OneWorld.net (U.S.)

OneWorld.net note: Human rights advocates are hailing today's arrest of former Serbian President Radovan Karadzic on counts of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes as a monumental victory against impunity and a crucial step towards justice for victims and their families.Karadzic (L) and Mladic (R): Former Serbian President Karadzic was arrested after more than a year on the run. © Advocacy Project

• In 1996, Karadzic -- along former Generals Ratko Mladic and Radislav Kristic, both of whom remain at large -- was indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) for war crimes committed during the Bosnian War. Karadzic was indicted once again in 1999 for the 1995 genocide of over seven thousand men and boys in the Bosnian city of Srebrenica in 1995.
• The Serbian women's groups Women in Black and the Women of Srebrenica Civic Association gathered along with 40,000 others in Srebrenica last week to mark the 13th anniversary of the genocide. The two groups have worked together"building blocks of trust and bold first steps toward reconciliation in a region deeply scarred by ethnic conflict," writes the humanitarian organization the Advocacy Project.
• Local bloggers in Serbia were surprised by the news of the arrest and expressed doubt about the reputation of the ICTY, while others saw the move as a step forward for Serbia. Global Voices has gathered together the initial reactions from Serbian bloggers, which you can read here.
  

Bosnia: Karadzic Arrest a Blow Against Impunity

From: Human Rights Watch

(New York, July 21, 2008) – The arrest of Radovan Karadzic, the former president of Republika Srpska, marks a major blow against impunity for the egregious crimes committed in the Balkans, Human Rights Watch said today. Karadzic is charged with genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes, including the massacre of up to 8,000 Bosnian men and boys after the fall of Srebrenica in July 1995.

Despite the gravity of the alleged crimes, Karadzic was at liberty for 13 years after his initial indictment.

“Radovan Karadzic personified impunity for more than a decade, but his efforts to run the clock on justice have failed,” said Richard Dicker, director of Human Rights Watch’s International Justice Program. “This arrest offers hope to the victims of the horrific crimes that occurred there. We welcome this long-overdue arrest and look forward to his fair trial in The Hague.”

The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) has twice indicted Karadzic on charges of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. One indictment is for crimes committed in Srebrenica, where Bosnian Serb troops detained and executed thousands of men and boys. Eyewitnesses interviewed by Human Rights Watch at the time described horror as the victims were lined up in front of mass graves and shot.

“Today’s arrest is a step toward redress for Bosnian victims and families who have suffered horribly,” said Dicker.

Karadzic’s arrest comes as European Union (EU) countries are preparing to ratify an association agreement with Belgrade. The EU has stressed that Belgrade must cooperate fully with the ICTY before the agreement can be ratified and that full cooperation includes arresting and surrendering the remaining fugitives to the tribunal.

Ratko Mladic, the former Bosnian Serb army commander, remains at large. Mladic has also been indicted twice, along with Karadzic, on charges of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. He is currently in hiding. The previous Serbian government had claimed that it had no information about Mladic’s presence in Serbia; however, ICTY prosecutors and independent Serbian media have alleged that Mladic was in Serbia under the protection of elements of the army outside the effective control of the civilian authorities. In addition, authorities in Belgrade acknowledged that Mladic received a Yugoslav army pension until 2002, and they have detained several people accused of helping hide Mladic.

Karadzic and Mladic were first indicted by the ICTY in July 1995 on charges of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes alleged to have occurred in several cities across Bosnia. In a separate indictment in November 1995, the ICTY charged both Karadzic and Mladic with genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes based on the mass execution of civilians after the fall of Srebrenica.

“That Ratko Mladic is still at liberty is a major obstacle to full accountability for the genocide at Srebrenica,” said Dicker. “The EU must insist that Serbia surrender him.”

Background

The ICTY delivered its first and only genocide conviction against General Radislav Krstic in August 2001, sentencing him to 46 years in prison. Krstic was second in command to Mladic of the Bosnian Serb troops at Srebrenica. Karadzic, as president of Republika Srpska, was Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. In April 2004, the ICTY Appeals Chamber, while reducing Krstic’s sentence to 35 years, confirmed that genocide occurred in Srebrenica, upholding Kristic’s conviction for aiding and abetting genocide.

To read more about Karadzic and the conflict in the Balkans, visit Human Rights Watch.