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Subscribe to RSSThe war crimes trial of Bosnian Serb ex-army chief Ratko Mladic has been postponed because prosecutors failed to disclose some evidence to the defense. ITV's Bill Neely reports.
THE HAGUE, Netherlands - Prosecutors in the genocide trial of Serb general Ratko Mladic on Thursday described five days of terror in the Bosnian enclave of Srebrenica in July 1995, when troops under his command massacred more than 7,000 unarmed Muslim boys and men.
Mladic, 70, sat listening with his back to the public after being warned at the start of his trial on Wednesday for making a throat-slitting gesture to a relative of Srebrenica victims.
The massacre, Europe's worst atrocity since World War Two, helped finally to galvanize Western powers into launching air strikes on Serb forces to bring the 1992-95 Bosnian war to an end.
"This was and will remain genocide," said prosecutor Peter McCloskey, showing grainy video footage of bodies outside a warehouse where about 1,000 prisoners were gunned down.
"The evidence of this crime is overwhelming ... We will focus on linking General Mladic and his men to the crime."
Mladic is accused of commanding Bosnian Serb troops who waged a campaign of murder and persecution to drive Muslims and Croats out of territory they considered part of Serbia. His troops rained shells and snipers' bullets down on civilians in the 44-month siege of the Bosnian capital, Sarajevo.
However, there was a blow for efforts to ensure that the trial of Mladic, whose lawyers say he has had three strokes and a heart attack, does not parallel that of Slobodan Milosevic, which lasted so long that he died before a verdict was reached.
Srebrenica: The story that will never end
The judges accepted a defense argument that prosecutors had not disclosed their case properly, but did not say if they would grant the full six-month delay requested by the lawyers before the trial enters its next stage, where evidence is presented.
Presiding judge Alphons Orie said judges will analyze the "scope and full impact" of the error and aim to establish a new starting date "as soon as possible." The presentation of evidence was supposed to begin later this month.
Mladic looks frail and thin compared to the stocky commander seen in wartime barking orders to shell Bosnian Muslim positions, but has benefited visibly from the medical treatment he has received while in detention.
McCloskey said prosecutors planned to call scores of witnesses, including 11 survivors of the massacre as well as executioners from the Bosnian Serb army.
"In only five days, forces of Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic expelled the population from Srebrenica and Zepa and murdered more than 7,000 Muslim men and boys."
He said nearly 6,000 bodies had been exhumed from mass graves and secondary sites where bodies were reburied to conceal them in remote mountain areas. Their remains have been identified by DNA testing.
In the public area, mothers of Srebrenica victims wept as they listened to the proceedings.
"My husband was 45 years old. He was taken away and killed only because he had a different name and different religion," said Zumra Sahomerovic.
"There is no punishment good enough for him (Mladic)."
Serge Ligtenberg / Getty Images
A career soldier, Mladic stands accused of orchestrating the siege of Sarajevo and the slaughter of 8,000 Muslims in Srebrenica.
The prosecution says the massacre was part of a strategic plan, devised with Milosevic, then Serbian president, and Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic, to "cleanse" parts of the Balkans of non-Serbs and create a pure Serb state.
Among the 11 charges against Mladic are genocide, murder, rape, imprisonment and acts of terror for actions that also include the 43-month siege of the Bosnian capital, Sarajevo, in which 10,000 died, and the establishment of a number of brutal prison camps.
Like Karadzic, who is also on trial in The Hague, Mladic faces a sentence of up to life imprisonment if found guilty.
Both were indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia at the end of the Bosnian war in 1995, but remained free in Serbia for more than a decade before being tracked down.
Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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And we stepped in to help the muslims, and look where that got us. They're performing genocide everywhere they have the chance.
you're an idiot.. Religion isn't the cause of world problems, it's naive idiots like your self..
And yes, religion is always the root of all problems since almost all of them are intolerant to others. So, Jaslam, who is what now?
As far as the article, stop playing sides and whining about spilled milk. There are plenty of incidents where the Muslims did just the same. 9/11 comes to mind and a lot of other atrocities having been and being performed right now, by Muslims!.
So, get off it.
And 9/11 was the result of the hegemony & atrocities committed by the USA & Israel. And so it goes, one good deed begets the next. Humans lacking humanity, like so many of the cretins on this website.
Some people have said that what happened in Bosnia in the 90s was payback for something Muslims did in the past.
Life in prison? Hang his butt or bury him alive. If it were up to me i'd give him to the women of the men and boys he murdered and let them deal out justice.
What about all the atrocities commited by the Muslims during that war? When will the Muslim leaders be punished for that???
