OCR Text |
Show Listen up News Editor: Kari Lynn Harland Phone: 626-7655 OPEN HOUR Refugee seeks revenge for human rights violations By Julianne Hancock campus affairs editor-The Signpost Wiile Kcmal Mehinovic lay on the ground wishing to die, he never thought he would live to sec his abusers come to justice. Nor did the torturers ever think they would face criminal charges in the United States. Now, there are good chances Nikola Vuckovic will pay for the abuse he served to thousands of victims during the Yugoslavian war. Mehinovic has learned that riches "aren't monetary. They are your happiness, your family, security," he said, through an interpreter, at the Honors Issues Forum Thursday. Weber State University's Amnesty International chapter helped bring Mehinovic on campus through Honors Issues Forum. Thousands of women were raped, children left without their families and wives without their husbands, Mehinovic said. "It is important for me that they know they are not forgotten, that someone is thinking of them and they will not be forgotten," Mehinovic said. Mehinovic 's horrors began in April 1992, when his town of Bosanski-Sumac was invaded as a part of an "ethnic-cleansing campaign." One month later, on May 27, Mehinovic was arrested without a warrant and held in a detention center. For the next 29 months, Mehinovic was beaten severely, dehydrated and starved in various detention camps. In early 1993, Mehinovic was given a kangaroo trial with other Muslim men. They were charged with various crimes. Mehinovic was found guilty of the deaths of several Serb children. He was sentenced to death. Before his sentence could be car Planetarium gives look at heavens through By Anna Conrad news writer-The Signpost A star-speckled sky swirled above audience members Wednesday night as two star shows were presented on the dome-shaped ceiling of the planetarium at Lind Lecture Hall. The presentations provided tips about how to make the most out of backyard star gazing, showed detailed pictures of planets taken by spacecrafts and advanced telescopes and gave information about upcoming events in the world of astrology. Similar shows will be presented by physics majors at WeberState University each Wednesday this semester at 6:30 p.m. In the first show, physics major Jacob Albretscn used a cursor to point out stars, showing the audience how to locate simple constellations in the October sky using the Big Dipper as a guidepost. I le also told stories about how the constellations got their names. Cassiopeia, the first constellation Albretsen discussed, was named after a heroine in Greek mythology. ried out, in October 1994, Mehinovic was taken to Sarajevo in exchange for Serb prisoners. After his release, with his two children and wife, Mehinovic walked 100 miles toward Croatia. There, he was helped by the United States to arrive in Utah July 1 2, 1 995. He is currently employed in Salt Lake City as a maintenance supervisor for a landlord. There have been over 20 cases tried in the United States for violators of human rights since 1980. There are several ways for Mehinovic to seek retaliation against one of the men who abused him while he was held in detention camps over 29 months. His attorney, Shawn Roberts, said there are criminal and civil charges that could be brought against Nikola Vuckovic, Mehinovic's alleged abuser. Civilly, there are two acts that can be used. Vuckovic could be tried under the Aliens Tort Claims Act (1 789), which was originally instituted so United States citizens could try pirates for robbery. Because there was much question surrounding the modem use of this act to try torturers, in 1 992 Congress passed the Torture Victim Protection Act. There is increased pressure for the government to act on the accused, if ample evidence is provided. The United States recently signed a United Nations agreement that says they will deport or prosecute torturers. Roberts, legal director for the Center for International Justice, is seeking compensatory and punitive damages for Mehinovic if a civil suit will be pursued. Compensatory damages, Roberts said, will be "whatever value can be put on the suffering at the hands of this "Cassiopeia was a totally vain-queen," Albretsen said, signaling his special effects crew to outline a group of stars above. "She thought she was all that, better than the gods themselves, so they punished her in several different ways. For one, they put her crown in the sky, opposite to where she was, so she would have to chase it around all year." Albretsen also illustrated a story about how the Great Bear constellation came into existence. Acting out the part of an Indian, he swung a stuffed bear around by the tail and flung it into the sky as children in attendance giggled hysterically. The second presentation, a preprogrammed videotape called "More than Meets the Eye," showed audience members how observations of stars using basic telescopes and binoculars compare with pictures taken from Hubble telescopes and satellites. It also provided basic information about the planets and interesting facts about the universe. For example, according to the videotape, 90 percent of the mass of the galaxy is invisible and scientists don't know what it's made of. John Sohl, director of the plan -Or; 1 l r. 1 1 bO0 AJ -J Kemal Mehinovic greets students man," and the punitive damages are being requested because of the "egregious nature of these crimes." The total amount that could be requested was not released, but in previous cases such as these, as much as $45.5 million has been awarded to the victim. In a criminal case, Vuckovic could be sentenced to life imprisonment. However, Roberts said he will not request the death penalty. In addition, Vuckovic faces temporary deportment under United States fraud provisions. Vuckovic was able to enter the United States, with the aid of a refugee organization, posing as a Bosnian refugee. The application for a visa or temporary asylum in the United States asks if the applicant has been involved in genocide, torture or other human rights violations. If Vuckovic would have answered yes to that question, it is not likely he would be living here today. "We do not know the current im etarium, concluded the evening by telling about some upcoming astrological events. The most recent spacecraft was launched to Mars, Sohl said. Two more will be launched in December and January to probe several feet into the crust of Mars and discover the components of the polar ice caps on Mars. "Mars had a huge source of water at one time," Sohl said. "Why did it go away? Will the Earth someday be like Mars? Learning about Mars will tell us about Earth." Sohl then invited the audience to look at the moon through telescopes on the roof of the science lab. Audience members had mixed opinions about the evening. Leonard Martinez, who came with his wife and children to the program, said he felt the shows were very well done. "My children are home-schooled, so it's good for them, like a little field trip," Martinez said. However, WSU s'udent Amanda CuIHsor said she was somewhat disappointed with the show. "I thought I'd learn more about finding constellations, but I did hear a lot of stories," Cullison said. migration status of Vuckovic," Roberts said. While there is increased pressure on the United States to act upon residents who are known violators, many cases such as these slip through the cracks. The government bureaus who deal with the cases will not pursue any complaints, but try to reveiw each and ! decide what is the best action. Roberts described two such cases that weren't delt with correctly. In one, an Ethiopian torturer was identified by a woman while he was employed at a i hotel. She and two other women who : were abused won a lawsuit against i him, but he was still granted a visa. "We are getting impatient with the government," Roberts said. "We hope they will take their responsibilities seriously."Roberts says there are political considerations that the government must beware of. "In some cases, the United States helped fund some of the operations without knowing it." Mehinovic and Roberts hope Vuckovic will be prosecuted criminally."He does not deserve to live anywhere with the rest of mankind," Roberts said. Mehinovic's case is strengthened by the fact that "many people who he abused are begining to come out of the woodworks," Roberts said. Vuckovic's only reaction to the case is a statement that he was only doing what his supervisors commanded him to do. Mehinovic said there was something in Vuckovic's eyes that told him the abuse was Vuckovic's will. "He beat everyone, young, old and those who couldn't defend themselves. They were animals. "There is something in all of this Josh and Meagan (above) get a look at the heavens above at the Ott Planetarium Wednesday night. Mike Christian (right) also joined in to look at the stars and hear stories behind the naming of the constellations. . .ih'li .' r I ''' ' h : ,'f 1 f - T. is -'T;, '! '- , M 1 that lacks human reason," Mehinovic said. He said that he held on and was able to survive the torture because he had hope that "one day, human reason would be restored." While International Criminal Tribunal at the Hague deals with many human rights violation cases, it is highly unlikely this will come to their attention. "The International Criminal Tribunal is strapped," Roberts said. They are forced to make decisions about who to indict and who to leave to individual, nations. For the most part, they try to indict officials who assisted in the planning stages of the abuse. Vuckovic's leader turned himself into the Hague and is awaiting trial, scheduled for the beginning of 1999. Mehinovic said that he is not afraid anymore. "I don't feel vulnerable. There are many more of us here. He has no money or power to organize anything against me." Roberts feels the most important thing is that the truth come out right now. If the case fails, the Center for Justice and Accountability will begin a letter writing campaign or something of the like to raise awareness. The best thing for students to do is be aware, Roberts said. "Alert people who may be in the position to help." Amnesty International also encouraged students to join in their campaign."Until there is acknowledgment of pain, the society can't heal and rebuild itself. There can be no healing until justice takes place," Roberts said. A photographer from the ABC news magazine show "2020" was also at the forum. "2020" is documenting Mehinovic's case for a piece to be aired at an unknown time. telescope ! f I Hi i .it. a v |