THE HAGUE, Jan 14 (Hina) - The Hague-based International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) on Friday found five Bosnian Croats guilty of participating in the ethnic cleansing of Muslims, as well as in an attack on the
village of Ahmici in April 1993, in which 116 Muslims were killed. The five Croats were sentenced to prison sentences ranging from six to 25 years. Another Croat, Dragan Papic, was acquitted and the Tribunal ordered that he be immediately released.
THE HAGUE, Jan 14 (Hina) - The Hague-based International Criminal
Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) on Friday found five
Bosnian Croats guilty of participating in the ethnic cleansing of
Muslims, as well as in an attack on the village of Ahmici in April
1993, in which 116 Muslims were killed.
The five Croats were sentenced to prison sentences ranging from six
to 25 years. Another Croat, Dragan Papic, was acquitted and the
Tribunal ordered that he be immediately released. #L#
Explaining the verdict, the chairman of the Trial Chamber, Antonio
Cassese, said expulsion was one of the most vicious crimes against
humanity because it feeds on the negation of the principle of
equality of human beings.
Cassese said the Trial Chamber had concluded that the Ahmici case
was not a military operation. It was a well-organised and planned
killing of civilians of one ethnic group, Muslims, by the army of
another ethnic group - Croats. The aim of the massacre was the
expulsion of Muslims from the village, said Cassese.
The Chamber has also concluded that, with the possible exception of
one indicted, it did not try the main culprits for the Ahmici crime.
The longest prison sentence of 25 years was received by Vladimir
Santic, who was found guilty of expulsions, participation in a
killing, and inhumane acts. An aggravating circumstance was his
role as commander.
Drago Josipovic was found guilty of participating in expulsions and
the same killing Santic was found guilty of, and was sentenced to 15
years in prison.
Brothers Zoran and Mirjan Kupreskic were found guilty of
participating in the ethnic cleansing but were acquitted of the
charge of participating in the killing of their Muslim neighbours.
Due to his role as a leader, Zoran received a ten-year prison
sentence, whereas his brother was sentenced to eight years in
prison.
Vlatko Kupreskic received the shortest prison sentence of six years
since the Chamber judged that Kupreskic's role in one killing had
not been proved as well as that he had not personally participated
in expulsions but had rather aided the attackers.
The six Croats heard their verdicts in a composed manner and with
serious expressions on their faces. Present at the announcement of
verdicts were their families and Vitez municipal officials.
Zoran and Mirjan Kupreskic, Drago Josipovic, Dragan Papic, and
Vladimir Santic had surrendered voluntarily to the Hague Tribunal
in October 1997, whereas Vlatko Kupreskic was captured by the
Stabilisation Force at the end of 1997.
At the trial, which began on August 17, 1998, the prosecution and
defence presented 158 witnesses.
(hina) mm rml