Karadzic: Authorities Powerless against Paramilitary Formations
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Testifying under the pseudonym of KDZ 555 and with identity, face and voice protection measures in place, the Prosecution witness confirmed that Zeljko Raznatovic, known as Arkan, ordered the attack on Zvornik in April 1992, adding that about 100 volunteers, including “Beli orlovi” (“White Eagles”), “Zucina” and “Gogiceva” voluntary groups, participated in it.
Zeljko Raznatovic, known as Arkan, was leader of the “Serbian Voluntary Guard” or “Arkan’s Tigers” paramilitary formation. He was killed in 2000 before the beginning of his trial for crimes in Bosnia and Herzegovina .
Karadzic, former President of Republika Srpska, RS and the Serbian Democratic Party, SDS, is on trial before the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, ICTY, for genocide, crimes against humanity and the violation of the laws and customs of war in the period from 1992 to 1995.
He is charged with having participated, together with other members of SDS and crisis committees, as well as paramilitary units, in a joint criminal enterprise with the aim of persecuting the non-Serbian population from Bijeljina and 19 other municipalities in Bosnia and Herzegovina .
During the part of the hearing that was open to public, the witness said that the Crisis Committee invited, gathered and paid volunteers, explaining that they “turned into” paramilitary formations later on.
“No paramilitary formations entered Zvornik during the course of 1992. Some people did come from other places, but those were unarmed civilians. They were recruited by the Territorial Defence and Republika Srpska Army, VRS later on. One of those people left the Army and formed the paramilitary formations,” the witness explained.
The cross-examination of protected witness KDZ 555 is due to continue on August 18, 2011.
D.E.
