Lawyer Who Brought Klaus Barbie to Justice
Arrives in Pale—and is Quickly Deported
(SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24) Nazi-hunter Serge Klarsfeld arrived in the Bosnian Serb stronghold Pale yesterday on a mission. The world-renowned lawyer came to urge Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic to surrender to the international war crimes tribunal and avoid becoming an embarrassment to their people. He was tossed out of Pale within a day.But Klarsfeld said Saturday that "They obviously got my message, which was too strong for them." The French lawyer brought Klaus Barbie to justice for World War II atrocities committed in Nazi-occupied France.
Klarsfeld said police took him to a police station late Friday. After a two-hour interrogation, police told him he must leave Serb-held areas of Bosnia. Klarsfeld agreed. He argued that if Karadzic and Mladic consider themselves innocent, submitting to trial would be the best way to clear themselves.
"For them, perhaps, it’s a sacrifice that will give historic status to the Bosnian Serbs," said Klarsfeld, a French lawyer who was instrumental in bringing Klaus Barbie to justice for collaborating with France’s Nazi occupiers in World War II.
"My main reason for being here is to convince Karadzic to go to the tribunal," Klarsfeld said, adding that it was "a dream" for Karadzic and Mladic to think they could stay in their posts. He urged them to surrender. "If they do not do that, perhaps they will be killed because they are an embarrassment. I don’t know how much time it will take for the Serbs of Bosnia to be embarrassed by them, but it will happen, " Klarsfeld told reporters.
Bosnian Serb President Radovan Karadzic and military commander Gen. Ratko Mladic have been indicted by a U.N. tribunal in The Hague, Netherlands for war crimes but have continued to hold their positions.
"For them, perhaps, it’s a sacrifice that will give historic status to the Bosnian Serbs," said Klarsfeld, a French lawyer who was instrumental in bringing Klaus Barbie to justice for collaborating with France’s Nazi occupiers in World War II.
"My main reason for being here is to convince Karadzic to go to the tribunal," Klarsfeld said, adding that it was "a dream" for Karadzic and Mladic to think they could stay in their posts. He urged them to surrender. "If they do not do that, perhaps they will be killed because they are an embarrassment. I don’t know how much time it will take for the Serbs of Bosnia to be embarrassed by them, but it will happen, " Klarsfeld told reporters.
Berserkistan's War Crimes Coverage
International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia from the United Nations
Coalition for International Justice
Reports concerning human rights abuses in Bosnia published by Intac Access
Major War Criminals and Suspects from CalTech's Bosnia Site
Reports on War Crimes in the Former Yugoslavia from CalTech's Bosnia Site
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