No official search for fugitive student

I am an American, and should this situation apply to citizens of every country the US chooses to let in, SP? Kovacevic is not the first, nor will he probably be the last, accused criminal to escape to a foreign country. He understood the system and is trying to play it. Hell, no we shouldn't "call it even", but at the same time, this should not be used to try and convict Serbia in the press-- especially when they haven't even received an extradition request from the US!

This is more anti-Serb from the MSM. Kovacevic's & his nationality has gotten more press than the fact that four of the FT. Dix Six were Kosovo Albanians! The press is just trying to cash in on another "Let's hate the Serbs" story and I find it pretty disgusting!

The criminal is in Serbia and the US court system is now 100,000 richer so lets call it even.
However there should be no new visas approved or renewed for Serbian citizens until there are assurances that this will not be repeated.

Congrats on NOT mentioning the other two people who were involved in the assault, Sanel Softic & Edin Dzubur (must be Serbs with names like that). So it was a 'Yugoslav' assault rather than a 'Serb' assault, but who cares for small details????

First of all, i want to commend B-92 for following this case, perhaps belatedly, but at least now in an open and basically objective way. and that is saying a lot from me, since i have become probably one of b-92's most consistent and vociferous critics. and with good reason. but when the press does a good job, commend them; and when they do a lousy job, let them know it, and in no uncertain terms. i am aware of what b-92 has the potential for, and that is why my comments are so sharp and often outspoken.

as for this case, i do not believe it is just another "i hate serbia" excuse -- that is just another example of nationalist holy victim-hood. perhaps there are others in this case guilty as well, and perhaps they are muslim -- who cares?! it is the serbian govt. via their officials that is really pissing us off, again, and for good reason. their reputation for covering for their criminals is legendary and ubiquitous, and that is how serbia is (in)famous around the world. sad but true. and this is just one more example, with already a host of excuses about how they are not, in fact, actually responsible. it is all so obvious, what they need to do, with this young man, and with their notorious criminals.

whether they choose to do the right thing or not is another story, over which i personally have no power. but the democratic govt's as well as press must keep the pressure up.

ALEKS,
We got the point that the other two were bosnian muslims, but haven't got the point that Milan ran away with the help from a diplomatic mission which makes it an international incident.
Can one imagine if the situation was reversed. What would have happened to the US ambassy in Belgrade? The outcry of Serbian protesters and its government, imagine all the snicker stores that would have been broken into.
Being an American citizen that I am, I urge my government to protect the rights of the victim in this incident and bring Milan to face justice. As far as Serbian cousulate staff in New York I have only one word SHAME.

>>the FT. Dix Six were Kosovo Albanians

there again the Albanian government didn't sneak them out of US.

Yes, he has been called a "Serb thug," "Serb brute" 'Serb goon' by tabloids. That's what those papers do, they love headlines and don't spare anything.

Bring him in...and Mladic and Karadzic too.

@ SP
"...No visas for Serbian citizens..."
SP, are you familiar with the case of "James "Whitey" Bulger, the FBI most wanted American, and overall second only to Osama bin Laden"?
"Last confirmed sighting in London 2002."(Wikipedia) In addition to
many other unconfirmed(!!!) sightings in some other countries. So far USA did not impose any visa restrictions on the ordinary citizens of those countries. Would you suggest the same measure in this instance?

I live in the Binghamton area. I drive by the university often. The other men involved were not allowed ut on bail. They are being charged as well.

A young woman's honor was at stake, but to injury a person to the point of being in a coma is not acceptable.

Had Miladin Kovacevic remained in the country and spent the $100,000 on a lawyer, he had a real opportunity to to tell his side of the story.

I could have been a potential member of the jury. I could have listened to both sides of the story. But.. when someone skips out the country, that sound as if that prson is guilty.

By his own actions, he has now increased his chances of conviction.

I am asking the Serbians to do the right thing.

Adn remeber Mr.Kovacevic, a humble attitude will go a long way.


I have not heard this man called a "Serbian Goon".

BIG DIFFERENCE Serbian GOVERNMENT directly responsible for his ability to leave the US. And visas should be halted until the GOVERNMENT assures us that this is not the first of many.

The truth may never be revealed as to what actually happened in that nightclub, but the young man has already been convicted in the local courts and media. He should not be returned unless some guarantee of his rights is made. They would have to shedule any hearings or trials in other locales simply due to the notoreity of the case. So long as the popular press continues to refer to him as a "Serb goon" the Serbian Ministry of Justice should decline to cooperate. He does need to go back and face his accusers, though.

Okay .... So a vice consul at the Serbian embassy did something he was not supposed to do: Issue a temporary passport. The Serbian government then recalled him, and (I assume) is currently conducting an investigation of the case.

Anyone have a problem with that? No? Good, because every country would have reacted the same way.

