Page 1599
1 Thursday, 7 June 2007
2 [Open session]
3 [The accused entered court]
4 [The witness entered court]
5 --- Upon commencing at 9.05 a.m.
6 JUDGE PARKER: Good morning. Judge Thelin is not able to sit
7 today, and I think that will be the case tomorrow as well. But in the
8 expectation that at least by Monday he will able to resume and continue
9 sitting, the Chamber is taking -- has taken the view that this is a case
10 in which it should continue today and tomorrow pursuant to Rule 15 bis.
11 Good morning, sir.
12 THE WITNESS: Good morning.
13 JUDGE PARKER: Would you please stand, and would you read the
14 affirmation on the card that is offered to you.
15 THE WITNESS: Certainly. I solemnly declare that I will speak the
16 truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
17 JUDGE PARKER: Thank you. Please sit down, and Mr. Saxon will
18 take over at this point.
19 MR. SAXON: Your Honours, before I begin with the witness, it is
20 the Prosecution's sad duty to inform the Chamber that last night
21 Mr. Mettraux was correct and the Prosecution was wrong regarding the
22 paragraph 08 in the consolidated witness statement.
23 JUDGE PARKER: I don't think that you need be sad that
24 Mr. Mettraux is right. No doubt he is feeling satisfied, but these sorts
25 of oversights can occur without the need for sadness, just a need for
Page 1600
1 frank acceptance.
2 MR. SAXON: Absolutely, Your Honour. And the Prosecution will
3 keep its upper lip stiff and move on.
4 The Prosecution's suggest, and I believe Mr. Mettraux will agree,
5 is that if the Trial Chamber determines that the consolidated witness
6 statement of this witness should be admitted, that the record be noted
7 that paragraph 08 should not form part of the record.
8 JUDGE PARKER: That is the necessary consequence given the present
9 procedural orders; and as I think was indicated last evening, it will be
10 for the -- your own decision whether in any oral questioning of the
11 witness you wish to pursue that subject matter or not.
12 So you better move on to identify the statement or move formally,
13 or is that what you feel you have now done.
14 MR. SAXON: No, Your Honour. I have some questions of the
15 witness.
16 JUDGE PARKER: Exactly, yes.
17 WITNESS: HENRY BOLTON
18 Examination by Mr. Saxon:
19 Q. Sir, your name is Henry Bolton?
20 A. Yes.
21 Q. And are you are a citizen of the United Kingdom?
22 A. I am.
23 Q. And in 2001 and 2002, you were employed by the international
24 organisation known as the OSCE?
25 A. That's correct.
Page 1601
1 Q. And, specifically, you were working in Macedonia at that time,
2 right?
3 A. Yes.
4 Q. And do you recall that in August of 2003 and the first part of
5 2006, you gave witness statements to representatives of the Office of the
6 Prosecutor?
7 A. I recall that, yes.
8 Q. And do you recall more recently, just last month, those two
9 witness statements were effectively consolidated, and you signed the
10 so-called consolidated witness statement pursuant to Rule 92 ter?
11 A. Yes, I recall that.
12 Q. And when did you that, after you did that, did you also make some
13 addendums or additions or corrections to your consolidated witness
14 statement?
15 A. I did.
16 Q. And were those additions or corrections recorded in another
17 document dated the 18th of May, 2007?
18 A. Yes. I don't recall the exact date, but, yes, in May, mid-May.
19 Q. And when read together, would these two statements -- and did you
20 the opportunity to review what you were signing in your own language,
21 before you signed them?
22 A. Yes, I did.
23 Q. And together would this consolidated witness statement and the
24 addendum form what you would say before this Court this morning if you
25 were to testify orally?
Page 1602
1 A. They would provide an accurate account of the events, as I know
2 them to be, yes.
3 MR. SAXON: And, Your Honour, at this time, I would move for the
4 admission under Rule 92 ter of Mr. Bolton's consolidated witness statement
5 and the addendum thereto. We have copies.
6 JUDGE PARKER: With the deletion of one paragraph.
7 MR. SAXON: With the deletion of paragraph 08 in the consolidated
8 witness statement.
9 JUDGE PARKER: It will be admitted.
10 THE REGISTRAR: The statement will become Exhibit 236.1, and the
11 addendum will become Exhibit P236.2.
12 JUDGE PARKER: Thank you.
13 MR. SAXON: Your Honours, Witness Henry Bolton is a British
14 citizen who served as head of the OSCE field office in Radishani,
15 Macedonia in 2001. The area of responsibility of this field office
16 included the village of Ljuboten. Mr. Bolton's current occupation is
17 senior border issues advisor with the OSCE secretariat in Vienna.
18 On the 10th of August, 2001, the witness heard an explosion from
19 the direction of Ljuboten. Mr. Bolton attempted to enter Ljuboten to
20 investigate, but was prevented from doing so. On 11 August 2001, the
21 witness heard small arms fire, mortar fire, and explosions in the areas of
22 Ljubotenski Bacila and Ljubanka Reka. On the 12th of August, 2001, the
23 witness observed extensive small arms fire and mortar and grenade
24 detonations in Ljuboten.
25 The witness was unable to gain access to Ljuboten until 14 August
Page 1603
1 2001. On that day, the witness saw five bodies in Ljuboten, three of
2 which were in a field to the north of the village. The bodies were
3 dressed in civilian clothes and had numerous gunshot wounds. The witness
4 observed damage to and destruction of property, including homes, farm
5 machinery, and livestock.
6 The witness speaks of the possible cause and manner of death of
7 the dead persons and evidence of weaponry used during the attack. The
8 witness states that he found no evidence of prepared physical defences in
9 the village of Ljuboten or evidence of exchanges of fire in the areas
10 where the bodies were found.
11 The witness's evidence also addresses the following topics: The
12 centralisation of authority and chain of command within the Macedonian
13 Ministry of Interior; the Croatian operation and chain of command of
14 special units of the Macedonian Ministry of Interior; police operations
15 during the year 2001; and case management within the Ministry of Interior.
16 Could we please show the witness what is -- before we do that,
17 Your Honour, we have several binders containing copies of the documents
18 which we will use with the witness this morning, if I could ask the
19 usher's assistance to distribute them to you.
20 And if I could ask the court officer's assistance to show the
21 witness what is tab 1 in the Judge's binder. It's Rule 65 ter numbers
22 691.1 and 691.2. It has the ERN range in English N001-5590 through 5601.
23 We can start with this page; that's all right.
24 Q. Mr. Bolton, if you can perhaps help us, please, just for a moment,
25 while you were working with the OSCE in the summer of 2001, did you become
Page 1604
1 familiar with an organisation or agency known as the Crisis Management
2 Centre?
3 A. Yes, I did.
4 Q. And what was the Crisis Management Centre?
5 A. The Crisis Management Centre Organised was a body, I believe, that
6 was run or organised by the Ministry of Defence of Macedonia and provided
7 for an interagency coordination and response to the crisis and provided
8 for an interface between the Macedonian authorities involved with the
9 crisis and the international community.
10 Q. And in the course of your duties, as a member of the OSCE, did you
11 have occasion to receive reports that were produced by the Crisis Centre?
12 A. I did.
13 MR. SAXON: Can we move to what is probably two pages further on
14 in this range, N001-5590, please. It's a little bit -- the problem is the
15 diagram on the right-hand side. We're losing -- we're missing a bit of
16 the right side of the diagram, but let's start with this for now.
17 Q. We see in the centre, this particular diagram is entitled
18 "Organisational Set-up of the Centre." We see the president at the top,
19 the Security Council below that, principle coordination committee below
20 that, and then we see the Crisis Management Centre. Do you see what I'm
21 speaking about on the screen in front of you?
22 A. I do, yeah.
23 Q. To the right, do you notice there is a box, and it says "Minister
24 of Interior." Do you see that?
25 A. It's not very clear, but, yes, I do.
Page 1605
1 Q. And below that there are three letters, CGS, and then arrows
2 pointing to the Crisis Management Centre. Do you know what the acronym
3 "CGS" stood for?
4 A. In this particular case, I'm not certain, but I understand
5 generally that that acronym stands for Chief of General Staff.
6 Q. Before the line that says "Crisis Management Centre," there's the
7 word "Plans," and then below that, we see two acronyms. One says "MOI,"
8 and the other says "MOD." At that time, what did the letters MOI stand
9 for, to your knowledge?
10 A. Ministry of Interior.
11 Q. And the letters MOD?
12 A. Ministry of Defence.
13 Q. And if we look a bit over on the right-hand side of the diagram,
14 there is a word in black that says "Coordination," and below that the
15 letters "IC" with a slash "Allies." Do you see that?
16 A. I do.
17 Q. Below that we see several abbreviations: EUMM; we see OSCE; K4;
18 NCCC; et cetera. Can you explain why these organisations were listed
19 here?
20 A. There was a coordination mechanism between the international
21 agencies present in Macedonia at that time, and this is list of those
22 organisations and bodies, including it goes on to bilateral; that is,
23 interested bilateral diplomatic missions.
24 Q. And was information regularly shared during the crisis between
25 organisations such as the OSCE and the Crisis Management Centre?
Page 1606
1 A. It was.
2 MR. SAXON: If we could move to the next page of this ERN range,
3 please.
4 Q. This appears to be a cover letter coming from the Republic of
5 Macedonia Crisis Management Centre. It's dated Skopje, July 27, 2001,
6 and the subject is "Summary of the events in the crisis areas in the
7 Republic of Macedonia since the establishment of cease-fire, July 5th,
8 2001." Do you see that?
9 A. I do.
10 Q. Do you personally recall this particular document?
11 A. As I see it there, that was a standard cover document for a report
12 that was written on a daily basis. But that particular one, as it stands
13 there, is the same as all the others that we produced.
14 Q. All right.
15 MR. SAXON: If we can move to the next page, please, 5592. It is
16 another document. Well, that appears to be an error. No, but this is
17 part of the same document, actually. It's all -- it's why it is part of
18 the same ERN range.
19 Q. If you could take a look at the document, the page that is in
20 front of you right now, again, it's from the Crisis Management Centre,
21 situation in the crisis areas after the cease-fire of July 5, 2001.
22 Can you tell us what was the cease-fire that was enacted on the
23 5th of July, generally?
24 A. Yeah. This was the agreement brokered by the international
25 community to seize hostilities between what we were referring to as ethnic
Page 1607
1 Albanian armed groups and the Macedonian security forces.
2 Q. You used the term "ethnic Albanian armed groups." Who were you
3 actually referring to when you use this term?
4 A. It's safe to say that we were talking about the NLA, the National
5 Liberation Army.
6 Q. And tis term "ethnic Albanian armed groups," why did you and your
7 organisation decide to use this term?
8 A. This was a decision that was, I think, made by the internationally
9 community generally, and was a generic term to cover all Albanian armed
10 groups.
11 Q. And was there a particular problem perhaps of referring to the NLA
12 in your reports, a particular problem with their acronym?
13 A. There was a problem in that the translation into Macedonian
14 actually became the same as the acronym for the Kosovo Liberation Army.
15 Q. I see. And so was the term "ethnic Albanian armed groups" a
16 method of avoiding confusing these two groups?
17 A. Yes, it was.
18 Q. You see below there is a line there, it says, "Inhabited places in
19 which the terrorists exercised control on the day of the cease-fire." Do
20 you see that?
21 A. I do.
22 Q. And then there is a list of villages below that. Do you see that?
23 A. Yes.
24 MR. SAXON: If we could go to the next page, please.
25 Q. And, again, we see a line saying, "Inhabited places besides the
Page 1608
1 aforementioned in which the terrorists exercised control after the
2 cease-fire," and then we see a number of place names below that. Further
3 on down the page, there is a heading. It says, "Definition of Terms." Do
4 you see that?
5 A. I do.
6 Q. And it says: "Exercising control means establishing alternative
7 structures of authority by the terrorists through restraining freedom of
8 movement and maltreatment of citizens by establishing check-points,
9 establishing authority bodies in the so-called liberated territories."
10 Mr. Bolton, help us with this. While you were working with the
11 OSCE in 2001, did the OSCE ever calculate the number of villages that were
12 controlled, so to speak, by the NLA?
13 A. Yes, we did. Not only the OSCE, this was done in conjunction with
14 other international organisations as well, and the Macedonian authorities.
15 And we came to a figure which I believe was 138. It was somewhere between
16 135 and 140.
17 Q. And that number refers to different villages?
18 A. Different villages, and we applied the principle that the police
19 did not have access or were able to carry out their duties in those areas.
20 Q. And when you say you "applied that principle," was that was the
21 definition that you and other members of the international community used
22 in terms of defining where the NLA exercised control?
23 A. Yes.
24 Q. Below that paragraph, we see a line saying "General features of
25 the conditions after this are as follows," and then a number of subjects
Page 1609
1 are mentioned, and talking about sporadic shooting, attacks against the
2 security forces of Macedonia, free redeployment of the armed groups from
3 one location to another, reinforcement of the defence positions by
4 strengthening the fortifications, et cetera.
