Voice of America, 16 July 1996

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From: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>

CONTENTS

[01] TUESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY DAN NOBLE (WASHINGTON)

[02] BOSNIA HOLBROOKE (L-UPDATE) BY EVANS HAYS (SARAJEVO)

[03] EUROPE / MARKETS (S) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

[04] U-S-BOSNIA (S ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

[05] YUGO WAR CRIMES (L-ONLY) BY GILLIAN SHARPE (THE HAGUE)

[01] TUESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY DAN NOBLE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: TOPICS DEALT WITH ON THE EDITORIAL PAGES OF SELECTED U-S DAILY NEWSPAPERS THIS TUESDAY RANGE FROM THE RENEWED FIGHTING IN NORTHERN IRELAND, TO ALLEGATIONS OF C-I-A MISCONDUCT IN GUATEMALA. OTHER SUBJECTS INCLUDE THE UPCOMING PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN IN THE UNITED STATES, AND DEVELOPMENTS IN BOSNIA. NOW, HERE IS _________________ WITH SOME QUOTES AND A CLOSER LOOK IN TODAY'S U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: BRITISH AND IRISH CABINET MINISTERS AND NORTHERN IRELAND POLITICIANS ARE EXPECTED TO MEET TODAY IN BELFAST TO CONTINUE HOLDING PEACE TALKS. BUT, NOTES USA TODAY, "THE FUTURE OF THE NEGOTIATIONS THEMSELVES WILL BE ON THE LINE."

VOICE: "NOT LONG AGO, HOPES WERE HIGH THE TALKS COULD END THE VIOLENCE. INSTEAD, RIOTING HAS ESCALATED TO LEVELS UNSEEN FOR A DECADE. SOME VILLAINS ARE OBVIOUS: THE EXTREMISTS ON BOTH SIDES WHO HAVE A STAKE IN DERAILING ANYTHING THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE SENSIBLE COMPROMISE. BUT THE WHOLE TRUTH IS MORE COMPLEX. THIS PEACE HAS BEEN SABOTAGED AS WELL BY IRELAND'S STORIED ABILITY TO NURTURE OLD GRUDGES AND BY POLITICAL PRESSURES ON SEVERAL KEY PARTIES TO THE TALKS... THE ORDINARY PEOPLE OF NORTHERN IRELAND, TRYING TO GET ON WITH THEIR EVERYDAY LIVES AND WITH EACH OTHER, DESERVE BETTER."

TEXT: THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS, ON ITS EDITORIAL PAGE SAYS THAT "HOWEVER SLIM THE HOPE FOR RESOLUTION OF (NORTHERN IRELAND'S) CENTURIES-OLD CONFLICTS, IT MUST BE NURTURED."

VOICE: "NOT SO LONG AGO, THE SICK-OF-VIOLENCE CONSENSUS HAD GROWN STRONG ENOUGH TO PRODUCE A CEASEFIRE, THE FIRST RESPITE IN DECADES. IT CAN FLOURISH AGAIN, PROVIDED THERE IS UNIFIED SUPPORT FOR THE CAUSE FROM THOSE AT THE TOP. THAT MEANS NOTHING LESS THAN THE STRONGEST REJECTION OF POLITICAL GAMES AND OUTRIGHT CONDEMNATION OF VIOLENCE... YES, TALK CAN BE MORE EFFECTIVE. PROVIDED IT IS GROUNDED IN HONOR. AND TRUST. AND IN COURAGE. OTHERWISE, IT IS JUST TALK."

TEXT: THE BALTIMORE SUN HAS THIS TO ADD ABOUT NORTHERN IRELAND:

VOICE: "FEW PEOPLE WOULD SAY BOSNIA IS WHAT THEY WISH ULSTER TO BECOME, BUT THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE WORKING TO ACHIEVE. AND NOT EVERYONE WANTS PEACE, NOT THOSE WHOSE CAREER IS SPREADING TERROR OR WINNING LEADERSHIP BY PANDERING TO PANIC. PEACE WAS A BOON TO THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF BOTH COMMUNITIES, BUT IT IS A THREAT TO A HANDFUL WITH VESTED INTERESTS IN THE TROUBLES."

TEXT: IN ITS LEAD EDITORIAL TODAY, THE NEW YORK TIMES OFFERS SOME THROUGHTS - AND CRITICISMS - ABOUT FORMER SENATOR BOB DOLE'S CAMPAIGN FOR PRESIDENT.

