NCJ Number
191759
Journal
Gazette Volume: 63 Issue: 3 Dated: 2001 Pages: 4-6
Date Published
2001
Length
3 pages
Annotation
Representatives of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police were invited to join various European police representatives in Berlin at the first meeting devoted to comparing police investigations of Yugoslavian war crimes.
Abstract
The seminar was organized by the German Federal Police state security section and sponsored by the European Union, along with the German Ministry of the Interior. It brought together more than 32 law enforcement participants from 11 countries as well as observers from the International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia. During the meeting police officers agreed that they shared common experiences in war crime investigations, and they realized that the most difficult aspect is finding relevant and cooperative witnesses. Allegations come through refugee hearings, witness complaints, and media reports. Invariably, relevant witnesses are from outside the country, and access to them may be impeded, not just by distance, but also by legal barriers. Sometimes the veracity and impartiality of witnesses can be an issue because of their interest in the underlying military and ethnic conflict. Continuing polarization of communities and enduring animosity between groups is another problem. Other issues that must be addressed in war crimes investigations are cultural differences, the unavailability of crime scenes, the lack of technical evidence, and the lack of cooperation from local authorities. Canada, along with Germany and Holland, are the countries currently taking an interest in investigating Bosnia-Herzegovina incidents. This article includes an explanation of Canada's Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act, which became law in October, 2000.