5 MR. SAXON: And if we can turn to the next page, move to the next
6 page, please.
7 Q. And if you look at subheading 2 at the top of the next page, I'll
8 wait for the Macedonian version to come up on the screen. There it is.
9 Subheading 2 there lists "Exercising control by establishing
10 alternative authority structures by the terrorists," and below that we
11 see: "Restraining treatment of movement, maltreatment of citizens by
12 establishes check-points, establishing authority bodies in the so-called
13 liberated areas, improved self-confidence of the terrorists, which
14 suggests the wish to establish alternative mechanisms of law an order."
15 While you were working in Macedonia, during the crisis in 2001,
16 did you observe these different dynamics that are listed here?
17 A. I did.
18 MR. SAXON: If we could turn to the next page, please.
19 Q. This is a chart produced by the Crisis Centre, titled,
20 "Non-compliance with the cease-fire in the crisis areas." There's a
21 total at the bottom, a total of 788 separate violations.
22 MR. SAXON: And if we could then move to what is ERN 5599, three or
23 four pages further along, and if we could perhaps focus on the bottom of
24 this page, please. Part of the same report.
25 Q. You see there there's a subheading titled "Tetovo Crisis Area."
Page 1610
1 Why was Tetovo considered part of the crisis area? What was going on
2 there?
3 A. Tetovo had been a centre of difficulties, exchanges of fire,
4 abductions, and so on. It was one of the most intense areas of the
5 overall crisis area at that time.
6 Q. Were there parts of Tetovo that were effectively controlled, to
7 use the definition of your organisation, by the NLA?
8 A. If I can divide it slightly. There is the town ever Tetovo itself
9 which, was mostly controlled by the Macedonians; but the outlying areas,
10 particularly to the south, the west, and the north of Tetovo, were
11 controlled by the NLA.
12 MR. SAXON: Can we move, please, to N001-5601, which is two pages
13 further.
14 Q. And here on this page -- I'm waiting for the Macedonian version to
15 arrive.
16 MR. SAXON: Your Honours, I have been advised that for some reason
17 the Macedonian original version of this page is not available. The
18 Defence counsel have hard copies of both the English and Macedonian
19 version, I believe, but I may stand to be corrected. I do not.
20 MR. METTRAUX: We only have the English version, Your Honour.
21 MR. SAXON: Will the Chamber allow me to proceed, Your Honour,
22 with a couple of questions about this page.
23 JUDGE PARKER: Yes, but I trust that you will remedy the
24 deficiency, ensuring that is available to the Defence in the other
25 language.
Page 1611
1 MR. SAXON:
2 Q. On this page heading 2, it says, "Skopje Crisis Area," and why was
3 Skopje considered a crisis area?
4 A. Skopje was included in the overall crisis areas because it was an
5 area in which there were also a number of incidents, at that time, less
6 than Tetovo, but it was still an area in which the NLA were active. And
7 if I may add, the same applies, that it was the more rural areas in which
8 the NLA were more active, rather than, if you like, the city of Skopje
9 itself.
10 Q. And below that it refers to the "Kumanovo Crisis Area." Why was
11 Kumanovo considered to be a crisis area?
12 A. For the same reason.
13 Q. For the same reason.
14 A. I might add that the division, in this sense, reflects the
15 structure of the Macedonian security forces at the time.
16 Q. I'm not sure if I understand that last comment.
17 A. The division into three areas of this sort, Tetovo, Skopje and
18 Kumanovo, reflected the regional police headquarters covering those areas.
19 These were geographical areas of responsibility.
20 Q. Okay. I see.
21 MR. SAXON: Your Honour, at this time, I would tender what is the
22 ERN range N001-5588 through N001-5601.
23 JUDGE PARKER: Mr. Mettraux.
24 MR. METTRAUX: Thank you, Your Honour. Just two short things. In
25 relation to the first document, Your Honour, that is the chart of the
Page 1612
1 Security Council, coordination committee. I was wondering whether my
2 colleague from the Prosecution will explore with the witness whether he
3 can give any evidence about the authenticity and the origin of the
4 document, because we have no information about this.
5 And the second matter, Your Honour, about the second document with
6 which the Prosecution has used. We do understand that the Prosecution
7 does not wish to tender that document for the truth of its content. It
8 hasn't actually put the proposition from the document to Mr. Bolton. Mr.
9 Bolton has given very clear evidence about the matter, as he could give
10 evidence about, and I am just evidence wondering what the purpose is for
11 the Prosecution to give seek the document, whether it is simply to
12 corroborate the evidence of Mr. Bolton, or whether it is to rely on the
13 content of the document.
14 JUDGE PARKER: Mr. Saxon.
15 MR. SAXON: The Prosecution does seek to rely on the contents of
16 the document. That is the first point. And the Prosecution believes that
17 the responses of Mr. Bolton have not only explained but also verified the
18 accuracy of several portions of this document. This document was received
19 by -- from the Prosecution, from the OSCE which was the institution where
20 Mr. Bolton worked. I can ask, if it would be helpful, one more question,
21 perhaps.
22 JUDGE PARKER: I think it would be helpful both to the Chamber and
23 to the Defence, Mr. Bolton.
24 MR. SAXON:
25 Q. Mr. Bolton, how often would the Crisis Management Centre produce
Page 1613
1 reports?
2 A. Initially, as I arrived, it was slightly intermittent, as I
3 recall. Later on, it became a daily event. About this time, it was a
4 daily event; and then later on, as the crisis subsided, the reports became
5 less frequent, as did the meetings between the international community and
6 the Crisis Management Centre staff.
7 Q. And while you were working in Macedonia, during the summer of
8 2001, did you receive copies of materials produced by the Crisis
9 Management Centre, like this?
10 A. I did. More often than not, they were controlled and I had
11 visibility of them, but not necessarily received them.
12 Q. All right. And does this document that we have reviewed this
13 morning, does this resemble the materials that you received -- that you
14 viewed at that time as coming from the Crisis Management Centre?
15 A. It does.
16 Q. Is there anything about it that looks like it was not produced by
17 the Crisis Management Centre.
18 A. No, not at all.
19 JUDGE PARKER: The first document, I'm not sure whether the
20 answers were meant to relate to that or not, the chart.
21 MR. SAXON:
22 Q. If you can turn to what is tab 1 in front of you?
23 A. Mm-hm.
24 Q. Would these kind of charts, would you see -- would you see or
25 receive charts such as this in your capacity as an employee of the OSCE at
Page 1614
1 the time?
