International Criminal Tribunals for War Crimes Progress

Several developments occurred during September and October, 2003, pertaining to war crimes tribunals in Rwanda and Yugoslavia. On October 6, Hassan Jallow began work on the UN International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR). His appointment as prosecutor is significant as it creates separate tribunals for crimes in Rwanda and those in Yugoslavia (ICTY), and because he worked on the Sierra Leone tribunal. On October 3, forensic experts unearthed the remains of 629 Muslim victims of the 1992-1995 Bosnian war. On October 20, a judge lifted the confidentiality order on the indictment of former army commander, Nebojsa Pavkovic. On October 23, Vladimir Kovacevic was transferred to the ICTY detention unit. He was apprehended in Serbia the previous September after fleeing capture for two and half years. His indictment alleges that he led attacks on the Dubrovnik region of Croatia, leading to unlawful destruction of historic or charitable properties and the death of numerous civilians.