Impact: Report About Arkan

Call Number
350-1-1:462/1

General information

Call No.:
350-1-1:462/1
Part of series
HU OSA 350-1-1 Records of the International Monitor Institute: Europe: Balkan Archive
Located at
BetaSP NTSC #462 / No. 1
Digital ver. identifier
HU_OSA_00000462
Date of air
1997-06-01
Date
1997
Level
Item
Primary Type
Moving image
Language
English
Duration
24 min.
Notes
sponsored by Soros program "How to be citizens", arrogant, provocative, quality pop music

Content

Form/Genre
Television program
Contents Summary
This short documentary focuses on Zeljko Raznjatovic, otherwise known as "Arkan," and his Serbian paramilitary group, the Serbian Volunteer Guard, also referred to as "the Tigers." Arkan's life is chronicled, showing a criminal record that began during his youth and spans his entire career. The report details how he was hired at a young age by the Yugoslav Interior Ministry's State Intelligence after being arrested repeatedly. The many crimes Arkan committed in Western European countries while working as an intelligence officer and hitman are recounted, explaining why he is wanted by Interpol for crimes throughout the continent, even mentioning an escape from prison. Arkan's transition to paramilitary commander is also covered, focusing on the formation of his Serbian Volunteer Guard. Training footage of the Tigers is combined with photographs of murdered, unarmed civilians in the Bosnian town of Bijeljina. The relationship of support between Arkan and Slobodan Milosevic's central Belgrade government is also discussed, focusing in particular on the role the Tigers played during the initial outbreaks of the wars in Croatia and Bosnia. The uneasy relationship between Arkan's special forces and Serbian Yugoslav Army (YA) generals is also highlighted. Atrocities committed by Arkan's Tigers are cited, including civilian witness testimony. Witness testimonies from Bijeljina are used to contrast the new image Arkan has pursued through a current seat in Parliament and as public hero. Richard Holbrooke, U.S. Peace Envoy to the Balkans; Cherif Bassiouni, UN Commission of Experts; Milos Vasic, Belgrade Journalist; and others comment on Arkan's impunity. The program concludes by posing the question of why Arkan has yet to be indicted by the UN War Crimes Tribunal in the Hague.

Context

Associated Names
CNN (Copyright holder, Creator/Author, Producer)