And no, the US could not touch the vice consul, because he is protected by the Vienna convention (or whatever it is called). This protection sometimes seem unfair, but I think it is an unnecessary evil we have to live with if international diplomacy shall survive.

Now, to extradite or not...

First off, the US should get its ass in gear and start the necessary paperwork. Complaining to the press and in the media will do nothing.

Secondly, very few countries will blindly hand over their citizens to another country's legal system just because the other country says "Please - he is evil". In almost all cases the home country will want to examine the case, look at any evidence, read police reports etc. And sometime they will simply decide that "No, there is not enough evidence here", "Sorry, but we don't believe she will get a fair trial in your country", or "Sorry, he might have done something that is illegal in your country, but it is not illegal here, so you can't have him".

It is all very common.

Dear Burim,

You are of course entitled to imagine all you want, but that was not the point I wanted to make. Nor that the other two are 'moslem'.

The point is that by omitting the basic facts from the story about the other two, we are led to believe that this is about a 'serb'.

It is generally standard journalistic practice to pad out the main story, here that the serb in question ran away, with further details of the actual event that lead to this serb running away. It adds balance to the story and places the main story in its full context.

Any one can take an isolated incident out of a story and the reader is left with a totally different view. One is properly represented, the other is not - whether by ommission, laziness or editorial 'direction'.

Failing to mention the other suspects in the case only serves to reinforce pre-baked media bias who are only interested in seeing the story in one light, namely "Serbs=Evil". It is a continued association and simplification.

We should expect as minimum a balanced and concise reporting. Considering the 'ethnic' sensitivites such a story has, I believe it was wrong to leave out information about the other two, regardless of their background. So, instead of a bunch of ex-Yugos kicking the sh*t out of the locals, we get the impression it was just a serb who did it and ran away. Geddit?

One more thing I want this young man and his family to know. This area has strong ties to eastern Europe. Many of the "natives" are 2nd and 3rd generation immigrants who came to work in the local shoe factory. Mr. JOhnson recrutied very strongly in eastern Europe, The old story goes, the immigrants got off the boats in NYC and mubbled one phrase in English "Which Way EJ?"

Please be a man of honor and come back to Binghamton.

serb goon :
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2008/07/04/2008-07-04_serb_goon_afraid_of_us_justice_lawyer.html

I guess, 'michele' , serbs just make things up . We are just by nature like that . You Americans are hypocrites of the highest class . You most famous saying is 'Innocent until proven guilty.'

First of all, i want to commend B-92 for following this case, perhaps belatedly, but at least now in an open and basically objective way. and that is saying a lot from me, since i have become probably one of b-92's most consistent and vociferous critics. and with good reason. but when the press does a good job, commend them; and when they do a lousy job, let them know it, and in no uncertain terms. i am aware of what b-92 has the potential for, and that is why my comments are so sharp and often outspoken.

as for this case, i do not believe it is just another "i hate serbia" excuse -- that is just another example of nationalist holy victim-hood. perhaps there are others in this case guilty as well, and perhaps they are muslim -- who cares?! it is the serbian govt. via their officials that is really pissing us off, again, and for good reason. their reputation for covering for their criminals is legendary and ubiquitous, and that is how serbia is (in)famous around the world. sad but true. and this is just one more example, with already a host of excuses about how they are not, in fact, actually responsible. it is all so obvious, what they need to do, with this young man, and with their notorious criminals.

whether they choose to do the right thing or not is another story, over which i personally have no power. but the democratic govt's as well as press must keep the pressure up.

ALEKS,
We got the point that the other two were bosnian muslims, but haven't got the point that Milan ran away with the help from a diplomatic mission which makes it an international incident.
Can one imagine if the situation was reversed. What would have happened to the US ambassy in Belgrade? The outcry of Serbian protesters and its government, imagine all the snicker stores that would have been broken into.
Being an American citizen that I am, I urge my government to protect the rights of the victim in this incident and bring Milan to face justice. As far as Serbian cousulate staff in New York I have only one word SHAME.

The criminal is in Serbia and the US court system is now 100,000 richer so lets call it even.
However there should be no new visas approved or renewed for Serbian citizens until there are assurances that this will not be repeated.

Congrats on NOT mentioning the other two people who were involved in the assault, Sanel Softic & Edin Dzubur (must be Serbs with names like that). So it was a 'Yugoslav' assault rather than a 'Serb' assault, but who cares for small details????

I am an American, and should this situation apply to citizens of every country the US chooses to let in, SP? Kovacevic is not the first, nor will he probably be the last, accused criminal to escape to a foreign country. He understood the system and is trying to play it. Hell, no we shouldn't "call it even", but at the same time, this should not be used to try and convict Serbia in the press-- especially when they haven't even received an extradition request from the US!

