CWA Supports the innocence of Croatians from Bosnia-Herzegovina

Press Release                                                                                             
April 26, 2006  
 
Croatian Worldwide Association supports the innocence of Croatians from Bosnia-Herzegovina
 
Carla Del Ponte and the UN Court are at it again. The trial of Jadranko Prlic, Bruno Stojic, Slobodan Praljak, Milivoj Petkovic, Valentic Coric and Berislav Peric began today at The Hague.
 
During the ICTY press briefing, Christian Chartier, Senior Information Officer, called the start of the trial the “event of the day” and also stated   “this trial is also the largest held at the Tribunal since the Kupreskic et al. case (also six accused) in 1998.”

The largest held trial in the Tribunal’s history? Even pre-trial Judge Jean-Claude Antonetti  said on March 31, “Carla del Ponte will say how long this case should last. One year, two, three or 18 years,” said the judge.”  If it were up to Del Ponte, she would prefer the trial lasting even more than 18 years since this would ensure her position as she continues to flagrantly display her utter incompetence as chief prosecutor.  It is obvious she is against the Croatian people, distorting facts, attemprting to re-write history, and will do whatever it takes to ensure her personal agenda is fulfilled.  
 
The ICTY, created by the UN Security Council in 1993, was not intended to indict, prosecute or sentence Croatians.  Croatians in the Republic of Croatia and in Bosnia-Herzegovina were victims of Milosevic’s Serbian/Yugoslav aggression, occupation, and ethnic cleansing.  These six Croats from Bosnia-Herzegovina were defending their territory, their homes, their families and the protecting the lives of innocent civilians.  What happened in Bosnia-Herzegovina in the 1990s is an absolute tragedy which was initiated and executed by the Serbs. 
 
The ICTY has been hijacked by an out-of-control prosecutor who is obsessed with power. Del Ponte has clearly demonstrated her lack of judgment and incapacity to remain in the position of chief prosecutor. Many of her deeply flawed and outrageous indictments, which would be laughed out of any Western courtroom, should also be immediately dismissed. Moreover, her conduct warrants a formal investigation by the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services since the ICTY falls under the auspices and oversight of the United Nations. The lack of accountability and oversight of Del Ponte’s actions reveal the systemic culture of corruption and abuses prevalent at the ICTY. Read CWA's letter to the UN OIOS Click Here