Just wondering, how were there so many Muslims in a small eastern European country anyway? Trying to take over there like in Turkey?
there is that many muslim in yugoslavia because in the 1500's the ottoman empire took over that par t of the world. they have been there for 500 years
Absolutely. Muslims had most of Europe at one point. Just look it up.
Yeah, because Muslims were trying to conquer, and still are now thru immigration, Europe. Tell that to people when they think just mentioning the crusades means they've shown how bad Christianity is.
Let's be realistic. All countries have been bad at one time or another or done something that was criminal. If you're going to commit such acts you'd better come out victorious otherwise the winners are going to put you on trial. Two wrongs don't make a right. I'm glad they caught him. He's got that smug smile on his face.
Good thing they caught him while he was still such a danger to the world.
What nonsense.. prosecuting old men while there is so much currently wrong with the world.
Justice delayed is justice denied ... still, it's better late than never. Too bad he won't swing at the end of a rope or acquire his gestured eternal smile (ear to ear, so to speak) ... the Hague is far too kind to war criminals.
He was a coward in addition to being a pig.
While I am glad to see the top guys being held accountable for their actions, how about the individual trigger pullers down the line? When do they get brought to justice? Or do they?
That actually was an argument at one of the defenses for Ratko. I don't know. Just too big a job?
"CHILDREN SEEKING WORLD PEACE" (Short Film Script)
Opening Scene;
We see the Outside of the United Nations Building next we see a man dressed in a suite carrying a brief case walking into the building he approaches the Desk of the Chairman of the United Nations, pulls out a very large manila envelope and hands it to the Chairman. The Chairman opens the envelope, reads the paper work and scratches his head, looks up at the Special Carrier with a bewildered look on his face and says; Wow this is an Extremely Unusual Request and it comes from very unusual sources this is a First for me.
Carrier
What do you mean unusual request, who sent the letter ?
Chairman
Did you notice the Post Marks on this letter ?
Carrier
Yes I did, and it also has so many different kinds of stamps on it from around the World.
I have never seen so many Stamps on one envelope in my life, so who is it from and what are they want ?
Chairman
It appears that they are following up on an idea that originated from a Film Script Writer in America who came up with an Idea of writing a short Film Script he Calls "Children Seeking World Peace" The writer posted it on line and some of the Country Leaders around the World liked the idea so that they implemented it.
Carrier
Implement what ?
Chairman
Every Country in the World picked two Young Students from one of their schools a boy and a girl to represent their Country and are asking for a "SPECIAL UNITED NATION'S MEETING" that will be attended by all of the Leaders in the World but this is the Catch.
The adults are not to speak at this meeting, only the Children will be allowed to speak at this Special meeting called"CHILDREN SEEKING WORLD PEACE"
Carrier
Wow, I see what you mean when you said an unusual request and that is comes from an unusual source you were right about that.
Chairman
There's more this request gets even more stranger they are requesting that we install a large garden area next to the United Nation Building before this meeting takes place that we don't plant anything in the garden area just leave it bare dirt, there are to be small signs placed every two feet next to the rows in this garden area with the names of each Country in the World next to each one of these signs there will also be a watering can containing water.
Carrier
Do you think that the Board will consider this bizarr & unusual request ?
Chairman
Yes I do after all these are the Children of the World, the next Generation seeking the opportunity for them to be part of the Peace Process from their Generation and we should give them the opportunity to do so.
Scene Two;
We see the inside of the United Nations building where many young children are standing paired off one boy and one girl facing all of the Adult Leaders from around the World these Children are from all walks of life all different nationalities and all dressed differently.
Every Girl is holding a small pot containing a different flower in it in one hand and a small shovel in their other hand.
Each Boy is holding a small pot containing a different kind of plant in one hand and a small shovel in his other hand.
(all of these flowers and plants are beautiful and very colorful)
Every Boy & Girl from their Country are wearing Name tags with their Countries names on the tags. The Children are just standing there in silence.
The inside of this building is silent at first then we hear whispers coming from the Adult Leaders, what is this all about, what do they want, this is strange.
Next we see a girl step forward from the row of children following behind her is another girl and a boy they are all three standing there for a minute and the room gets silent.
Then the boy speaks,
I have been chosen to speak on behalf of all of the Children in this room. We are standing here before all of you representing the Worlds Next Generation, Your Worlds Next Generation. We only have a few words to say to all of you here today.
All of us had several things that we wanted to say to all of you today but we all decided that words are not enough without all of Our WORLD LEADERS making a Solid Commitment to end all Wars in Our World Today ! ! !