VOICE: "MR. DOLE SAYS THE PRESS IS OUT TO GET HIM. BUT SO FAR WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO LOCATE THE JOURNALIST WHO FORCED HIM TO FORGET HIS PROUD CIVIL RIGHTS RECORD AND GROWL THAT THE NAACP'S GOOD-FAITH INVITATION TO SPEAK AS ITS NATIONAL CONVENTION WAS 'A SETUP'. MISTER DOLE'S OTHER MISTAKES OF TACTICS AND PRINCIPLE SEEM EQUALLY PUZZLING AND EQUALLY AVOIDABLE. HE SHOULD NOT HAVE DISMISSED DECADES OF SCIENCE TO ARGUE THAT TOBACCO IS NOT ADDICTIVE. HE SHOULD HAVE KEPT TO HIS ORIGINAL COURSE AND SIDED WITH PRO-CHOICE REPUBLICANS ON THE LOCATION OF A 'TOLERANCE' PLANK IN THE PARTY PLATFORM, RATHER THAN FLIP-FLOPPING."

TEXT: THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER CALLS MR. DOLE "AN ABORTION OPPONENT WHO CAN'T AFFORD TO TURN OFF MILLIONS OF VOTERS WHO DISAGREE."

VOICE: "THE QUESTION AT HAND WAS WHETHER TO INCLUDE TOLERANT, RESPECTFUL LANGUAGE TOWARD SUPPORTERS OF ABORTION RIGHTS IN THE ANTI-ABORTION PLANK OF THE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM. MR. DOLE WANTED TO DO IT THAT WAY LAST MONTH, AND SAID THIS WAS 'NON-NEGOTIABLE'. BUT LAST WEEK, AFTER TALKS...WITH ANGRY ANTIABORTION ACTIVISTS, MR. DOLE SWITCHED TO AVOID A FLOOR FIGHT AT THE CONVENTION. LANGUAGE ABOUT TOLERATING DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW WILL STILL BE IN THE PLATFORM, BUT ELSEWHERE."

TEXT: TODAY'S WASHINGTON POST KEEPS ALIVE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE JUNE 25TH BOMBING THAT KILLED 19 AMERICANS IN SAUDI ARABIA. THE POST SAYS THE INCIDENT "HAS BROUGHT TO THE SURFACE TENSIONS IN RELATIONS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND THE ARAB KINGDOM THAT BOTH COUNTRIES PREFER TO KEEP HIDDEN."

VOICE: "THAT TENSIONS EXIST SHOULD COME AS NO SURPRISE. SAUDI ARABIA IS A CLOSED DICTATORSHIP WHERE RELIGIOUS POLICE ENFORCE MUSLIM LAW AND WHERE OUTSIDERS, AND OUTSIDE SCRUTINY, ARE NOT WELCOME. THE UNITED STATES IS AN OPEN SOCIETY IMPATIENT WITH SAUDI CONSERVATISM AND, AS OFTEN AS NOT, USED TO GETTING ITS WAY. BECAUSE A U-S MILITARY PRESENCE IN THE PERSIAN GULF IS IN THE SELF-INTEREST OF BOTH NATIONS, BOTH HAVE CHOSEN TO IGNORE DIFFERENCES AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND TO FIND WAYS TO WORK TOGETHER."

TEXT: LOOKING ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD, THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR SAYS THAT "THE UNITED STATES IS WALKING A FINE LINE IN COLOMBIA, SHOWING ITS DISGUST WITH THAT COUNTRY'S CURRENT LEADER BUT TRYING TO MAINTAIN TIES CRITICAL TO COMBATTING THE FLOW OF NARCOTICS."

VOICE: "THE LATEST AND HARSHEST MOVE AGAINST COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT ERNESTO SAMPER PIZANO CAME LAST WEEK. THE STATE DEPARTMENT REVOKED HIS VISA, STATING THAT NO ONE WHO AIDED OR ABETTED DRUG TRAFFICKING COULD VISIT THE U-S. MISTER SAMPER STANDS ACCUSED OF ACCEPTING SIX-MILLION DOLLARS IN CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE CALI COCAINE CARTEL AND OF BACKING POLICIES FAVORABLE TO THE DRUG COMMERCE.... WASHINGTON IS RIGHT TO CONSIDER ITS CONTEMPT FOR NARCO-CORRUPTION. BUT IT SHOULD BE JUST AS CLEAR AND OUTSPOKEN IN ITS SUPPORT FOR THE MANY COLOMBIANS, INCLUDING SOME IN GOVERNMENT, WHO ARE SINCERE ABOUT COMBATTING THE COCAINE DEALERS. [OPT] DO FLASHY, LARGELY SYMBOLIC ACTIONS AGAINST SAMPER HURT OR HELP THE LATTER? WASHINGTON'S AIM SHOULD BE TO HELP THOSE COLOMBIANS WHO SEEK TO TURN THEIR NATION AWAY FROM CORRUPTION." [END OPT]

