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Transfer of Miroslav Deronjic

Press Release. Communiqué de presse

(Exclusively for the use of the media. Not an official document)


REGISTRY:
GREFFE:


The Hague, 8 July 2002

CC/P.I.S./685e


TRANSFER OF MIROSLAV DERONJIC


The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) confirms that on Monday, 8 July 2002, Miroslav Deronjic was transferred to its Detention Unit, following his detention on 7 July by SFOR forces in Bratunac, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Deronjic was detained pursuant to an Indictment issued against him on 3 July 2002 and sealed until it was served on him by a
representative of the ICTY.


According to the Indictment, Miroslav Deronjic, was born on 6 June 1954 in the Municipality of Bratunac, Bosnia and Herzegovina. In 1992, during the conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina, he was President of the Bratunac Municipal Board of the SDS ("Serbian Democratic Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina"). Miroslav Deronjic was President of the Bratunac Crisis Staff in May 1992, a
position that put him in effective control over the command and use of the territorial defence ("TO") of the Municipality of Bratunac on 9 May 1992.


According to the Indictment, in the spring of 1992 armed conflict between Serbs and non-Serbs broke out in the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, including the Municipality of Bratunac. As part of the conflict, Bosnian Serb forces, Yugoslav People’s Army forces ("JNA"), and paramilitary forces carried out widespread and systematic attacks on the civilian population of this region.
The Municipality of Bratunac was taken over by Bosnian Serb forces on 17 April 1992 and a systematic effort was launched to disarm the Bosnian Muslim population of the municipality, which was completed by the end of April 1992. Glogova was a small village located in the Bratunac Municipality, a few kilometres from the city of Bratunac.


In late April and early May 1992 the Bosnian Muslim villagers of Glogova were disarmed. The Indictment alleges that on the evening of 8 May 1992 Miroslav Deronjic, gave the order to attack the village of Glogova and burn it down. In the early morning of 9 May 1992, members of the Bratunac TO, members of the JNA and others, working in concert, surrounded the village of Glogova and
initially bombarded it with artillery. Thereafter, the Indictment alleges that the attacking forces entered the village on foot and took control of the village. The Bosnian Muslim villagers, who previously had been disarmed, offered no resistance. The attacking forces then allegedly set fire to Bosnian Muslim houses, buildings and the mosque. The Bosnian Muslim portion of the village
of Glogova was razed to the ground. Miroslav Deronjic was present during the attack on Glogova.


Charges


The indictment charges the accused on the basis of individual criminal responsibility (Article 7(1) of the Statute of the Tribunal) and superior criminal responsibility (Article 7(3)) with:


Two counts of crimes against humanity (Article 5 – persecutions; murder)


Four counts of violations of the laws and customs of war (Article 3 – murder; wanton destruction of cities, towns or villages; destruction of institutions dedicated to religion; attack of an undefended village)


The initial appearance of Miroslav Deronjic will be announced in due course.


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