2 A. Yes. I cannot state that this particular chart is one that I saw,
3 but it is -- it is extremely familiar to me.
4 Q. All right.
5 JUDGE PARKER: Anything further, Mr. Mettraux.
6 MR. METTRAUX: Nothing further. We would persist and I think if
7 the Prosecution seeks to rely on the accuracy of the truth of the document
8 contained in particular in relation to the chart, I think, at least, a
9 question could be put, in fairness to Mr. Bolton, whether he agrees with
10 the presentation and the structure in the document.
11 JUDGE PARKER: Just to speed things up, Mr. Bolton, does the
12 content of the chart agree with your understanding of the functioning of
13 the structure that is set out there?
14 THE WITNESS: It does.
15 JUDGE PARKER: It does. Thank you.
16 [Trial Chamber and registrar confer]
17 JUDGE PARKER: I'm told, Mr. Saxon, that this document, in the
18 form you're tendering it, has not been made available in e-court. You
19 are, in fact, quoting pages from three distinct documents, but not the
20 complete part of the those three distinct documents. I think that is
21 simply a matter of coordination between your technical support and the
22 e-court people, but it would be more simple if this document could be
23 provided in appropriate form, and what I propose to do is to hold the
24 formal admission of the document, as you tender it, in the hope that you
25 will be able to help with the technical problem being presented at the
Page 1615
1 moment.
2 The motion will be granted if and when we can get some resolution
3 of those technical issues, so that could be done during the break or at
4 some convenient time.
5 MR. SAXON: Perhaps it just might assist Your Honour. It was the
6 Prosecution's understanding that these materials, this ERN range that we
7 have reviewed with Mr. Bolton, were uploaded in e-court as 691.1 and
8 691.2, and that was simply our understanding. Am I misspeaking?
9 JUDGE PARKER: The indication I am being given is that that is not
10 a correct understanding.
11 MR. SAXON: Then we will do our best to clarify the situation
12 soon.
13 JUDGE PARKER: Thank you, Mr. Saxon.
14 Proceed on the basis that the documents, as in the tab, will be
15 received as exhibits.
16 MR. SAXON: Thank you, Your Honour.
17 If we could turn to the second tab in Your Honours' binder, and
18 this is actually what the Prosecution believes is in e-court as 691.4, and
19 it is a document bearing ERN N001-5670 to --
20 May I have the Court's indulgence for a moment, please.
21 [Prosecution counsel confer]
22 MR. SAXON: Yes. This would be document beginning with N001-5670,
23 please. The description in Your Honours -- the description for this tab,
24 I note, is incorrect. The description should say, "An OSCE report dated
25 the 15th of July, 2001, drafted by Henry Bolton."
Page 1616
1 In the Macedonian version, can we go back to 5670, please.
2 Your Honour, again, I'm told that there is a page not available on
3 e-court in the Macedonian version, which the Prosecution will remedy as
4 soon as it possibly can.
5 Q. Mr. Bolton, can you please look at the English page that is in
6 front of you. It has the number 70 up at the top, and you see it has your
7 name on it?
8 A. I see that, yes.
9 Q. And this fax is addressed to the "Crisis Management Centre, Major
10 Jone Ivanovski," and it is a cease-fire monitoring report from the 14th of
11 July to the 15th of July. And down below we see a signature over your
12 name. Is that your signature?
13 A. It is my signature, yes.
14 Q. Did you know this gentleman, Major Ivanovski, who is mentioned
15 here?
16 A. I know that I spoke to him on the telephone on a number of
17 occasions. I can't recall whether I ever met him.
18 Q. And do you know what institution he worked for?
19 A. I don't recall.
20 Q. All right. Can you briefly describe what were your duties when
21 you first arrived in Macedonia, please?
22 A. When I was first arrived, I was allocated to Team Centre, which
23 was the Skopje team; however, for a brief period of time, I did work in
24 the -- the OSCE coordination cell.
25 Q. And what was the OSCE coordination centre?
Page 1617
1 A. This was, you might call it, the operations room for the mission,
2 which we ran jointly with the European Monitoring Mission. It was the
3 point to which the reports from the field of cease-fire violations came
4 in.
5 Q. And when reports from the field came in, what was done with that
6 information in the coordination centre?
7 A. They were collated at the end of each reporting period, each 24
8 hours, into a consolidated list of incidents and events, which resulted in
9 a report.
10 Q. And why would you send such reports to the Crisis Management
11 Centre?
12 A. Because we had a presence in the field, and we got an agreement
13 that we would share our reporting with the Crisis Management Centre. We
14 were also the point of contact in the mission for the Crisis Management
15 Centre, when there was an incident, that they might report to us.
16 Q. And when you say "we had an agreement," who is we?
17 A. We, the international community. I was not present in Macedonia
18 at the time that the agreement was set up, but I understood that this
19 mechanism was in place by the agreement of, if you like, the both sides;
20 the Macedonian authorities and ourselves.
21 Q. All right.
22 MR. SAXON: If we could turn to the next page, please, which is
23 has the title, "Cease-fire Monitoring Log," 14th of July to 15th of July.
24 Q. If you can recall, is this how your reports were produced?
25 A. It is.
Page 1618
1 MR. SAXON: Can we look at the next page, please.
2 Q. And you see in the second item -- I'll wait for the Macedonian
3 version. Here it is.
4 The second item contains information from the OSCE team A-2.
5 Information was sent at 1725, and it's about a check-point being
6 established, and the information says this: "The ethnic Albanian armed
7 group established openly a check-point in Trnovace; 15 uniformed men armed
8 with Kalashnikov type weapons and one grenade launcher; a large sign
9 'UCK stop' had been erected; the situation was reported as team A-2 as
10 tense and unfriendly." Do you see that?
11 A. I do.
12 Q. My question is this, if you're following me?
13 A. I am, yes.
14 Q. The establishment of such check-points, how common was in that in
15 the summer of 2001?
16 A. That was common.
17 Q. And did you have personal experience, for example, either seeing
18 or trying to move through --
19 A. I did.
20 Q. -- such check-points?
21 A. I did.
22 MR. SAXON: If we can, Your Honour, at this point, I would tender
23 this document.
24 JUDGE PARKER: It will be received.
25 THE REGISTRAR: As Exhibit P237, Your Honours.
Page 1619
1 MR. SAXON: And if Your Honours would turn to what is tab 3 in
2 your binder, and what I'd like to discuss with the witness now are some
3 excerpts from an exhibit already admitted, P0045. It's a long document
4 called "The White Book, Terrorism of the So-called NLA." And if we can
5 first see ERN N005-7608, please.