TEXT: EARLIER THIS MONTH, THE INTELLIGENCE OVERSIGHT BOARD, AN ARM OF THE WHITE HOUSE, ISSUED A REPORT DEALING WITH C-I-A INVOLVEMENT IN GUATEMALA. THE BOARD SAID THAT THE AGENCY HIRED GUATEMALEN INFORMERS WHO "WERE CREDIBLY ALLEGED TO HAVE ORDERED, PLANNED OR PARTICIPATED IN SERIOUS HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS..." AND, THAT THE C-I-A BROKE AMERICAN LAW "BY NOT FULLY INFORMING CONGRESS OF ITS ACTIVITIES IN GUATEMALA." BUT, THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION ARGUES THAT THE BOARD "DID A HALF-HEARTED JOB OF PROVIDING DETAILS, ASKING PERTINENT QUESTIONS AND MAKING JUDGMENTS THAT COULD TURN OUT TO BE EMBARRASSING."

VOICE: "THE BOARD CLEARED THE C-I-A AND ITS CHIEF GUATEMALAN INFORMER OF COMPLICITY IN THE TWO U-S-RELATED KILLINGS, BUT THOSE FINDINGS WERE HOTLY DISPUTED BY THE WIDOWS. IN ADDITION, THE BOARD SWALLOWED WHOLE THE C-I-A CONTENTION THAT ITS COOPERATION WITH SUCCESSIVE REGIMES IN GUATEMALA WAS CONSISTENT WITH U-S.- PURSUIT OF PEACE AND DEMOCRACY -- WHEN IN FACT THESE OPPRESSIVE GOVERNMENTS WERE THE ANTITHESIS OF THOSE GOALS. WHAT THE INQUIRY SHOWS, THOUGH THE BOARD SEEMS TOO TIMID TO RECOMMEND IT, IS THAT THE C-I-A NEEDS A TIGHTER LEASH. CONGRESS SHOULD PROHIBIT C-I-A COLLUSION WITH DEATH SQUADS AND BACK UP THIS MINIMUM HUMAN RIGHTS STANDARD AND ITS REPORTING REQUIREMENTS WITH CRIMINAL PENALTIES."

TEXT: AND, THE PORTLAND (MAINE) PRESS HERALD, COMMENTS ON THE RECENT DEATH OF JOHN CHANCELLOR, A ONE TIME DIRECTOR OF THE VOICE OF AMERICA, AND A LONG TIME COMMENTATOR ON COMMERCIAL TELEVISION IN THE UNITED STATES. MR. CHANCELLOR WAS 68 YEARS OLD.

VOICE: "HE WAS A TOUGH, HONEST AND DISCIPLINED REPORTER WHO, EVEN WHEN GLORY BECKONED, DID NOT MISTAKE HIMSELF FOR THE STORY. CHANCELLOR COVERED WARS, FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC, INCLUDING THE CIVIL RIGHTS STRUGGLE OF THE 1960S. HE WAS THERE, ON -- AND OFF -- THE FLOOR AT 20 AMERICAN POLITICAL CONVENTIONS. HE WAS IN RUSSIA WHEN YURI GAGARIN FIRST ORBITED THE EARTH AND AT HYANNISPORT, MASS., WHEN JOHN F. KENNEDY LEARNED HE HAD BEEN ELECTED PRESIDENT. THROUGH 46 YEARS ON THE JOB, MOSTLY FOR N-B-C, HE WAS BLESSED WITH A KEEN MIND AND A KEEN SENSE OF HUMOR."

TEXT: THAT CONCLUDES THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIALS FROM SOME OF TODAY'S U-S PRESS.
NEB/DN/PCH
16-Jul-96 11:06 AM EDT (1506 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] BOSNIA HOLBROOKE (L-UPDATE) BY EVANS HAYS (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: U-S ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE -- ARCHITECT OF THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORD FOR BOSNIA -- IS HOLDING TALKS WITH BOSNIAN LEADERS IN SARAJEVO ABOUT WAYS TO FORCE BOSNIAN-SERB LEADER, RADOVAN KARADZIC, TO RELINQUISH HIS POWERS. V-O-A'S EVANS HAYS REPORTS FROM SARAJEVO, MR. HOLBROOKE IS ALSO MEETING WITH COMMANDERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL PEACE FORCE STATIONED IN BOSNIA.

