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CNN Live At Daybreak

Journalist Cross-examined in War Crimes Trial

Aired August 28, 2002 - 05:33   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: A journalist is being cross-examined today in the war crimes trial of former Yugoslav leader Slobodan Milosevic. The testimony raises concerns that correspondents could run the risk of being killed in war if they are regarded as potential witnesses.
Our Chris Burns joins us live by phone with the latest from the Hague -- good morning.

CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

Some very sharp exchanges here in court, a precedent setting hearing today in which a journalist was cross-examined over what she filed from Kosovo during the Kosovo conflict in this trial to determine whether Slobodan Milosevic is guilty or not of war crimes in that conflict.

Sharp exchanges were Milosevic was taking that, some of the tape that Jacky Rowland of the BBC had filed when she was there, some of the tape showing calm streets in Pristina, where, the capital there, where Milosevic was saying well, this is showing normalization of life in Pristina. This doesn't show wild Serbs killing people.

The judge, Richard May, coming back saying, well, this, you can only ask Ms. Rowland what she saw herself, not interspersed with comments. Slobodan Milosevic coming back saying well, you don't see any police deporting people, chasing people in the streets. What is your impression?

Ms. Rowland coming back saying police officers, if they beat or expelled anyone, they wouldn't do it in front of a TV camera.

So now both sides are trying to use the evidence there from these reports by Jacky Rowland, who was eventually expelled after being very much censored, like all of us were when we were there in Kosovo, but the court trying to use this evidence as indicating perhaps that a prison, at a prison that was bombed by NATO during the Kosovo conflict, some of the victims there were perhaps not killed by NATO bombs, but were killed by Serb authorities.

And this is where Jacky Rowland' observation was that about 20 bodies were in civilian clothing and their trousers pulled down to their underwear, which she said was very disturbing and perhaps indicating that perhaps they were not killed by NATO bombs.

This is what the prosecution is trying to use to nail Mr. Milosevic. Mr. Milosevic firing right back, saying that these reports do not indicate that.

Very sharp exchanges and, of course, this question over whether journalists should be testifying. There is another case with a "Washington Post" former correspondent where he is being summoned by this court to testify in a genocide trial against a Bosnian Serb.

Thirty-four news organizations, including CNN and the BBC, say that he should not be forced to do so. This is also a test case -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Because obviously that would present a danger to journalists when they're covering future wars, right?

BURNS: That is the question. In fact, even the question with Jacky Rowland appearing, does this mean that journalists in the future could be seen as potential witnesses in future war crimes trials if they cover a conflict? A very important question that all of us should be asking.

COSTELLO: Definitely.

Chris Burns, thank you for reporting live this morning from the Hague.

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