THE HAGUE: Radovan Karadzic boycotted the start of his trial for some of the worst atrocities in Europe since World War II, but the judge said he would proceed without him if he stayed away.
Karadzic has denied 11 war crimes charges arising from the 1992-95 Bosnian war, including one over the 43-month siege of Sarajevo, and two genocide charges for the massacre of 8,000 Muslim men and boys at Srebrenica and for broader atrocities.
The judge adjourned the trial on Monday after 15 minutes and said it would resume Tuesday at 1315 GMT with prosecution opening statements, effectively preparing to try Karadzic, who has chosen to represent himself, in absentia.
Protesters outside the tribunal building in The Hague reacted angrily to Karadzic’s boycott, some complaining that the former psychiatrist was trying to dictate terms to the court.
“It is a mockery,” said Jasna Causevic, of the group Society for Threatened Peoples, who stood with members of about 20 victims groups around a banner with the names of more than 8,000 victims killed at Srebrenica and the words “Europe’s Shame.”
“Karadzic should be brought in pajamas to the court,” Salihovic Nedziba, 56, a Bosnian Muslim from Srebrenica, said. “I need to be told who killed my husband and son.”
The battle of wills at the start of the trial had echoes of the Milosevic trial, where he obstructed proceedings to buy time and gain concessions from the court.
Judges are eager to get the trial of the tribunal’s highest profile defendant under way after his arrest 15 months ago.
Earlier this month, Karadzic appealed for 10 more months to prepare for trial, which the court denied.
“There are circumstances in which trials can proceed in the absence of the accused who has voluntarily waived his right to be present,” Judge O-Gon Kwon of South Korea said, adding he would impose a legal team on Karadzic.
