Karadžić trial resumes in Hague

The trial of Radovan Karadzic – accused of war crimes and genocide in Bosnia – resumed today at the Hague Tribunal. The prosecutors started their opening statements in the case against the former political leader of Bosnia's Serbs. Karadzic trial resumes in Hague Karadzic refused to show up in the courtroom as the trial started on Monday and again today. The judges now have two ways out of this situation – to reach some form of the agreement with the defendant by next week, or impose a defense lawyer on him. The judges could perhaps bring the former RS president back to the courtroom by complying at least partially with his request to be granted more time in order to adequately prepare his defense for the rest of the trial, experts say. The other available option is "far more unpopular", they say – to impose a court-appointed defense counsel on Karadzic. This option is also potentially problematic, bearing in mind the failed attempt of another Hague trial chamber to impose a defense lawyer on Vojislav Seselj. Meantime in Belgrade, Balkan Trust for Democracy Ivan Vejvoda says that the trial of Radovan Karadzic "is the most important trial after that of Slobodan Milosevic" "It is also undisputable that the beginning of his trial will make everybody face up to the past and the events which had marked the 1990’s," Vejvoda told B92. He added that "facing up to the past does not stop with the Hague Tribunal" and that it was "something all countries in the Balkans would have to live with for a long period of time". Prosecution opens its case The prosecution focused on four of the 11 charges against Karadzic. Prosecutor Alan Tieger said: “The indictment as you know charges Radovan Karadzic with participation in four separate but related joint criminal enterprises." “Number one, the campaign to forcibly remove Bosnian Muslims and Bosnian Croats from vast portions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a campaign that rose to genocidal levels in certain municipalities. “Number two, the protracted sniping and shelling of Sarajevo’s civilians to produce and maintain terror. “Number three, the taking of UN peacekeepers and military observers as hostages and human shields. “Number four, the elimination of the Muslims in Srebrenica, the organized killings of the men and expulsion of the women and children.”

Karadžić trial resumes in Hague

Karadžić refused to show up in the courtroom as the trial started on Monday and again today. The judges now have two ways out of this situation – to reach some form of the agreement with the defendant by next week, or impose a defense lawyer on him.

The judges could perhaps bring the former RS president back to the courtroom by complying at least partially with his request to be granted more time in order to adequately prepare his defense for the rest of the trial, experts say.

The other available option is "far more unpopular", they say – to impose a court-appointed defense counsel on Karadžić.

This option is also potentially problematic, bearing in mind the failed attempt of another Hague trial chamber to impose a defense lawyer on Vojislav Šešelj.

Meantime in Belgrade, Balkan Trust for Democracy Ivan Vejvoda says that the trial of Radovan Karadžić "is the most important trial after that of Slobodan Milošević"

"It is also undisputable that the beginning of his trial will make everybody face up to the past and the events which had marked the 1990’s," Vejvoda told B92.

He added that "facing up to the past does not stop with the Hague Tribunal" and that it was "something all countries in the Balkans would have to live with for a long period of time".

Prosecution opens its case

The prosecution focused on four of the 11 charges against Karadžić.

Prosecutor Alan Tieger said: “The indictment as you know charges Radovan Karadzic with participation in four separate but related joint criminal enterprises."

“Number one, the campaign to forcibly remove Bosnian Muslims and Bosnian Croats from vast portions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a campaign that rose to genocidal levels in certain municipalities.

“Number two, the protracted sniping and shelling of Sarajevo’s civilians to produce and maintain terror.

“Number three, the taking of UN peacekeepers and military observers as hostages and human shields.

“Number four, the elimination of the Muslims in Srebrenica, the organized killings of the men and expulsion of the women and children.”