[Opinion] Crime and Punishment of Dictators

Exactly two years ago, on February 12, 2000, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICYY) based in The Hague, Netherlands, opened a trial against former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic, 62, called the butcher of the Balkans.

War crimes indictee Milosevic was indicted as a war crimes suspect responsible for his role in the Balkan wars of the 1990s, which took 200,000 lives and made 3 million people refugees. Milosevic is also accused of ordering a massacre of ethnic Albanians endorsing greater Serbian nationalism.

The trial has been delayed extensively, with the prosecution finally wrapping up their case on February 19, because of Milosevic’s outstanding rhetoric and cunning moves. He said during a court appearance that, “I am a true pacifist who failed to rid frantic nationalism because of western countries interventions that split the nation.”

He argues that he oppressed Albanians in an effort to fight against terrorists, saying he conducted the war against terrorism earlier than U.S. President George W. Bush. “Not only did Osama bin Laden visit Albania, he sent al-Qaida operatives to Kosovo where many Albanians live. I have evidence,” Milosevic said.

As the trial is broadcast live in Serbia with 30 minutes of time difference, Milosevic is deliberately exploiting it as an opportunity to provoke Serbian nationalism. Foreign media say that whenever Milosevic who defends himself refutes the prosecution’s witnesses, Serbians show their admiration for Milosevic.

Milosevic’s followers assassinated Former Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic, who was accused of being a puppet of western countries by Milosevic during the trial. Moreover, extreme right-wingers not only prevailed over the general elections held last December, but Milosevic won in the elections during imprisonment.

Milosevic’s case illustrates the importance of settling the aftermath after removing a dictator. In that aspect, the trial of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein that will take place soon will be very interesting to watch. A major French magazine, Le Nouvel Observateur, in its first edition of year 2000, featured a piece of fiction that had six major autocrats of the world stand before international tribunals in the 21st century. In the article, Hussein and Milosevic were sentenced as the third and fifth brutal tyrants. In the article, North Korean leader Kim Jong-il was placed in second place.

Paris, Correspondent Park Jae-gyun, phark@donga.com