NUŽDIĆ: PRACTICE OF BELITTLING SERB VICTIMS CONTINUES

ISTOČNO SARAJEVO, MAY 28 /SRNA/ – The acquittal of former commander of the 43rd Brigade of the so-called Army of BiH, Ramiz Duraković, for crimes against Serb civilians in the Čajniče area continues the practice of belittling both Serb victims and the Serb people in general, acting director of the Republika Srpska Research Centre of War, War Crimes and Missing Persons Viktor Nuždić told SRNA.

Nuždić stated that the explanation of the Appellate Chamber of the Court of BiH that the crime undoubtedly occurred, but that the person who ordered the operation had neither direct nor indirect knowledge, is not only absurd but also insulting to the intelligence of every person. "Such a judgment is not only a mockery of law and justice, but also of common sense," Nuždić said. According to him, this is neither the first nor the last time that the Court of BiH’s judgments contain the formulation, “the crime undoubtedly occurred, but…”, noting that the “but” sometimes refers to poor prosecutorial work, lack of evidence, or the court’s improper evaluation of facts. "However, the outcome is always the same - there is no justice for Serbs," Nuždić stressed. He added that this is precisely why the Republika Srpska Research Centre of War, War Crimes and Missing Persons has documented crimes against Serbs, primarily on the basis of documentation from the Republika Srpska Ministry of Interior and its institutions, as well as through its own investigations. "These investigations will remain as a permanent reminder to future generations and as testimony to the truth about the war in BiH, because it is evident that those entrusted with law and justice have no intention of carrying out that responsibility," Nuždić concluded. The Appellate Chamber of the Court of BiH today acquitted former commander Ramiz Duraković of war crimes against Serb civilians in the Čajniče area in 1993, stating that it was not proven he had knowledge of the crimes committed.