According to US immigration officials, around 300 emigrants from Bosnia and Herzegovina are suspected of having committed war crimes in the former Yugoslavia, and officials told the New York Times last week that they believe they have grounds to deport at least 150 of them.
However, Obrad Kesić, chief representative in Washington of Republika Srpska, one the of two entities which make up the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, told Politika.rs he is steadfast in his belief that those accused are innocent. "None of these people who for a decade have been hounded and put before court are even suspected of war crimes. They are being hounded just because they wore the uniform of the Serbian Army, or the Army of the Republika Srpska."
"Not everyone who went to Vietnam took part in the massacre at My Lai.," the paper quotes the defense lawyer for one of those accused as saying during court proceedings.
According to reports published in the US on Saturday, immigration officials have identified at least 300 individuals they suspect of having committed war crimes during the war in Yugoslavia, and believe the number of suspects could reach more than 600 as their investigations continue.