6 Q. Mr. Bolton, this is the cover page of this publication, published
7 by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Macedonia.
8 MR. SAXON: If we could turn to the next page, please, 7610, or
9 perhaps two pages further.
10 Q. We see it's given the date at the bottom, Skopje 2001.
11 MR. SAXON: And if we could now move, please, to ERN N005-7651,
12 which is page 46 of this document. I'm just waiting for the Macedonian
13 page to come up.
14 THE REGISTRAR: Without a reference number in the Macedonian, we
15 are unable to find it, to find the exact page.
16 MR. SAXON: Reference number in Macedonian.
17 Can we move to page 46 of the Macedonian version, please, and can
18 we move back, please. In other words, can we move -- is it possible to
19 move back page by page, until we see the subheading "8669, 15 March 2000"?
20 Your Honours, I will move on. I will move on at this time. I
21 don't want to take more time of the Court. I will just ask a question of
22 the witness.
23 Q. Witness, when you were working in Macedonia in 2001, what was the
24 proportion of ethnic Albanians in the Macedonian police forces that you
25 observed?
Page 1620
1 A. I can't say precisely, but it was low.
2 Q. Okay. When you say "low," can you give your own estimate of a
3 ratio?
4 A. Probably somewhere in around 1 in 80 or so.
5 Q. One police officer out of 80 might be an ethnic Albanian?
6 A. Mm-hm, yes.
7 Q. All right. Are you able to recall an incident on the 10th of --
8 on the 8th of August, 2001, involving an ambush on a Macedonian army
9 convoy?
10 A. Yes.
11 Q. Did that happen on the highway between Skopje and Tetovo?
12 A. Yes, it did.
13 Q. And can you tell us please how you first heard about this
14 incident?
15 A. I had a report. I was contacted, I can't honestly remember how,
16 but I would expect it have been through our -- our coordination centre,
17 that there had been shooting on the highway.
18 Q. And what did you do then?
19 A. I went -- I was on the western side of Skopje anyway, and I moved
20 towards the start of the highway where there is a police check-point. I
21 was initially stopped at that check-point.
22 Q. And, eventually, were you allowed to pass through the check-point?
23 A. I was.
24 Q. And then what happened?
25 A. I proceeded down the highway until such a point as I came across
Page 1621
1 the back of an army convoy.
2 Q. And what did you see?
3 A. In terms of the convoy, I saw a number of vehicles, both armoured
4 vehicles, but predominantly soft-skinned trucks, static, nosed-tail. And
5 in front much them, there was a burning soft-skinned truck. There were a
6 number of bodies across the road and unexploded ordnance across the road.
7 Q. And by "bodies," you mean dead bodies?
8 A. At that time, I presumed they were dead and, in fact, they were.
9 Q. And what happened after that?
10 A. An officer came jogging up to me and said that the convoy had to
11 move on, jumped back in a vehicle, and, indeed, military vehicles present
12 did move on in the direction of Tetovo.
13 Q. And what did you do at that time?
14 A. I stayed there to assess what the situation was.
15 Q. Can I stop you there.
16 A. Yes.
17 Q. Do you have a military background?
18 A. I do.
19 Q. Can you briefly describe it for us, please?
20 A. For 11 years, I was in the regular army, subsequently in the
21 territorial army or reserve army. I held the rank of acting major. I
22 served, operationally, in a number of parts of the world. I saw active
23 service in Central America.
24 Q. Did you, during those 11 years, become familiar with different
25 types of weapons, ordnance, munitions, et cetera?
Page 1622
1 A. I did. In fact, I am more familiar than, that is often the case,
2 as a qualified range manager and instructor in infantry weapons of all
3 sorts.
4 Q. So after the members of this convoy, who had survived, drove off,
5 what did you do?
6 A. Well, my responsibility at the time was to report on incidents,
7 so I wanted to record details of the scene. I also had to report back to
8 our coordination centre and the Crisis Management Centre as to what the
9 situation was. Due to difficulties in communication, I was instructed to
10 report directly to the Crisis Management Centre by our coordination
11 centre, the OSCE coordination centre, and this I did. And that was my
12 initial -- do you want me to go on?
13 Q. Did other persons arrive along that highway?
14 A. They did.
15 Q. Who arrived?
16 A. As we were doing this, first of all, a large truck came down the
17 highway. At that point, I should say the highway is -- now has a central
18 reservation. At that time, the highway was still partially under
19 construction, and only the southern highway was open.
20 Q. Mm-hm.
21 A. A large truck came from the direction of Tetovo towards the
22 incident --
23 Q. Mm-hm.
24 A. -- and towards the unexploded ordnance, which included mortar
25 bombs lying on the road. I stopped that truck, and behind that truck were
Page 1623
1 large number of other civilian vehicles; Cars, buses, and so on, and
2 other trucks.
3 Q. And were those other vehicles also stopped?
4 A. They were.
5 Q. They were. And what happened after these vehicles travelling
6 along the road stopped?
7 A. Initially, everything was calm; but after a few minutes, 15
8 minutes or so, they started to realise, I think, that they were in a
9 potentially danger situation and wanted to move on, something that I
10 understand. I was reluctant to let them do so, however, driving over an
11 unexploded ordnance and bodies.
12 There was a lot of shouting and emotion going on. I moved to the
13 side of the road where there is a concrete revetment, to sort of clear my
14 head and think about what to do next. As I looked down, I saw two
15 electrical wires coming down from the area that I had assumed to be the
16 firing position of the ambush that had taken place.
17 I walked along the revetment, looking at these wires and saw they
18 went into a culvert, a drainage tunnel, if you look, under the road,
19 directly underneath the civilian traffic. With my military background and
20 our experiences in Northern Ireland, which although I haven't been to
21 Northern Ireland I'm very well aware of the types of techniques there, I
22 immediately suspected, what we call, a culvert bomb, a bomb in such a
23 drainage tunnel that is placed to cause maximum damage.
24 Q. A bomb placed underneath a road?
25 A. Yes.
Page 1624
1 Q. Okay.
2 A. Suspecting this, and with the knowledge of explosives and tactics
3 used in such cases, I could not guarantee that that bomb would not go off.
4 Q. Can I stop you there?
5 A. Yeah.
6 Q. Did you find explosives?
7 A. Yeah. Yes.
8 Q. More or less how much?
9 A. At the time, I didn't actually crawl into the -- in the tunnel
10 itself, and couldn't tell you how much from my direct observation; but I
11 understand later, from contacts within the Ministry of Interior of
12 Macedonia, that it was around 300 to 350 kilograms.
13 Q. So when you saw these explosives that were placed underneath the
14 road, what did you do then?
