Genocide case opens despite trial boycott

UN prosecutors opened their genocide case against Radovan Karadzic yesterday — despite his continued boycott of the case — calling him the “undisputed leader” and “supreme commander” of Serbs responsible for atrocities throughout Bosnia’s brutal four-year war.

Yugoslav war crimes tribunal judges ruled that the case could start despite Karadzic’s refusal to attend for the second straight day. Karadzic, who is defending himself, claims he has not had enough time to prepare.

With the defendant’s chair empty, prosecutor Alan Tieger said Karadzic “harnessed the forces of nationalism, hatred and fear to pursue his vision of an ethnically segregated Bosnia”.

Dozens of war survivors crowded into the courtroom’s public gallery and other rooms set aside for them at the tribunal to watch the trial. As the case began they whispered to one another, but gradually fell silent as Tieger began his opening statement.

Outside the court during a break in proceedings, Esnaf Moujic, 42, said he was disappointed Karadzic was not in court.

“Again, it is Karadzic who is dictating what happens,” said Moujic, who fled the Bosnian town of Bratunac in April 1992 with his wife and child and now lives in the Netherlands. “He decided in 1992 and again now.”

Moujic said hearing the prosecutor recount the beginnings of the Bosnian war was painful, even though it told him nothing he did not already know. “It is shocking to come here,” he said.

Presiding judge O-Gon Kwon said he regretted Karadzic’s decision not to attend the hearing and will consider imposing a lawyer to represent him if he continues to boycott the proceedings.

Karadzic faces 11 charges — two genocide counts and nine other war crimes and crimes against humanity. He has refused to enter pleas, but insists he is innocent.

If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

Kwon said he had warned Karadzic he must accept the consequences of refusing to be at his trial. The panel will decide how to proceed next week after the prosecution finishes its opening statement.