Karadzic’s Judge Protects Richard Holbrooke

Women of Srebrenica hope that the trial will reveal who, within the international community, protected Karadzic and who helped him escape.

Radovan Karadzic’s fist appearance before the court in The Hague satisfied the women of Srebrenica. However, the mothers of the victims of the Srebrenica massacre still feel sadness and they grudge Judge Alphons Orie. 

They feel sadness when remembering the days of suffering which they went through, and grudge because they fear that the case and the aspects of the Srebrenica massacre will not be revealed. Their fears are caused by the fact that the ICTY is a work of the International Community, which they think has helped Karadzic hide for 13 years.

They said they did not expect a different behaviour from Radovan Karadzic, as it was the same behaviour Slobodan Milosevic and Vojislav Seselj used in their trials.

Bitter with Judge Orie’s behaviour 

- We resent him for his behaviour in court, but we knew that he would behave like his predecessors. They always say that they are not guilty and behave like criminals – said Nura Begovic, member of the presidency of the organisation “Zene Srebrenice” (Women of Srebrenica). She added that it seems to them that Karadzic could have gone to The Hague earlier, and that he could even have surrendered, but he was protected by the International Community, and Holbrooke is involved with it.

What hurts them the most is that the judge did not allow Karadzic to read four pages he had prepared to read in court.

The judge should have let Karadzic read the four pages he wanted to read

- We resent the judge, because he did not let him read the four pages he wanted to read on Holbrooke’s responsibility and on his promise to Karadzic to ensure him protection if he should withdraw from politics – said Ms Begovic, expressing her fear that the court will try to hide Karadzic’s partners in crime. They think that Karadzic had helpers within the International Community, and that they should be in court as well.

Ms Nura Begovic said to be pleased that Karadzic is finally in The Hague, but she can not be happy, because he is responsible of many murders and a lot of suffering in Bosnia, which she remembers when sees him in court.

- The court tergiversates, but if he does not receive a righteous sentence, they will not get away with it. We are ready to do everything, event to go to The Hague and tear down the building and windows – said Begovic.

She described the atmosphere among women as fear of the court, as it was founded by the International Community, which protected Karadzic and they are afraid they will protect his collaborators.