Bosnia's "Accidental" Genocide
It is noteworthy that at this meeting, both Karadzic and Krajisnik were warned by Bosnian Serb military commander General Ratko Mladic, also indicted on genocide charges, that their plans could not be committed without committed genocide.
“People are not little stones, or keys in someone’s pocket, that can be moved from one place to another just like that... Therefore, we cannot precisely arrange for only Serbs to stay in one part of the country while removing others painlessly. I do not know how Mr Krajisnik and Mr Karadzic will explain that to the world. That is genocide,” said Mladic
Krajisnik Verdict Condemned Across Bosnia
In view of that fact, Director of the Sarajevo-based Research and Documentation Centre Mirsad Tokaca, who in June last year testified as a prosecution witness in Krajisinik’s trial, finds the verdict particularly unsatisfactory.
He says it’s completely illogical to convict army officers of genocide, and acquit a man who was a member of the political leadership who issued orders to the army.
“Bosnian Serb leaders, including Krajisnik, were the creators of the genocidal policy, and I find it shocking that he was acquitted of genocide,” he told IWPR.
He added that Krajsnik was much more influential and even more powerful than Karadzic, but always stayed in the shadow, carefully covering the traces of his role in the crimes. He admitted that this could be one of the main reasons why judges said they couldn’t find enough evidence, which would convince them of Krajisnik’s genocidal intent.
Interesting though, Krajisnik isn't exactly popular amongst the Bosnian Serbs either, primarily for his shady dealings and get rich projects at the expense of the people.
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“People are not little stones, or keys in someone’s pocket, that can be moved from one place to another just like that... Therefore, we cannot precisely arrange for only Serbs to stay in one part of the country while removing others painlessly. I do not know how Mr Krajisnik and Mr Karadzic will explain that to the world. That is genocide,” said Mladic
Interesting if Mladic said that! Perhaps Krajisnik has more culpability even than Mladic, he certainly bore command responsibility over Mladic. AS far as I'm concerned letting Krajisnik off the genocide charges was wrong if one is going to consider Mladic as guilty.
If Mladic did say that sentence, than it is probably one of the strongest statements showing his, Karadzic and Krajisnik's culpability and pre meditation.
The fact that Mladic knew that ethnic cleansing was a form of genocide speaks volumes for his criminal culpability (IMO).
I agree YG--that statement from Mladic is VERY interesting.
One other observation--I can't believe the defense strategy his lawyers used. I assume this essentially serves as an admission on his/their part that genocide did occur. Trying to claim that he wasn't in control of the military is pretty shaky, in my opinion. His defense team must have concluded that there was no hope denying that a genocide happend.
Here is a pretty detailed article about Krajisnik's defense team's strategy (or at least one of their main arguments they made)
http://www.iwpr.net/?s=f&o=321651&p=tri&l=EN&apc_state=hena-Krajisnik_2_____en_publish_date_1_10_compact
Excerpt:
Asked whether the November 1992 order pertaining to the Drina Valley was also consistent with the strategic goal of separating Serbs from other ethnic communities, Krajisnik protested, “No! That is not true!”
“Driving out of population, resettlement of population cannot be connected with any of the strategic goals,” he added.
(As I said before, I didn't follow the case, and I'm just now reading articles, transcripts, etc; but that seems like a VERY weak and incredulous defense.)
I think that during the trial, the Defense team tried to remove the genocide charge with regard to the Bosnian Croats. (The charge of genocide against Krajisnik was in regard to both the Bosniaks and Bosnian Croats).
The judges didn't agree with defense.
That to me, seems like a pretty implicit admission that there was genocide committed against at least the Bosnian Muslim population by the defense team.
I'm trying to find the exact article; but I believe I might of read it as part of the judgement.
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