Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07SARAJEVO836
2007-04-17 16:04:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Sarajevo
Cable title:  

"SCORPIONS" VERDICT FUELS BOSNIAK GRIEVANCES

Tags:  PHUM PGOV PREL KJUS BK SR 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO8198
PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHVJ #0836 1071604
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 171604Z APR 07
FM AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5917
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SARAJEVO 000836 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL KJUS BK SR
SUBJECT: "SCORPIONS" VERDICT FUELS BOSNIAK GRIEVANCES

REF: A. BELGRADE 477


B. SARAJEVO 753

C. SARAJEVO 754

D. SARAJEVO 807

UNCLAS SARAJEVO 000836

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL KJUS BK SR
SUBJECT: "SCORPIONS" VERDICT FUELS BOSNIAK GRIEVANCES

REF: A. BELGRADE 477


B. SARAJEVO 753

C. SARAJEVO 754

D. SARAJEVO 807


1. (U) Sentences handed down by the Special War Crimes Court
in Belgrade on April 10 for four members of the "Scorpions"
military unit for war crimes against Bosniak citizens of
Trnovo, Bosnia (ref A) have exacerbated tensions among
Bosnians, already high as a result of the ICJ verdict. The
sentences, particularly those of the two defendants who did
not receive the maximum prison term and the acquittal of one
defendant, have generated high-profile reactions from Bosnian
politicians predictably divided along ethnic lines.


2. (U) On April 13, Haris Silajdzic, Bosniak member of the
Tri-Presidency, characterized the sentences as a "frivolous
political verdict" and suggested that Serbian authorities
should extradite the defendants for trial in Bosnia since the
crimes took place on Bosnian territory. Croat Presidency
member Zeljko Komsic stated that justice was not served by
the verdicts and that the Belgrade court had attempted to
distance Serbian institutions from their responsibilities for
genocide committed in Srebrenica. In response to the
Silajdzic statement Milorad Dodik said on April 13 that the
Trnovo events clearly constituted a crime and condemned the
actions of the "Scorpions" unit but "biased people such as
Silajdzic" should not comment on the case. Dodik stated that
it was a significant that Serbia had convened a court that
handed down the sentences it did. Dodik accused Silajdzic of
acting as his own judge and seeking to impose his own
verdicts. Serb Presidency member Nebojsa Radmanovic declined
to comment on the verdict stating that the ruling required no
further interpretation.


3. (U) Some segments of the Bosniak electorate, already
angry over the ICJ ruling that genocide was committed in
Srebrenica, point to the "Scorpions" sentences as evidence of
their assertions that Bosniaks continue to be denied justice
for wartime grievances. In addition to members who protested
the verdict in Belgrade (ref A),the "Women of Srebrenica"
organized an April 11 demonstration in Tuzla denouncing the
verdict. Demonstrators characterized the "Scorpions"
sentences as evidence of ongoing injustices faced by
Srebrenica victims and disparaged the possibility that the
sentences would be amended during the planned appeal by the
Serbian War Crimes Prosecutor.


4. (SBU) Comment: The April 10 verdicts, following so closely
on the heels of an ICJ ruling that has reopened old wounds in
Bosnia, have been appropriated as additional fodder by
political leaders and NGOs attempting to advance the issue of
Srebrenica secession. Haris Silajdzic in particular has
sought to keep the issue in the forefront by raising the
extradition of the defendants despite the lack of an
bilateral extradition treaty with Serbia. We anticipate that
leaders such as Silajdzic could continue to use the
"Scorpions" verdict, among other issues, to radicalize
Bosniak public opinion. End Comment.
MCELHANEY