LETTER TO INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND SECURITY NETWORK (ISN)

ISN website - 16.08.04

 

Dear Sir

Re: 'The farcical, wearisome 'hunt' for Karadzic'

This excellent article touched on the UN war crimes tribunal's dealings with Radovan Karadzic. Revelations of such dealings are increasingly corroding public faith in the Tribunal both in the countries of the ex-Yugoslavia and outside of it.

The Tribunal has of course made many deals with Serbian war crimes suspects, especially plea bargains. The most infamous of which was with ex- Bosnian Serb President Biljana Plavsic, who received lenient treatment in return for a guilty plea. There was speculation that this deal was a result of her having worked closely with the west after the war.

Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Draskovic was apparently involved with the 'Serbian Guard', accused in Croatia. Mr Draskovic is a supporter of co-operation with the Tribunal. Clearly, he does not fear investigation. Again, there is speculation of a deal.

Also, we have the well-known Savo Strbac. He was a senior figure in the 'Republika Srpska Krajina' which occupied one third of Croatia, terrorising thousands of Croats - as the Tribunal themselves point out. Strbac extensively helped Tribunal prosecutors investigate the American-controlled Croatian offensive 'Operation Storm' which stopped Milosevic. The prosecutor provided him with a "letter of endorsement". One does not need to be a Croat - or indeed an American - to consider this somewhat questionable.

Considerable damage has been done to the Tribunal's credibility by all this, and it is not likely to be repaired.

 

Brian Gallagher

United Kingdom

 

This letter first appeared on the ISN website here.

The original article, 'The farcical, wearisome 'hunt' for Karadzic', by Bakir Rahmanovic, can be seen here