15 A. I immediately understood the danger to the civilian traffic,
16 removed some of the ordnance, and moved the -- or directed the traffic
17 across the highway to the still under construction part, the part that was
18 still being built and was not open to traffic normally, but where there
19 were also some bodies, one of which we had to move slightly to allow the
20 traffic through. That -- so the objective being to get civilian traffic
21 out of the area as quickly as possible to avoid any casualties.
22 Q. And when you saw you "moved some of the ordnance," your referring
23 to ordnance that was littering the surface of the road?
24 A. Yes.
25 Q. And after that, was that event ever discussed on Macedonian
Page 1625
1 television?
2 A. It was. The public prosecutor later thanked the OSCE team for
3 saving life.
4 MR. SAXON: If we could turn to what is tab 4 in Your Honours's
5 binder. This Rule 65 ter number 267. It begins with N000-0002.
6 Q. And, Mr. Bolton, if you take a look at the English version here,
7 you see this is an OSCE report, and it says, "From Henry Bolton, Team
8 Centre; to Ambassador Carlo Ungaro. " And who was Ambassador Ungaro?
9 A. He was the OSCE head of mission.
10 Q. And this is in the summer of 2001?
11 A. Yes.
12 Q. This is dated 15th of August, 2001, and it is cc'd to persons:
13 Robin Seward, Morris Kanavan, Andrew Venis, and Eileen Simpson. "Subject:
14 The five bodies observed in the village of Ljuboten." Do you recall
15 writing this report?
16 A. I do.
17 Q. And when did you go to the village of Ljuboten, after the events
18 of the 12th of August?
19 A. When did I go?
20 Q. Yeah.
21 A. On the 14th of August.
22 Q. And, very briefly, what did you do there?
23 A. Firstly, made contact with villagers to find out what -- the
24 initial account of what had been occurring in the village in the days
25 preceding our visit there, preceding the 14th; and then having understood
Page 1626
1 from them that there were bodies in the village, went to investigate that
2 scene or to look at that scene.
3 Q. Mr. Bolton, do you also have a police background?
4 A. I do.
5 Q. Can you describe that for us, please?
6 A. Yeah. Following leaving the regular army in 1990, I joined the
7 British police. I undertook a number of roles within the British police.
8 Q. What kind of training do you have, training and/or experience, in
9 crime scene investigation forensics, things like that?
10 A. All British police are trained in crime scene preservation and in
11 gathering of evidence, both physical material evidence and witness
12 evidence. In terms of specialist forensics training, I have none;
13 although, I have worked closely with scenes of crime officers whilst they
14 have been collecting evidence in cases that I have been involved with.
15 Q. When you say you "have worked close with scenes of crimes
16 officers," on investigations, where would you have done that, what
17 countries?
18 A. That was in the UK.
19 Q. And have you also worked on investigations of crime, violent crime
20 in parts of the Balkans?
21 A. Yes, I have. I would say that my role has been predominantly
22 monitoring events. I worked alongside the Serbian police very closely in
23 1998 and 1999 in Kosovo, and was also involved in investigating an
24 incident that happened in the village of Rogovo, on behalf of
25 international authorities.
Page 1627
1 Q. Where in Kosovo where you working?
2 A. In the south, I was based in Prizren.
3 Q. And in the Prizren area, were you often called out to examine
4 scenes of violent crime?
5 A. Regularly.
6 Q. Regularly?
7 A. Often.
8 Q. Did you view a lot of gunshot wounds?
9 A. I did.
10 Q. If we can take a look at the second page of your report, please,
11 the next page. If we can focus on the third full paragraph which, again,
12 with the words: "Along the length of the road."
13 Do you see that paragraph, Mr. Bolton?
14 A. I do.
15 Q. In the beginning of paragraph, you explain or you wrote that
16 "There was a large quantity (hundreds) of spent 7.62 short and long
17 bullet cases, as well as numerous cardboard ammunition cartons," and then
18 it says, "Other items observed were three M-80 64-millimetre RBR launcher
19 tubes," and you explain that an RBR is a Russian manufactured
20 shoulder-launched light anti-tank rocket that cannot be reloaded. Were
21 you familiar with these kinds of weapons in your experience?
22 A. Yes, I was. When I say RBR is a Russian manufactured weapon, it
23 is -- it's fundamentally a Russian design. I am familiar that weapon,
24 yes.
25 Q. And then in the following paragraph, you refer to the body of
Page 1628
1 Sulejman Bajrami, and then nearby, you refer to the body of Muharem
2 Ramadani; and then you refer to bodies in a field, the bodies of Kadri
3 Jashari, Bajram Jashari, and then someone who was only referred to as
4 Bajrami. Why was one person only referred to by one name in your report?
5 A. Because that was the only name that I was given by local
6 villagers.
7 Q. All right.
8 MR. SAXON: Could we move to the next page, please. There is a
9 paragraph.
10 Q. It's the second paragraph. It says: "At the time of observation,
11 all five bodies appeared to be wearing the same clothes that they had been
12 wearing at the time of death."
13 Do you see that, Mr. Bolton?
14 A. I do.
15 Q. "The reason for this belief is the fact that the clothes were
16 stained with what appeared to be blood and damage to the clothing
17 corresponded with damage to the bodies."
18 A. Correct.
19 Q. And this was your assessment at the time?
20 A. Yes.
21 Q. And it says: "In all five cases, the clothing worn by the bodies
22 was of a civilian nature. No camouflage or uniformed items were observed,
23 and no insignia or military equipment was seen."
24 Two bullet points below that, there is a line and it says this:
25 "There were no defensive positions observed in the village."
Page 1629
1 Can you help us, please. What did you mean by "defensive
2 positions"?
3 A. I mean, any sort of position that was -- that appeared to be
4 prepared, to provide a secure point from which to fire at anyone. A
5 prepared position for military purposes.
6 Q. And, for example, at that time, during the crisis time in 2001 in
7 Macedonia, what kind of defensive positions, prepared positions might you
8 see in a particular conflicted area?
9 A. You might see basements, which commonly in that area have small
10 windows at ground level. You might see those blocked with sandbags. You
11 might see rough walls to provide cover between buildings. You might see
12 trenches built. These are all things that occurred elsewhere in
13 Macedonia.
14 Q. You didn't see any of this in the village of Ljuboten on the 14th
15 of August?
16 A. No.
17 Q. Below, at the end of the report, we see a sentence: "There was no
18 evidence of the ethnic Albanian armed group having used weapons fired from
19 within the village."