So, we only have three words to say to all of you here today... " PLEASE JUST STOP"
(one of the girls standing next to this young boy translates this message in all languages)
The three young children stand there for a minute in silence then one of the two girls step forward she says, we only have one more request to ask from all of you in this building today, please follow us to the garden area located just outside this building.
(the other girl translates this request in all languages)
The other children in the building follow the three children exiting the building followed by the Adults.
Third Scene;
We see all of the children lined up still holding their flowers and plants in one hand and their shovels in their other hand they are paired off one boy and one girl standing along side of the garden rows facing their Countries signs that are placed in two foot sections of their Special Garden.
(we see all of the Adult Leaders standing around this garden in groups whispering to each other we can't make out what they are saying to each other but they have a confused look on their faces)
Next the same Girl that spoke earlier in the building is holding a flower in one hand and a small shovel in her other hand says, I would like all of the Adult Leaders from their Countries to stand in front of their Countries signs facing each of us. (translated by the girl standing next to this girl)
The Adult Leaders line up in front of their Countries garden signs facing these children then every child bends down at the same time and digs a small hole in the ground in their two foot section of this Special Garden. (each two foot garden section now has two small holes dug in them and everyone is silent)
Next we see the same girl that spoke earlier stand up after digging her hole in the garden she hands her Adult Counter Part Leader her Potted Flower and says, each one of these Flowers that all of us has brought here today Represent WORLD PEACE for Our Future.
she continues..
All of the Children Around the World requested this SPECIAL UNITED NATIONS MEETING to beg all of the Leaders of Our world to help us Plant our Flowers here today to end all Wars in our World Immediately and all of the Plants that the Boys brought here today represent Commitment To Do So.
(translated again by the girl standing next to her)
Next we see the Boy that spoke earlier at the meeting hand his Adult Counter Part his potted plant then the Girl that is speaking looks over at all of the other Children that are still standing next to their garden and she nodes her head.
Then, All of the Children say the words together, in their own languages in a loud & begging tone. "PLEASE JUST STOP"
Next, We see all of the Children reach in their pockets, pull out a small bag and pour out a few of seeds into each of their Adult Counter Parts hands.
The Girl speaker then says,
we are giving all of you our seeds to take home with you so you can plant them in your gardens as a reminder of your Commitment all of you made here today to; END ALL WARS In Our World IMMEDIATELY..THESE SEEDS ALSO REPRESENT FORGIVENESS for without forgiveness there can be no PEACE, so please pass these seeds on to your transgressor so the Peace Process can begin. (translated by the girl standing next to her)
Last Scene
We see all of the Adult Leaders bent down next to the Children planting the Children's Flowers & Plants together in their"Special World Peace Garden" Located in Front Of the "UNITED NATIONS BUILDING"
Fade Out..
Written by, Michael V. Caldwell, Always Striving To Be Part Of The Solution, Using Respect & Common Sense As My Guidelines To Follow At All Times...
Respectfully,Thank all of You, for taking the time to read this IMPORTANT & Very Badly Needed message.
"DREAM BIG DO BIG"
________________________________________________________________________________________
All Countries Have A Choice Of What Kind Of Road They Build Together & What Kind Of Road They Build Will Determine Where That Road Takes Them.
"ROAD TO PEACE" (film short story)
Opening Scene: (filmed in black & white, silent film)
We see an old Soldier walking down a dirt road with a machine gun under his arm
and carrying his young son on his shoulders.
The young boy and his father are dressed in their combat clothing and the boy
also has a machine gun gun tucked under his arm, suddenly they stop.
(our camera pans to a person sitting on a large rock on the side of the road)
We see the back of this person only, the person is wearing a black hooded robe
with their hood raised up.
(we pan back to the old soldier and his son)
The old soldier places his son on the road then pushes him in the direction
of the hooded stranger.
The young boy walks cautiously up to the stranger with his gun drawn
upwards as he gets closer we notice the person is small in stature then the boy
points
the gun at the back of the strangers head.
The stranger turns around slowly then we see it is a young girl, the girl
is the same age as the boy.
The young girl places a daisy in the barrel of the boy's gun.
(at that instant our film changes to color and remains in color)
Next, we see they young boy standing there with a blank look on his face he
then drops the gun on the ground, the gun vanishes and where the gun was we see
three books there instead.
The boy picks up the books curiously, then turns and looks in the direction
where his father was with an astonishment look.
(we show a close-up on boys face then we pan our camera to the father)
The boy's father is now standing there dressed in a white shirt and slacks and
holding sets of plans tucked under his arm in the place of a gun.