TEXT: THE UNITED STATES HAS MADE CLEAR AMBASSADOR RICHARD HOLBROOKE HAS ONE CHIEF AIM ON THIS TRIP -- TO FIND A WAY TO FORCE BOSNIAN-SERB LEADER, RADOVAN KARADZIC, FROM POWER. MR. HOLBROOKE'S MISSION, WHICH WILL ALSO TAKE HIM TO SERBIA AND CROATIA, COMES JUST DAYS BEFORE THE OFFICIAL START OF A GENERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN, MANDATED BY THE DAYTON ACCORD HE NEGOTIATED ONLY MONTHS AGO.

ARRIVING TUESDAY AT SARAJEVO AIRPORT, MR. HOLBROOKE SAID THIS IS NOT A TRIP HE WANTED TO MAKE, BUT IT WAS NECESSARY. HE SAID HE HAD COME TO THE REGION BECAUSE THE UNITED STATES IS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE WAY PARTIES TO THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORD ARE COMPLYING WITH THE TREATY. HE SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED THE BOSNIAN SERBS, WHOSE LEADER RADOVAN KARADZIC HAS BEEN INDICTED ON CHARGES OF WAR CRIMES.

THE DAYTON ACCORDS SPECIFICALLY PROHIBIT ANYONE INDICTED ON WAR CRIMES CHARGES FROM RUNNING FOR ELECTED OFFICE OR HOLDING A MAJOR POLITICAL POST.

MR. KARADZIC HAS HANDED OVER HIS POWERS AS THE BOSNIAN-SERB PRESIDENT TO A DEPUTY. HE REMAINS HEAD OF THE BOSNIAN-SERB NATIONALIST "S-D-S" PARTY, THAT WANTS TO BREAK AWAY FROM THE BOSNIAN FEDERATION AND EVENTUALLY LINK WITH SERBIA.

MR. HOLBROOKE HAS NOT SAID SPECIFICALLY WHAT HE WILL DISCUSS DURING MEETINGS WITH THE REGION'S LEADERS. THE STATE DEPARTMENT HAS RAISED THE POSSIBILITY OF RENEWING SANCTIONS ON SERBIA AND THE BOSNIAN SERBS IF MR. KARADZIC AND HIS MILITARY COMMANDER, GENERAL RATKO MLADIC, REMAIN IN POWER.

MR. HOLBROOKE ALSO MENTIONED RECENT THREATS BY BOSNIAN-SERB OFFICIALS AGAINST THE INTERNATIONAL (PEACE IMPLEMENTATION) FORCE IN BOSNIA. MR. HOLBROOKE SAID IF THE BOSNIAN SERBS MOVE AGAINST PEACEKEEPERS THEY WILL FACE SWIFT MILITARY ACTION.

THE THREATS STEM FROM BOSNIAN-SERB SUSPICIONS PEACEKEEPING TROOPS, OR SOME OTHER FORCE, MAY TRY TO CAPTURE MR. KARADZIC AT HIS HEADQUARTERS IN PALE, NEAR SARAJEVO. SOME LOCAL OFFICIALS IN PALE AND ELSEWHERE HAVE THREATENED TO TAKE PEACEKEEPERS HOSTAGE IF THAT HAPPENS. BUT U-N SPOKESMAN, ALEX IVANKO, SAYS WHILE THE THREATS ARE BEING TAKEN SERIOUSLY, THEY ARE COMING FROM LOCAL OFFICIALS. HE SAYS HE HAS BEEN ASSURED THEY DO NOT REFLECT THE POLICY OF BOSNIAN-SERB LEADERS. (SIGNED)
NEB/EH/PCF/RAE
16-Jul-96 11:45 AM EDT (1545 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] EUROPE / MARKETS (S) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

INTRO: STOCK PRICES ON EUROPEAN FINANCIAL MARKETS OPENED SHARPLY LOWER AS INVESTORS REACTED TO LOSES MONDAY ON THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE. THE TUMBLING STOCK PRICES ALSO ADDED TO THE PRESSURE ON THE U-S DOLLAR, WHICH WAS DOWN IN EARLY EUROPEAN TRADING. V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS FROM BONN.

