War criminal's presidential bid

A FORMER Muslim war leader from Bosnia who is serving a 20-year sentence for war crimes in neighbouring Croatia launched a bid as a presidential candidate in next month's Bosnian elections from his jail cell today.

Fikret Abdic, who pledged last month to conduct his campaign from prison, kicked off with a statement on high unemployment in Bosnia that was released by his party, the People's Democratic Union (DMZ).

"The DNZ program will give the economy and employment a chance to take off," he said, criticising what he called the inertia of the Bosnian leadership.

Abdic, 63, who has both Croatian and Bosnian citizenship, is held at the prison in Karlovac, 35km south-west of the Croatian capital Zagreb.

He was jailed there on July 31 this year for war crimes against civilians and prisoners of war in the north-western Bosnian town of Bihac during the 1992-1995 war.

He's only considered a war criminal because he fought against the separatist Sarajevo government, and didn't liquidate his neighbors because they were Serb. And it was the policy of the Muslims from the get-go to kill their Serb neighbors. Mass graves of headless Serbs all around Sarajevo. Muslim refugees recorded on tape in Boston admitting how they along with the Croats, attacked, killed, and ethnically cleansed the Serbs right when the war began. Then these Muslims were themselves ethnically cleansed and imprisoned by their initial allies, the Croats. Read it here: http://www.angelfire.com/nt/natosux/david.html

The Pakrac region Croats did force my Serb friends' family and her Serb neighbors to to temporarily leave in late 1991. While home on leave in 1988, I met her and she told of times the Croats would mark houses with Chetnik symbols to ID non-Croats (aka Serbs). I can't ask her the name of her village just outside of Pakrac as she and her husband moved away and I lost contact of them.

There was a tit-for-tat killings on both ends. My friends 1st W.Slavonian Special Troops were there in 91-92. War is hell, you survive by creating hell and to instill fear into others so as not to return as the case of this conflict.

While home on leave in 1988, I met her and she told of times the Croats would mark houses with Chetnik symbols to ID non-Croats (aka Serbs).

So the Croats were already preparing by 1988? Wonders said that in either August 1990 or August 1991 she, as a UN officer, was personally aware of a torture/death camp around Pakrac were Croats were killing Serbs.

Wonders, have you ever dug out your old notes on Croatia from those boxes you mentioned. Hoplite and I have been waiting and waiting to see if it was 1990 or 1991.

Hi joan!

Thanks for the post. Actually, the one I have close and verifiable knowledge of was in Sisak.

Pakrac I know quite a bit about, but it's second- and third-hand knowledge (from both sides), and I didn't gather any evidence or anything. I wasn't stationed there, it wasn't my job, couldn't have. So far as I know, Pakrac was horrifying, but not nearly so methodical as Sisak. Again, I don't know all there is to know for sure. Just what was brought to my attention during my time there.

Sorry, the mystery remains. I did manage to go through a few boxes, but didn't find THE box yet. (Did find some other interesting stuff, though, including the picture of my "Most Inspirational Granny" -- maybe I can upload it and post it here as a tribute to her -- what an incredible lady she was!) Hope I'll find THE box when I return from Tennessee next week.

Again, I apologise to all for my faulty memory. Funny, two years ago, I could have cited the place, date, day, year, etc., with absolute certainly. Now some of those things have faded and got transposed in my mind. Other memories are still so sharp and precise, though, seems they'll never go away. (I guess Wraith might understand me on this... someday if not now.)

This has nothing to do with any Santas or Easter Bunnies, so stop being obnoxious about it.

It happened, and many Croats, including prominent Croat journalists and politicians, know it happened. You should know what sort of town Sisak is. Kinda like the worst part of Pittsburg (well, if there is a "worst part" of Pittsburg anymore!). I hardly lump all Croats into that ilk, anymore than I lump all Americans into the ilk who populate the worst part of Pittsburg.

But it did happen, and it didn't happen without the permission, if not instigation, of a much "higher authority," if you get my drift. Name of jofran, if I recall correctly ;)

The actual question is, did it begin in August of 1990 or 1991? That is where my poor memory has failed me. I have the documentation. Just need to dig it up. Will post as soon as I find it. I'm leaning toward 1991, but won't say for sure until I check my notes and the copies of my reports. I want to be correct here and not make a mistake because I can't remember precisely anymore.

I'm being honest and polite. I ask the same of you.

Great to hear from you wonders. Time conquers all including us. The trick is to resist it as much as possible. I was through Pacrac quite a few times back in 1992. Stayed at the Thermal Hotel and got to enjoy the hot springs there. The Hotel in Pacracs was devastated what a mess. Most of my work focused just across the Sava River Bridge into Mother Bosnia but frequently past through Okucani, Pacracs then up to Duravar for a break and a cold pivo. Glad to see you are still with us. Be talking to you. J.

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