[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 23 (Monday, March 7, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 7, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                         WAR CRIMES INDICTMENTS

                                 ______


                          HON. STENY H. HOYER

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 7, 1994

  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, last November, I made an urgent plea in this 
room for the immediate investigation of those alleged war criminals in 
the former Yugoslavia about whom the most information has already been 
gathered. I named many of them, men whose names have been made infamous 
through the horrendous deeds they have committed, and I presented the 
pictures of this international most wanted list.
  Unfortunately, efforts to hold such men personally accountable for 
their actions was slowed at the United Nations by the regrettable and 
untimely resignation of the Chief Prosecutor. Now, however, Graham 
Blewitt of Australia has been named to serve as Acting Deputy 
Prosecutor until the Chief Prosecutor can be replaced. In the meantime, 
Blewitt has the authority to proceed with indictments and trails.
  I know that Mr. Blewitt has received, as I have, a copy of a model 
indictment prepared by Peter Thompson, working under the auspices of 
the Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights. It is an impressive document; 
I commend Mr. Thompson and the Advocates for their work on and 
commitment to this project, and I urge others to review their effort.
  The model Mr. Thompson has drafted, which he calls a pattern 
indictment, draws on information already available about war crimes, 
crimes against humanity, and genocide in the Prijedor area of 
northwestern Bosnia. It specifies some 22 individuals, who are named by 
name, and it charges them with one count of conspiracy and 13 counts of 
committing specific crimes. It is, sadly, a gruesome bill of 
particulars. A number of those named, I might add, were among those 
whom I named in this room just a few months ago, including Simo 
Brljaca, Milan Kovacevic, Milomir Stakic, Zeljko Mejahic, Drazenko 
Predejevic, and Mladjo Krkan.
  This pattern indictment for Prijedor takes the contributions of the 
nongovernmental community a step further: It takes the impressive 
information NGO's have been gathering for months and presents it in a 
form suitable for use in a court of law. Without a doubt, Mr. Speaker, 
there can be no possible excuse for the United Nation's war crimes 
tribunal not to proceed at this time.
  There are, unfortunately, no shortage of suspects for the Acting 
Deputy Prosecutor to investigate. And it is certainly within his 
discretion to channel his energies on other cases first, if he believes 
that is merited. What I am most anxious to ensure is that he begin his 
investigations now, and issue indictments soon. Justice should be 
delayed no longer.

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