TEXT: THE LEADING EUROPEAN STOCK MARKETS IN FRANKFURT, LONDON, AND PARIS WERE DOWN FROM ONE-AND-ONE-HALF PERCENT TO TWO-AND-ONE-HALF PERCENT AS CAUTIOUS TRADERS TRIED TO FIGURE OUT IF U-S PRICES WOULD HEAD EVEN LOWER.

MANY TRADERS ARE WAITING FOR FURTHER CLUES TO THE DIRECTION OF THE LEADING NEW YORK STOCK INDEX, WHICH PLUNGED TO A SIX-MONTH LOW ON MONDAY. EXPERTS SAY THE SELL-OFF WAS TRIGGERED BY FEARS OF POOR CORPORATE EARNINGS.

THE U-S DOLLAR ALSO HIT A THREE-MONTH LOW IN EARLY EUROPEAN TRADING, AS FALLING U-S STOCK PRICES DAMPENED MARKET SENTIMENT TOWARD THE U-S CURRENCY.

EUROPEAN TRADERS SAY ANOTHER DROP IN U-S STOCK PRICES COULD TRIGGER A FURTHER SELL-OFF IN EUROPE AS OVERSEAS MARKETS REASSESS THE BASIC ECONOMIC CONDITIONS IN THE UNITED STATES.

ANALYSTS ARE WATCHING FOR A SERIES OF NEW U-S ECONOMIC FIGURES EXPECTED LATER IN THE DAY. (SIGNED)
NEB/KBK/JWH/RAE
16-Jul-96 7:37 AM EDT (1137 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] U-S-BOSNIA (S ONLY) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: IN SARAJEVO, THE BOSNIAN FEDERATION HAS SIGNED A CONTRACT WITH THE AMERICAN FIRM, MILITARY PROFESSIONAL RESOURCES INCORPORATED, TO BEGIN A PROGRAM TO EQUIP AND TRAIN THE BOSNIAN ARMY. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT.

TEXT: THE PROGRAM, VALUED AT NEARLY 400 MILLION DOLLARS, WILL RUN FOR 13 MONTHS WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF A ONE YEAR EXTENSION BY THE BOSNIAN FEDERATION. STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS SAYS THE CONTRACT WILL GIVE THE BOSNIAN ARMY THE POSSIBILITY TO MATCH THE SERBS.

THE TRAIN-AND-EQUIP PROGRAM, WE BELIEVE, IS AN ESSENTIAL EFFORT TO CREATE A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD FOR THE VARIOUS MILITARY FORCES IN THE AREA ONCE I-FOR (INTERNATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION FORCE) LEAVES. THAT'S WHY WE'VE WORKED SO WELL WITH TURKEY AND SAUDI ARABIA AND OTHER MUSLIM COUNTRIES TO TRY TO BUILD UP SUPPORT FOR THIS PROGRAM.

THE AMERICAN CONTRIBUTION TO THE CONTRACT IS 100 MILLION DOLLARS AND WAS HELD UP FOR MONTHS WHILE FOREIGN FORCES WERE IN BOSNIA AND THEN UNTIL THE MUSLIMS AND CROATS AGREED TO FORM A JOINT ARMY. MEANWHILE, SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER HAS MET AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT WITH ADMIRAL JOSEPH LOPEZ, WHO SUCCEEDS ADMIRAL LEIGHTON SMITH AS COMMANDER OF THE NATO TROOPS IN BOSNIA, TO DISCUSS COMPLIANCE PROBLEMS WITH THE BOSNIA PEACE AGREEMENT. (SIGNED)
NEB/RP/KB/CF
16-Jul-96 2:19 PM EDT (1819 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] YUGO WAR CRIMES (L-ONLY) BY GILLIAN SHARPE (THE HAGUE)

INTRO: THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIAL IN NEARLY HALF A CENTURY RESUMED TUESDAY IN THE HAGUE WITH EYEWITNESS TESTIMONY FROM TWO BOSNIAN MUSLIM SURVIVORS OF THE OMARSKA PRISON CAMP. BOSNIAN SERB DUSAN TADIC IS ACCUSED BY PROSECUTORS AT THE U-N'S WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL OF COMMITTING CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY. GILLIAN SHARPE REPORTS FROM THE HAGUE.

TEXT: THERE IS ONLY ONE COURTROOM AT THE U-N'S WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL AND FOR MUCH OF THE LAST TWO WEEKS, IT HAS BEEN BUSY WITH OTHER MATTERS. BUT AS THE TRIAL OF DUSAN TADIC RESUMED ON TUESDAY, IT WAS IF IT HAD NEVER STOPPED.