20 What kind of evidence might have indicated that the NLA had fired
21 weapons within the village? What were you looking for?
22 A. Discarded, used cases, the brass case that holds the explosive
23 that products the bullet from the weapon, when it is ejected from the
24 weapon, it falls on the ground. You would expect, in such a case, if
25 there was fire, you would expect to see those cases, and you expect to see
Page 1630
1 them in positions that provided cover for the firer, generally, in a --
2 certainly in an extended fire-fight. People would take cover, and you see
3 these behind the point of cover.
4 Q. But you did say you found some spent ammunition cases?
5 A. Yes, many hundreds. These were -- from looking at the overall
6 scene, there was discarded ammunition and cardboard ammunition cartons, as
7 I say. These were, although scattered over a wide area, predominantly
8 behind points or at points that would provide the firer from cover from
9 potential fire from the -- from the east, at which indicated to me that
10 the firers had progressed up the road from the west.
11 Q. Mm-hm.
12 A. There were no empty cases on the eastern side of cover --
13 Q. I see.
14 A. -- which is what I would expect if there had been an exchange of
15 fire.
16 Q. All right.
17 MR. SAXON: Your Honour, I would tender this document, please,
18 into evidence.
19 JUDGE PARKER: It will be received.
20 THE REGISTRAR: As Exhibit P238, Your Honours.
21 MR. SAXON: I'm going to try to finish up in the next ten minutes.
22 If we can take a look at what is tab 5 in Your Honours's
23 materials, and this is a photo from 65 ter 201, photo number 95 or the
24 95th photo. It has ERN N000-2184.
25 Q. While we're waiting, Mr. Bolton, did you take photographs in
Page 1631
1 Ljuboten on the 14th of August?
2 A. I did.
3 Q. And why did you do that?
4 A. To record the scene.
5 Q. If you can look, please, at the photograph in front of you, did
6 you take this photograph?
7 A. Yes.
8 Q. What does it depicts?
9 A. It depicts the body of a male on the right-hand side of the road,
10 as you look at, it lying face down. It depicts what I believe to be blood
11 on the asphalt surface of the road.
12 Q. Was this the first body that you encountered when you were in
13 Ljuboten?
14 A. It was, yes.
15 MR. SAXON: Your Honour, I would seek to tender this photograph.
16 JUDGE PARKER: It will be received.
17 THE REGISTRAR: As Exhibit P239, Your Honours.
18 MR. SAXON: If we can look at photograph with ERN number
19 N000-2490, also from 65 ter 201, the sixth photograph. We're looking for
20 N000-2094, one photograph before this, please.
21 Q. Mr. Bolton, did you take this photograph?
22 A. I did.
23 Q. And what does it depict?
24 A. It depicts the same body of a male as in the previous photograph.
25 Q. And what did you notice or what did you observe about this body?
Page 1632
1 A. That it had a number of injuries. The injuries on the right
2 forearm are obvious in the photograph. In addition, there was an injury
3 to the back of the neck or back of the head. The front of the head, which
4 you can't see clearly in this photograph, was blown out. There were also
5 injuries to the back.
6 Q. Did you form an opinion as to what had caused these injuries?
7 A. A gunshot wounds, in my opinion.
8 MR. SAXON: Your Honour, I seek to tender this photograph.
9 JUDGE PARKER: It will be received.
10 THE REGISTRAR: As Exhibit P240, Your Honours.
11 MR. SAXON: If we could move to what is tab 7, another photograph
12 from 65 ter 2001. It is the 47th photograph, N000-2316.
13 Q. Mr. Bolton, did you take this photograph?
14 A. I did.
15 Q. And in this photograph, we see that the shirt on this body has
16 been pulled up along the back. Did you do that?
17 A. I did.
18 Q. And why did you do that?
19 A. To photograph the injuries to the back more, more clearly.
20 MR. SAXON: Your Honour, I would seek to tender this photograph,
21 please.
22 JUDGE PARKER: It will be received.
23 THE REGISTRAR: As Exhibit P241, Your Honours.
24 MR. SAXON: If we could look briefly at Exhibit P185, please.
25 Q. Mr. Bolton, did you take this photograph on the 14th of August?
Page 1633
1 A. I did.
2 Q. And what were you trying to show in this photograph?
3 A. I was trying to show two things: One is the fact that the front
4 of the head had been -- had suffered extreme injury, and the second was
5 the correlation to that to the injury on the back of the head.
6 Q. All right.
7 MR. SAXON: And if we could now turn to exhibit number P186,
8 please.
9 Q. Mr. Bolton, did you take this photograph?
10 A. I did.
11 Q. And was this the second body that you observed on the 14th of
12 August?
13 A. It was.
14 Q. And what kind of injuries did you observe on this body?
15 A. The injury to the chest that is -- that's shown in this
16 photograph.
17 Q. Did you form an opinion as to what caused the injury?
18 A. Yes. I believe that that is the exit wound of a high velocity
19 bullet. There were two, what I believe to be, entry wounds in the back.
20 MR. SAXON: If we could turn now, please, to what is tab 10, and
21 it is another photograph from 65 ter 201, the 22nd photograph. It has ERN
22 number N000-2111.
23 Q. Mr. Bolton, did you take this photograph?
24 A. I did.
25 Q. And we also see on the photograph it appears to have been
Page 1634
1 annotated. We see a rectangular with the letters BJ, one with BY, one
2 with KJ. Do you see that?
3 A. I do.
4 Q. Who put those letters there?
5 A. I did.
6 Q. And why did you did know that?
7 A. For my own notes, if you like, as to which body was in which
8 position. Those circles above the rectangles represent the positions of
9 three bodies.
10 Q. And there is one rectangle that has the initials BY. Can you tell
11 us why the initials BY were placed there?
12 A. I can. Because that is the body that relates to the person we
13 mentioned earlier, Bajrami, and that is the only name I had for that
14 person. BY, in English, represents "by," which leads me to Bajrami. The
15 other way of spelling it would be "BJ," which we already had a BJ, and I
16 wasn't the to avoid confusion. It was just a way for me to differentiate
17 between the three, or those two.
18 Q. I see. We see a house to the left of the areas where the bodies
19 were.
20 A. Mm-hm.
21 Q. Do you recall anything in particular about the condition of that
22 house at the time?
23 A. Yeah. That house had been you severely damaged by fire.
24 MR. SAXON: Your Honour, I would seek to tender this photograph.
25 JUDGE PARKER: It will be received.
Page 1635
1 THE REGISTRAR: As Exhibit P242, Your Honours.
2 JUDGE PARKER: Could I mention that the transcript records at line
3 25 of 36 an extended answer of the witness, but attributed to Judge
4 Van den Wyngaert.
5 MR. SAXON: Well, with all due respect to Your Honour Judge Van
6 den Wyngaert, I believe the record should be corrected to reflect that it
7 came from Mr. Bolton.
