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Mandic, the former Minister of Justice with the RS, said the government did all in its power to prevent events that were detrimental to Serbs as well as Muslims and Croats, “in those difficult times when it was starting from scratch”.
“The government undertook measures in order to prevent violations of human rights and international norms, but this not being enough, you undertook some measures within your level of authority. (…) You issued an order on the way prisoners of war were to be treated. I consider this was a necessary step as the coordination with the field staff was poor at the time,” Mandic said, responding to Radovan Karadzic’s questions.
Karadzic, the former RS President and Supreme Commander of its armed forces, is on trial before the ICTY for genocide, crimes against humanity and violation of the laws and customs of war.
He is charged with participation in a joint criminal enterprise, in collaboration with other Bosnian Serb leaders, with the aim of forcing Bosnian Muslims and Croats to leave the territories claimed by Serbs.
Mandic began his testimony on June 30.
He said the Serb government never had “criminal intentions”, adding the local municipal authorities and crisis committees sometimes detained non-Serb women and children, but the RS government put an end to it by establishing the Central Commission for Exchange of Prisoners of War.
Mandic said the justice ministry made attempts to employ judges and prosecutors belonging to different ethnic groups for three months after the beginning of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina .
“The idea was resisted in some parts of the republic and even in the assembly, as some delegates expressed their dissatisfaction with my proposals and your endorsement of non-Serb officials. Certain appointments were even prolonged until we discussed the issue with those who objected to them and convinced them this was the way it should be done,” Mandic said.
Karadzic will continue cross examining Mandic on July 14.
D.Dz.
