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Radovan Karadzic autograph: To catch a fugitive |
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Written by Anders Tvegard
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Monday, 09 November 2009 |
To catch a fugitive
by Anders Tvegard, Oslo
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He was on my top ten wanted list and also one of the world's most wanted men. When he finally was captured after almost 13 years on the run and brought to a detention unit in Netherlands I felt I had almost succeeded too. However it took many letters before war crimes suspect Radovan Karadzic finally replied. Karadzic was the first president (1992-96) of the Republika Srpska in Bosnia Herzegovina. He is accused of the Srebrenica massacre (the killing of more than 8000 men and boys in 1995) and war crimes committed against non-Serbs in Bosnia. One could imagine that people in custody would appreciate letters and have a lot of time, at least enough, to write back. From my experience only the first applies. Another prominent president held in custody was Slobodan Milosevic. When in-office I never heard anything from him. Not even when in the Hague. But after my sixth letter to the detention unit I got a note from his international secretary in 2003 stating "...frankly he (President Milosevic) never cared very much about sending nor giving autographs". Instead I got a facsimile of the president's signature. There are many former leaders currently imprisoned or in house arrest: Charles Taylor of Liberia has ignored my requests so far. Also Chad's Hissene Habre, who cannot move freely in Dakar, nor the detained leaders of the Khmer Rouge held in Phnom Penh. Manuel Noriega, however, replied from his cell. As a curiosity so did Carlos Ramirez Sanchez known as the Jackal. But with this year's success having received a reply from one of the most wanted men I will not give up hope of reaching those behind bars.
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Last Updated ( Monday, 09 November 2009 )
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Autograph Article 