THREE JUDGES ARE SITTING AT THE BENCH, PROSECUTION AND DEFENSE LAWYERS AND MR. TADIC HIMSELF, FLANKED BY TWO U-N GUARDS, SITTING IN THE DOCK. HE TOOK CAREFUL NOTES AS 23-YEAR-OLD SEAD HALVADZIC TOLD THE COURT THAT HE HAD BEEN SO FULL OF RAGE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM THAT HE WANTED TO FIND, IN HIS WORDS, "WAR CRIMINALS" AND "KILL THEM ON THE SPOT."

PROSECUTORS SAY MR. TADIC TOOK PART IN THE ETHNIC CLEANSING OF HIS HOMETOWN OF KOZARAC IN 1992 AND MURDERED AND TORTURED PEOPLE AT BOSNIAN SERB PRISON CAMPS IN THE PRIJEDOR AREA OF NORTHWEST BOSNIA.

MR. HALVADRIC TOLD THE COURT THAT AFTER BEING CAPTURED BY BOSNIAN SERB SOLDIERS, HE WAS TAKEN TO THE MILITARY BARRACKS IN PRIJEDOR, WHERE TWO MEN BEAT HIM. ONE OF THEM WAS REFERRED TO BY OTHERS AS "TADIC." AS HE TURNED AROUND, ONE OF THEM GAVE HIM A KARATE BLOW. DUSAN TADIC TAUGHT KARATE IN KOZARAC. MR. HALVADZIC SAID HE SAW THE FACES OF THE TWO MEN BRIEFLY AND HE IDENTIFIED MR. TADIC'S PICTURE FROM A BOOK OF PHOTOS SHOWN TO HIM BY PROSECUTORS. HE WAS NOT ASKED TO MAKE A COURTROOM IDENTIFICATION.

DEFENSE LAWYER STEPHEN KAYE ACCUSED HIM OF LYING. HE SAYS THE WITNESS MUST HAVE SEEN PICTURES OF MR. TADIC IN THE MEDIA AND THE PHOTO I-D IS USELESS.

THE ONLY OTHER WITNESS OF THE DAY, 52-YEAR-OLD STONE MASON KARIM MESIC, ALSO MADE AN IDENTIFICATION FROM A PHOTOGRAPH. A YOUNG PRISONER, HE TOLD JUDGES HAD BEEN SHOT BY A GUARD AT THE OMARSKA PRISON CAMP WHEN HE ASKED FOR BREAD. AFTER THE SHOOTING, A MAN IN CAMOUFLAGE UNIFORM APPROACHED THE GUARD, SMILED AND SAID "HELLO." OTHER PRISONERS WHO WERE FROM KOZARAC TOLD HIM "HERE COMES TADIC AGAIN." HE SAW THE SAME MAN, HE SAID, FOR THE NEXT DAY SITTING WITH HIS FEET UP ON A DESK OUTSIDE AN INTERROGATION ROOM AT THE CAMP.

THE DEFENSE HAS CONSISTENTLY OBJECTED TO THIS KIND OF EVIDENCE AS HEARSAY. BUT THIS TRIAL IS A BENCH -- NOT A JURY -- TRIAL (I.E., JUDGE DECIDES -- NOT JURY) AND JUDGES ARE MORE FLEXIBLE ABOUT WHAT KIND OF EVIDENCE THEY ALLOW TO BE HEARD. THE DEFENSE WANTS THOSE RULES TIGHTENED-UP. AFTER 30 FULL DAYS OF HEARINGS, THERE'S BEEN LITTLE TO DIRECTLY CONNECT DUSAN TADIC WITH THE CRIMES OF WHICH HE IS ACCUSED. BUT THIS IS NO ORDINARY MURDER TRIAL AND UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW, THE PROSECUTION HAS TO ESTABLISH A WIDER CONTEXT.

MUCH OF THE EVIDENCE SO FAR HAS BEEN DESIGNED TO DO THAT. MANY OF THE 16 EYEWITNESSES WHO HAVE BEEN HEARD SO FAR HAVE BEEN FORMER FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS OF MR. TADIC FROM THE TOWN OF KOZARAC. MOST SAY THEY SAW HIM IN PLACES LIKE THE OMARSKA PRISON CAMP, WHERE HE'S ACCUSED OF BEATING AND KILLING PRISONERS. MR. TADIC DENIES EVER BEING THERE. THE TRIAL IS EXPECTED TO LAST SEVERAL MONTHS. (SIGNED)
NEB/GS/PCF/CF
16-Jul-96 2:13 PM EDT (1813 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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