BSU professor testifies in war crimes trial
TABITHA KEILY
Senior Writer
Issue date: 11/29/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 2 next >
|
Considered an expert in the field of Yugoslav history, Miller was chosen to testify in the case against six men who had governed a region of Southern Bosnia called Herzegovina.
Miller said he was chosen to testify in this case because he has a reputation for being fair and balanced.
The defendants included the Prime Minister and his Secretary of Defense.
The trial covered events that occurred in Herzegovina between 1992 and 1995.
The defendants were indicted for mass murder, organized systematic rape as a tool of war, population expulsion and other street level crimes.
In this case, the area had ceded from Bosnia and was operating independently.
The government officials received money and arms from Croatia, using it to violently suppress the non-represented Muslim population in the area.
"They basically destroyed the area in the name of Croatian nationalism," Miller said. "They are now on trial at the Haig in Yugoslavia for those crimes finally, and they deserve whatever they get."
Yugoslavia is a region with a population that has the same ethnic heritage but different nationalist and religious ideas.
These differences were an issue for the country when it was in existence. This led to many wars and the subsequent break up of the country in the 1990s.
The kinds of crimes presented in the trial were common in the Balkans during the 1990s because it was a highly volatile area that has a very violent history.
"This [case] is typical of any corner of Bosnia during the war," Miller said. "You could pick any spot and you'll find that the local authorities took advantage of the war to become richer."
The prosecution asks people who have no connection to either side of the case to testify in trials such as this.
The prosecution asked Miller specific questions regarding the case.
He was required to look at the situation in Bosnia in 1992 and judge what types of violence would have been expected in Bosnia.
He wrote a 40-page report on the case, giving his testimony of the type of violence that occurred as entirely predictable.
Miller was also cross-examined by the defense lawyers, an encounter which he describes as "unpleasant."
"It wasn't exactly fun, but it was interesting," Miller said.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Mark
posted 11/30/07 @ 6:35 AM MST
This article seems to have been written by a very uninformed journalist, or simply reflects the fact that this professor does not know what he is talking about. (Continued…)
warren
Warren
posted 12/01/07 @ 2:41 PM MST
While teaching at Portland State University, my uncle, (Professor Poulsen) spent time in the Yugoslavia and has been watching with keen interest the events of the Haugh war crimes tribunal. (Continued…)
Post a Comment