UN Tribunal Karadzic: rejoicing at the judgment of life-long

The former Bosnian Serb leader Karadzic wanted to spell a free. However, the UN-judge of the judgment against him to maintain and extend the prison sentence, even life-long.

By Ludger Kazmierczak, ARD-Studio, The Hague,

the last Time he followed the calling of judge Vagn Joensen: "I would like to ask Mr. Karadzic to rise while I read the full Text of the decision in this case." Radovan Karadzic, the former President of the Serb Republic in Bosnia, took his glasses from his head, folded his arms, and heard apparently the judgment of the second instance unmoved.

, The appeals chamber on lifting the 40-year sentence, Joensen "and imposed a sentence of life imprisonment". In the words of the judge great rejoicing breaks out in the public gallery of the court. Survivors of the horrors of War and survivors of the victims react almost redeemed. After nearly ten process years ago, one of the mothers of Srebrenica, "we learn righteousness."

Karadzic heard seemingly unmoved by the verdict of the last instance.

compared with the harsh punishments of military

In determining the sentence, the judge relied on prominent cases from the past, in which Bosnian Serb generals and officers sentenced to life imprisonment. "The incongruity between the Seriousness of the offences and the 40-year sentence is evident if we compare this sentence with the life imprisonment for Tolimir, Beara, Popovic and Galic, which may be responsible for a fraction of the crimes of which Karadzic is guilty," explains Joensen.

but still be acquitted, had Karadzic and his lawyers put forward almost 50 objections to the judgment at first instance. Especially procedural error had complained the defense. Almost all of the arguments rejected by the court.

Written orders of Karadzic were clearly

The former Bosnian Serb leader a right is so strongly convicted war criminals, the so-Joensen - of murder, persecution and deportation of Bosnian Muslims guilty have made. He was responsible for the almost three and a half year siege of Sarajevo and for the Srebrenica massacre.

The evidence is convincing, ruled Joensen, to quote from a Letter from Karadzic to the troops on the ground. This have ordered his units to create "an unbearable Situation of total insecurity with no hope of rescue or Survival for the inhabitants of Srebrenica and Zepa".

Mladics appeal is pending

In the first instance, had also been sentenced, the former military chief of the Bosnian Serb forces, Ratko Mladic, to life imprisonment. Here, the decision of the appeals chamber. In which European country is the 73-year-old Karadzic must serve his sentence, is still unclear. In the Hague, the "file Karadzic can be closed" anyway.