if we didn’t ‘help’ them?

I notice you joined FreeRepublic after the Clinton wars. If you where here at the time you could of followed along with what 'actually' happened.

[Ronly Bonly Jones]

Well, calling you "'dim" instead of "pick" would have been unsporting. Accurate, perhaps, but unsporting.

[Ronly Bonly Jones]

Joan- the Serbs of Bosnia were vasatly outnumbered, though I do not have the accurate figures. Rest assured, the Serbs utlized superior tactics, greater quality military personnel, better use of firepower, movement-to-contact, deployment of units, etc...>>

Not to mention naked brutality, a fully working and trained military (to oppose the teenagers in tennis shoes who fought for the ABH at the start of the war) and taking advantage of their monopoly on access to weapons (due to the "arms embargo," which only hurt the Muslims). Fact is, the VRS was only successful against teenagers in tennis shoes, women and children. When grownups, backed by professional US Air Force pilots, started to fight, they melted.

[pythagorean]

Who knows what those wig-wearing bozos were promised in order to pass down life sentence to a politician who merely set up camps like any warring side has done.

Unlike the poor Serbs, Izetbegovic and his jihadists don't need to worry. They will never be indicted by this "court", which was established by Albright, Clinton and other idiotic western patrons of Izetbegovic. Besides, they managed to keep the census in their camps low, since they had devised more ... effective strategies for dealing with their captives (see pictures).

[DTA]

>>>backed by professional US Air Force pilots<<<<

The way you wrote it seems as if US pilots flew combat missions on Bosnian Muslim jets. In fact, USAF flew combat missions and provided air power to Islamic Warriors. In the process, some 5000 Bosnian Serbs civilians were murdered.

You of course know the difference.

If USAF were not capable to destroy two-bit force like BSA/VRS it should be sent to salvage yard. Especially in turkey shooting situation since Bosnia was no fly zone enforced by NATO firepower.

[1rudeboy]

In the process, some 5000 Bosnian Serbs civilians were murdered.

You of course know the difference.

Seeing the hoops that Serb-sympathizers jump through in order to equate murder with self-defense, can't we just say that the USAF was engaged in self-defense as well?

[Ronly Bonly Jones]

provided air power to Islamic Warriors>>

Try "provided air power to put genocidal Serb goons out of business." And the Bosnian Muslims are about as Islamic as you are. Probably less.

[Ronly Bonly Jones]

Seeing the hoops that Serb-sympathizers jump through in order to equate murder with self-defense, >>

Tying the hands of POWs behind their backs and blowing their brains out at close range is no more self defense than it is brave.

[joan]

Wasn't NATO also involved in bombing Muslims who were Abdic's loyalists in Northwestern Bosnia? Wasn't this airpower used to help the Izetbegovic/Sarajevo regime army defeat those Muslims towards the end of the war?

[Incorrigible]

The warriors of ancient Illyra continue in their advance to further the goals of Albanianism!  Brave soldiers continue to best the forces that would oppress the free, land-owning man.  Justice not only comes from the barrel of a gun but from international courts that hand victory to those who press forward with their ideals and goals.

Meanwhile, the modern day American Bismarck continues to suffer losses in the search for WMD and his credibility continues to erode.  The handful of America's best, the Congressman, the Correspondent, the Hawk and others continue to ply their trade in the Balkans and prepare for the autumn offensive.

Millions to die in the third world war.

Dry is good, wind is better.

Forces of freedom on the march.  Europe trembles.

[Ronly Bonly Jones]

Very nice, Corrie. It's time for your meds now.

[Honorary Serb]

Thanks, Incorrigible. That's the biggest laugh I've had all day!!!!

[DTA]

>>>>>>Try "provided air power to put genocidal Serb goons out of business." <<<<

Bosnian Muslims suffered population loss of 14%. Bosnian Serbs suffered population loss of 12%. It was continuation of losses from WWII.( Nazi Independent State of Croatia included Bosnia within her borders. There were 1800,000 Serbs in 1941. One third was killed and more than 200,000 converted into RC and killed afterwards. Since many who escaped WWII genocide were killed in 1992-95 it is genocide by atrition.

Genocide. Yes. Who are the victims?

According to UN Commission of Experts, there were 677 detention camps in Bosnia. Less than half (333) were run by Serbs. The rest were run by Croats and Moslems. Some of the Muslim concentration camps continued to operate even after Dayton.

Holocaust? Bosnian Muslims are WWII Jews? Last time I checked Jews were not running concentration camps for Germans.

[DestroyEraseImprove]

But I do know that around 500,000 Serbs were ethnically cleansed from Krajina in 1995, by the Croat army with the active support of clinton

More BS propoganda... While it's true that at the end of the war, the aggressors were pushed out of Krajina, it was nowhere near the 500,000 figure.

