June 12: The 52 years old political leader Milan Martic of self declared Republic of Serbian Krajina has been sentenced 35 years of jail by international war crimes tribunal in Hague. Martic was found guilty of several war crimes including murder, persecution, forced displacement and destruction of life and property, during his leadership from 1991 to 1995.
Martic started as a local political chief and organised a civilian militant outfit at the time of Croatia’s independence in 1990. Martic represented ethnic Serbian minority and demanded the formation of Serbian Autonomous District called Krajina.
Martic surrendered in 2005 and was soon transferred to an international tribunal. Soon after Croatia gained its independence an estimated 75,000 Croats and non Serbs lived in and around Krajina. Martic was alleged for mass expulsion and torture of the Croats and non Serbs in Krajina.
According to the tribunal Martic had intentionally created fear in the minds of the Croats and non Serbs and had deliberated attempts to expel them from the region.
Judge Bakone Moloto described the offence and stated that Martic had committed crimes against all including senior citizens, people held in detention and civilians.
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