This is more anti-Serb from the MSM. Kovacevic's & his nationality has gotten more press than the fact that four of the FT. Dix Six were Kosovo Albanians! The press is just trying to cash in on another "Let's hate the Serbs" story and I find it pretty disgusting!

@ SP
"...No visas for Serbian citizens..."
SP, are you familiar with the case of "James "Whitey" Bulger, the FBI most wanted American, and overall second only to Osama bin Laden"?
"Last confirmed sighting in London 2002."(Wikipedia) In addition to
many other unconfirmed(!!!) sightings in some other countries. So far USA did not impose any visa restrictions on the ordinary citizens of those countries. Would you suggest the same measure in this instance?

The truth may never be revealed as to what actually happened in that nightclub, but the young man has already been convicted in the local courts and media. He should not be returned unless some guarantee of his rights is made. They would have to shedule any hearings or trials in other locales simply due to the notoreity of the case. So long as the popular press continues to refer to him as a "Serb goon" the Serbian Ministry of Justice should decline to cooperate. He does need to go back and face his accusers, though.

BIG DIFFERENCE Serbian GOVERNMENT directly responsible for his ability to leave the US. And visas should be halted until the GOVERNMENT assures us that this is not the first of many.

Okay .... So a vice consul at the Serbian embassy did something he was not supposed to do: Issue a temporary passport. The Serbian government then recalled him, and (I assume) is currently conducting an investigation of the case.

Anyone have a problem with that? No? Good, because every country would have reacted the same way.

And no, the US could not touch the vice consul, because he is protected by the Vienna convention (or whatever it is called). This protection sometimes seem unfair, but I think it is an unnecessary evil we have to live with if international diplomacy shall survive.

Now, to extradite or not...

First off, the US should get its ass in gear and start the necessary paperwork. Complaining to the press and in the media will do nothing.

Secondly, very few countries will blindly hand over their citizens to another country's legal system just because the other country says "Please - he is evil". In almost all cases the home country will want to examine the case, look at any evidence, read police reports etc. And sometime they will simply decide that "No, there is not enough evidence here", "Sorry, but we don't believe she will get a fair trial in your country", or "Sorry, he might have done something that is illegal in your country, but it is not illegal here, so you can't have him".

It is all very common.

I live in the Binghamton area. I drive by the university often. The other men involved were not allowed ut on bail. They are being charged as well.

A young woman's honor was at stake, but to injury a person to the point of being in a coma is not acceptable.

Had Miladin Kovacevic remained in the country and spent the $100,000 on a lawyer, he had a real opportunity to to tell his side of the story.

I could have been a potential member of the jury. I could have listened to both sides of the story. But.. when someone skips out the country, that sound as if that prson is guilty.

By his own actions, he has now increased his chances of conviction.

I am asking the Serbians to do the right thing.

Adn remeber Mr.Kovacevic, a humble attitude will go a long way.


I have not heard this man called a "Serbian Goon".

>>the FT. Dix Six were Kosovo Albanians

there again the Albanian government didn't sneak them out of US.

Yes, he has been called a "Serb thug," "Serb brute" 'Serb goon' by tabloids. That's what those papers do, they love headlines and don't spare anything.

Bring him in...and Mladic and Karadzic too.

Dear Burim,

You are of course entitled to imagine all you want, but that was not the point I wanted to make. Nor that the other two are 'moslem'.

The point is that by omitting the basic facts from the story about the other two, we are led to believe that this is about a 'serb'.

It is generally standard journalistic practice to pad out the main story, here that the serb in question ran away, with further details of the actual event that lead to this serb running away. It adds balance to the story and places the main story in its full context.

Any one can take an isolated incident out of a story and the reader is left with a totally different view. One is properly represented, the other is not - whether by ommission, laziness or editorial 'direction'.

Failing to mention the other suspects in the case only serves to reinforce pre-baked media bias who are only interested in seeing the story in one light, namely "Serbs=Evil". It is a continued association and simplification.

We should expect as minimum a balanced and concise reporting. Considering the 'ethnic' sensitivites such a story has, I believe it was wrong to leave out information about the other two, regardless of their background. So, instead of a bunch of ex-Yugos kicking the sh*t out of the locals, we get the impression it was just a serb who did it and ran away. Geddit?

One more thing I want this young man and his family to know. This area has strong ties to eastern Europe. Many of the "natives" are 2nd and 3rd generation immigrants who came to work in the local shoe factory. Mr. JOhnson recrutied very strongly in eastern Europe, The old story goes, the immigrants got off the boats in NYC and mubbled one phrase in English "Which Way EJ?"

Please be a man of honor and come back to Binghamton.

serb goon :
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2008/07/04/2008-07-04_serb_goon_afraid_of_us_justice_lawyer.html

I guess, 'michele' , serbs just make things up . We are just by nature like that . You Americans are hypocrites of the highest class . You most famous saying is 'Innocent until proven guilty.'