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Radovan Karadzic
Radovan Karadzic
Karadzic’s Recent Arrest May Increase Legitimacy of International Courts
July 28, 2008 10:56 AM
Dogged by criticism surrounding their effectiveness and cost, the International Criminal Tribunal of the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) has recently ramped up efforts to bring more high-profile suspects to justice.
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The recent arrest and upcoming trial of accused war criminal Radovan Karadzic may provide an opportunity for courts such as the ICTY to gain traction as reliable international legal authorities.
Anchored by a new chief prosecutor, the court looks to the Karadzic trial as a way to prove their effectiveness as a global force—one that might be able to serve as an actual deterrent to future war crimes.
Supporters of such international bodies hope a successful trial will help garner wider support for other cases, such as Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who was recently charged with war crimes by the International Criminal Court.
Of the three highest profile suspects charged by the ICTY in connection with the campaign of genocide in the former Yugoslavia, only ex-president Slobodan Milosevic was brought to trial.
He died shortly before the trial began, however, eliminating the opportunity for the court to prove it could successfully try a high-profile prisoner.
Though the court has tried dozens charged with war crimes, the absence of high-profile cases has overshadowed their successes.
Attention has now shifted to the search for General Ratko Mladic, who is accused of leading a military campaign against the Muslim and Croatian community in Bosnia in the early 1990s.
Anchored by a new chief prosecutor, the court looks to the Karadzic trial as a way to prove their effectiveness as a global force—one that might be able to serve as an actual deterrent to future war crimes.
Supporters of such international bodies hope a successful trial will help garner wider support for other cases, such as Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who was recently charged with war crimes by the International Criminal Court.
Of the three highest profile suspects charged by the ICTY in connection with the campaign of genocide in the former Yugoslavia, only ex-president Slobodan Milosevic was brought to trial.
He died shortly before the trial began, however, eliminating the opportunity for the court to prove it could successfully try a high-profile prisoner.
Though the court has tried dozens charged with war crimes, the absence of high-profile cases has overshadowed their successes.
Attention has now shifted to the search for General Ratko Mladic, who is accused of leading a military campaign against the Muslim and Croatian community in Bosnia in the early 1990s.
Headline Links: A chance for redemption
The arrest and scheduled trial of accused war criminal Radovan Karadzic gives some hope that a successful trial could help legitimize world courts, and counter criticism surrounding such a body’s cost and effectiveness.
Source: The New York Times (free registration may be required)
Criticism of the ICTY focuses on a number of issues, including the court’s cost. Currently the annual budget for the court is $310 million, supporting more than 1,100 employees in 82 countries. But some feel that a successful trial of Karadzic could justify the court’s cost.
Source: The Washington Post (free registration may be required)
Background: A spotty record in some eyes
After 11 years on the run, Radovan Karadzic was taken into custody 13 years after being charged with war crimes by the International Criminal Court. The former Serb leader is scheduled to be extradited to The Hague this week.
Source: findingDulcinea
Most recently, the ICTY came under fire for the acquittal of Ramush Haradinaj, a guerilla leader in Kosovo accused of war crimes against Serbs. Calling it a “mockery of justice,” critics alleged that it proved the weakness of the court, suggesting that it would fuel radical parties rather than deter them.
Source: Human Rights Tribune
Reactions: Far-reaching effects
Replaced by Serge Brammertz earlier this year, outgoing chief prosecutor Carla del Ponte left the International War Crimes Tribunal “frustrated” at the activities and ineffectiveness of the process. She specifically cited the court’s lax approach to some prisoners and the inability to take some of the most sought-after suspects into custody.
Source: The BBC
Supporters of world courts hope a successful Karadzic trial could help lend legitimacy to similar cases, such as that of Omar al-Bashir, the Sudanese president charged with war crimes, including genocide. The charges marked the first time a sitting head of state has been officially indicted for war crimes.
Source: findingDulcinea
Opinion & Analysis: Blame abounds
Special Counsel Diane Orentlicher, who has written extensively on the impact of the ITCY on Serbia, suggested that much of the blame for the court’s delay came from the government’s inability to capture high-profile suspects. Orentlicher quoted one observer in Sarajevo as saying that the court existed “in the shadow of Karadzic and Mladic.”
Source: MaximsNews Network
Criticism of the ICTY began several years ago, with critics citing the court’s lack of a police force and lack of a clear mission as reasons for the ICTY’s ineffectiveness. One of the most criticized cases came with the arrest of Bosnian leader Biljana Plavsic, who was charged with genocide but only received an 11-year sentence.
Source: Central Europe Review
George W. Bush famously backed away from the International Criminal Court, citing its jurisdiction and fears that the court would lodge charges against U.S. service members. The decision earned him praise from the Heritage Foundation.
Source: The Heritage Foundation
Related Topic: The Milosevic trial
The last high-profile trial held by the ICTY dealt with the role of Slobodan Milosevic, who was accused of war crimes in the early 1990s. Framed as an important step toward legitimizing the role of international courts, the trial failed to reach a verdict as Milosevic died.
Source: Milosevic Trial Public Archive
Reference: The ICTY official Web site
The ICTY was established by the United Nations in 1993 to address the crimes committed in the former Yugoslavia beginning in 1991. Concentrating on state-sanctioned violence and war crimes, the court will expire in 2010.
Source: The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia Official Site
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