(we pan back to boy and girl)
We see the boy standing there dressed in the same attire as his father, with
three books tucked under his arm in place of his gun staring at the girl that
is still sitting on the rock, the girl has long curly brown hair and is now
wearing white clothing, she also has three books sitting next to her.
Closing Scene:
We see the backs of all three of them walking down the road towards the setting
sun, the boy and the girl are holding hands both of them carrying three books
tucked under their arms.
The father has three sets of building plans tucked under his arm and is walking
with his head up high..
Fade Out End...Or Beginning Of A Brighter Badly Needed Future For Our World.
Uh huh. And your point is?
Too long and it's selfish to paste something like this. Stop hogging and boring us. Say what you mean and mean what you say.
You forgot to add "long story short " every couple of sentences , THINKINGOUTOFTHEBOXFOROURWORLD .Why is it every time you post something , it's gotta be 45,000 words ?
Up to life imprisonment? It should be life imprisonment, period. Evil men like Karadzic and Mladic shouldn't be given a choice.
The pig needs to die the same kind of death he inflicted on all of those innocent people.
Well these particular Muslims won't be bringing down any of our buildings..or putting bombs in their underwear...or killing their own daughters!!!
RicInCT...is there any way at all you would consider suicide? Just to improve the world a bit, and raise our collective IQ?
Hey Buffalo... try decorating a Xmas tree in Mecca..then we won't have to endure ur idiocy!!
Yeah Buffalo's gotta go. I think he's a muslim so he won't try to decorate any cmass trees.
Children. Little kids. Unarmed people got killed and buried in mass graves. You two think it is great. You are jackasses.
Adoph Hitler revisited. NEVER let this guy walk free again.
Actually, the muslims worldwide more closely resemble nazis.
At a different place and time, ''W'' and his ''gang of 3'' would, in all probability, be sitting in the dock at the Nuremberg tribunals for alleged war crimes i.e., the many thousands of civilian deaths as a direct result of their Iraq invasion; a country not involved in the 9/11 tragedy.
Anyone guilty of killing innocents deserves death regardless of religion. Every religion has skeletons and we all do too. A fox should smell his own hold first............ the phrases and idioms go on and on and the ignorant here should stop writing because they've lost all credibility with their uninformed spewing hatred. A mind is a terrible thing to waste.
Mike Aziz,
"Every religion has skeletons"
FYI: No religion is as evil as Islam. Only Muslims are actively killing and terrorizing people all over the world.
Also read the history of Islam since Muhammad founded it. Islam is the only religion in the world spread mainly through brutal bloody wars. Muhammad killed many many people to spead Islam.
In the Quoran, Surah 4:89 states... "Those who reject Islam must be killed. If they turn back (from Islam), take (hold of) them and kill them wherever you find them..."
Remember this quote:
"Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached"
------By Byzantine emperor Manuel II Palaiologos. Repeated by Pope Benedict in 2006.
Give him a medal that what those muslim piles of S**T deserve. That is what they get as they were the same scum that served in hitler's Bosnian Muslim corp. Exterminate all that vermin. Mladic is a hero, you stupid idiots. You all don't know any of the hahistory of that region and yet you judge. Americans go help Muslims as they stab you in the back. Arm Israel and take the cuffs of the Israelis. They can you use the Sampson Option/Plan. Improve the mid-east get rid of the maggots of Mecca.
They should sentence him to death while he's still conscious, even though old, and let him rot in jail faking his execution paper just came through for the day after, and after, and after.. so he can die a thousand deaths.
Genocide, ethnic cleansing, holocaust, segregation, Apartheid: all wrong.
NO GOOD DEED GOES UNPUNISHED
We steped in and helped the Bosnia Muslims against the Serbs, and how did the Muslims repay us? Many of them imigrated to our country and are now here trying to build their mosques that we don't want in our cities and grow Islam here even though many of them know we don't want Islam here.
Hopefully our government will never repeat this kind of mistake again. We have no business going to help the Muslims fight their wars. And we need to stop letting them come here as refugees. Stop giving them visas to come here. No new Muslims coming here means no new Muslim terrorists to worry about.
So can't we all agree that religion no matter what is pretty much hateful? They're always intolerant, whether muslim or christian, or jew, etc etc. Besides religion is used to manipulate and brainwash people, i.e. the crusades, or the jihadists. How many people have been killed in God's name? I doubt God would wan't humans waging wars killing each other in his name, pretty pathetic really. Sad there's so many intolerant people especially on here. I mean look at all the xenophobic language here about muslims, replace muslim with Jew, and you guys sound like a bunch of fascists.