If we do not go into that “far” history from 1914, (as we are always blamed) we can only then refer to census in 1981. And numbers are:

In 1981 there was 11,5 percent of Serbs and 8.24 % of Yugoslavs, Others (or “neopredeljeni”) 3.61% out of 4,578 million inhabitants in Croatia.

Then: Serbs: 11,5 % out of 4,578,000 = 526, 470;

Yugoslavs: 8.24% out of 4,578,000 = 377,227;

Others: 3.61% out of 4,578,000 = 165,265;

If we assume that half of the Serbs declared themselves as Yugoslavs without “others” That is around 188,000.

So the number of Serbs in 1981 would be close to: 526,470 + 188,000 = 714,470;

If you add to that number average birth rate in Croatia and Slovenia (as lowest one in Yu) during 80ies you got number close to 900,000 Serbs living in Croatia on the beginning of nineties, without “indeterminate“ (neopredeljenih) Wow - did I make up all of that?

As there are today only about 200.000 Serbs left in Croatia you can do the math by yourself:

900,000 - 200,000 = 700,000

You were partly right with your BS, that it was nowhere near the 500,000 figure. More like 700,000.

Teritorial distribution of Serbs in Croatia (according to settlements) according to the population census on March 31, 1981

According to you should that say:

Teritorial distribution of Aggressors in Croatia (according to settlements) according to the population census on March 31, 1981 ?

[NYC Republican]

Not to mention naked brutality, a fully working and trained military (to oppose the teenagers in tennis shoes who fought for the ABH at the start of the war) and taking advantage of their monopoly on access to weapons (due to the "arms embargo," which only hurt the Muslims). Fact is, the VRS was only successful against teenagers in tennis shoes, women and children. When grownups, backed by professional US Air Force pilots, started to fight, they melted.

Excellent post!

[NYC Republican]

You still haven't posted your sources Rexhep

What a moron? What are you talking about?

[Fusion]

The stunning victory of the Kosovo Liberation Army versus Yugoslavia in 1999 set a new standard for battling totalitarian elements that seek to enslave all mankind. By crushing Slavic hegemonism in the Balkans, liberating Kosovo province and establishing Albanianism as the dominant force in Europe -- KLA stosstruppen integrated radical solutions into the problem equation of Old Europe. Thus began the slow death rattle of both the European Union and pan-Russian adventurism.

The debt all mankind owes to he KLA is slowly being repaid in the Balkans as Albaniansim has become the favoured solution to the Balkans question by neo-conservatives in Washington DC. The recent betrayal of Foreign Minister Meta in Tirana -- to the benefit of the cunning Balkan puppeteer, Fatos Nano, -- stark evidence of America's solidarity with the Socialist Party's de facto promise to accelerate Kosovo independence pressures through the emerging Tetovo Republic framework.

The "secret" American facility near Kukes paving the way for the new US base coming to Albania as DC caring not a bit for UN idealism in Kosovo province now. The Big Four (Duke, NC State, UNC and Wake Forest) AKA Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice and Wolfowitz unfooled by Serb revisionism claiming Kosovo from the eighth century onward. The Big Four now solidly behind intensive academic research proving once and for all that the descendents of Ancient Illyria the rightful heirs to Kosovo and the Tetovo Republic.

(Besides, this solution much cheaper...)

The modern day Bismarck -- George W Bush -- continues to romp to victory after victory in the Middle East and around the world. In Iraq four billion dollars a month a cheap price to pay in constructing a modern day killing field that draws extremist elements from around the world into the teeth of American .50 calibre and 25mm ingots of death. Soon the autumn winds will briskly blow and all eyes will turn eastward toward Iran -- and the final battle...

For Tehran must be destroyed so that all men can live free...

Less than three years into office the modern day Bismarck has shown to the world his clear mastery of foreign policy. By continuing to allow the legendary "Handfull of America's best" a free reign to remake the Balkans, Caucuses and the Philippines he demonstrates a true conservative's understanding of deficit spending in the international political capital markets.

Millions to die in The Third World War. This fight just beginning, but within a decade the European Union will be collapsed and Albanianism will rule the continent. Islamic entente elements around the world will be crushed and all mankind will live in prosperity and freedom under the bright sky of the Anglo-American century...

Except of course for the Russian Federation, Shamil Basayev with a little bit to say about that in the coming months...

The forces of freedom on the move. Europe trembles.

[Incorrigible]

Bravo! Bravo!

Fusion, I had your take on GW wrong and I apologize.  I agree with your analysis of the mideast situation.  Ha!  I never would have thought of using Iraq as a magnet for would be terrorists from around the region to catch some lead.  Nice!

 

Ronly Bonly Jones, see above and witness the mastery of my all time favorite FR poster!

 

[Steve Van Doorn]

Do you support the KLA?

[Hoplite]

Even though your hand occupies your otherwise empty clue bag in this application, it's still considered empty.

Please make a note of it.