8 If we could turn to what is the photograph in tab 11, which comes
9 from 65 ter 201, the 17th photograph. It has As ERN N000-2106.
10 Q. Mr. Bolton, did you take this photograph?
11 A. I did.
12 Q. Does the body depicted in this photograph correspond to the
13 rectangular with the letters BJ that we saw in the earlier photograph?
14 A. BY, I believe.
15 Q. Uh-huh. Well, can we see the -- yeah. Okay. And what does this
16 photograph depict then?
17 A. It shows the body of another male face down in the field.
18 MR. SAXON: If this photograph could be -- before I tender this
19 photograph, could we go back to the previous exhibit, which was tab 10.
20 Q. The photograph that you saw a minute ago, is it still your
21 understanding that body was lying at the position where you marked BY?
22 A. Yes.
23 Q. Okay. Thank you.
24 MR. SAXON: If we could go back to the photo of the body.
25 Your Honours, I would seek to tender this photograph.
Page 1636
1 JUDGE PARKER: It will be received.
2 THE REGISTRAR: As Exhibit P243, Your Honours.
3 MR. SAXON: And I have just three more.
4 If we could see what is tab 12, a photograph from 65 ter number
5 201, the 21st photograph. ERN number N001-2110.
6 Q. Mr. Bolton, did you take this photograph on the 14th of August?
7 A. Yes, I did.
8 Q. And what does it depict?
9 A. It depicts the body of another male, this time actually lying on
10 his back.
11 MR. SAXON: Your Honour, I would seek to tender this photograph.
12 JUDGE PARKER: It will be received.
13 THE REGISTRAR: As Exhibit P244, Your Honours.
14 MR. SAXON: If we could briefly look at tab 13, which is a
15 photograph from 65 ter number 201, the 12th photograph in that series. It
16 has ERN N000-2101.
17 Q. Mr. Bolton, did you take this photograph?
18 A. I did.
19 Q. What does it depict?
20 A. A third male, or a fifth one in these photographs, lying on his
21 back, in the field further up from the body in the previous photograph.
22 Q. What kind of wounds did you observe on this body?
23 A. Numerous, what I believe, to be gunshot exit wounds, on the front
24 of the body, as you see there.
25 MR. SAXON: Your Honour, I would seek to tender this photograph,
Page 1637
1 please.
2 JUDGE PARKER: It will be received.
3 THE REGISTRAR: As Exhibit P245, Your Honours.
4 MR. SAXON: And, finally, Your Honours, if we could look at the
5 photograph in tab 613 -- excuse me, tab 14 from 65 ter 613.
6 Q. Mr. Bolton, did you take this photograph?
7 A. I did.
8 Q. What does it depict?
9 A. On the left-hand side, it depicts a building that was burning at
10 the time; and, in fact, not shown in this photograph, there are flames
11 inside the building still. It was still burning, and on the asphalt
12 road -- the photograph was taken deliberately to place these two things
13 within the frame of it. On the right-hand side of the road, you see sort
14 of a zigzag line. That is what I believe to be probably diesel oil fuel.
15 The coincidence of placing them together seemed a little bit interesting
16 at the time.
17 MR. SAXON: Your Honour, I would seek to tender this photograph,
18 please.
19 JUDGE PARKER: It will be received.
20 THE REGISTRAR: As Exhibit P246, Your Honours.
21 MR. SAXON: And my apologies for going over time, at this time I
22 have no further questions.
23 JUDGE PARKER: Thank you, Mr. Saxon. We must now have our first
24 morning break, and we resume at five minutes past 11.00
25 --- Recess taken at 10.35 a.m
Page 1638
1 --- On resuming at 11.09 a.m.
2 JUDGE PARKER: Mr. Mettraux.
3 MR. METTRAUX: Thank you, Your Honours. Good afternoon.
4 Cross-examination by Mr. Mettraux.
5 Q. Good afternoon, Mr. Bolton. My name is Guenael Mettraux, and I
6 appear, together with Edina Residovic, as counsel for Mr. Boskoski.
7 Before we start, I would kindly ask you if you can pause after my
8 questions before answering, and I will try to do the same after you have
9 answered, so that we give a bit of time to the interpreters to catch up
10 with us.
11 I would like to take you immediately to the 10th of August, if I
12 may, and I will summarize in a few lines some of the statement you have
13 made in your first statement given to the Prosecution.
14 I understand that on the 10th of August, that's Friday, around
15 8.00 or 8.30, you heard a loud explosion; is that right?
16 A. That is correct.
17 Q. And you understood, from your military background and your
18 familiarity with weapons and guns, that this sounded like a anti-tank
19 mine; is that correct?
20 A. That's correct.
21 Q. And could you tell me what time approximately you went or sought
22 to go to Ljuboten after hearing that explosion?
23 A. I do not recall the time.
24 Q. Well, perhaps I can assist you there.
25 MR. METTRAUX: If the registry could bring up document 1D-112 with
Page 1639
1 the ERN number of 1D00-1530.
2 Your Honour, we also have court binders for Your Honours and for
3 Mr. Bolton, which may be of an assistance, as there is a quite a great
4 deal of documents which we'd like to deal with Mr. Bolton. So with the
5 Court's assistance, we will distribute those.
6 JUDGE PARKER: Thank you.
7 MR. METTRAUX:
8 Q. Mr. Bolton, when this document appears on your screen, you will
9 get a data copy as well, which may be handier for you use, but those are
10 the investigator's notes taken by Mr. Tucker of an interview which he had
11 with you on the 25th of April 2002. Do you recall that event?
12 A. I remember meeting Mr. Tucker, yes.
13 Q. Well, perhaps I'll ask that you focus on the first page of that
14 document.
15 MR. METTRAUX: And for Your Honours's benefit, this would be under
16 tab 1 of the court binder.
17 Q. As you will see, Mr. Bolton, the notes are being taken in the
18 third form, with the "he" referring to you.
19 Can I ask you to focus, first, on the third or fourth paragraph of
20 that document, which starts with the word, "He stated that on Friday, 10th
21 of August, 2001, he was working as a monitor for the OSCE." Can you see
22 that paragraph, sir?
23 A. Yes, I can.
24 Q. And the next paragraph read as follows: "During the early
25 afternoon of the 10th, exact time uncertain, he was with VC, Vladimir,
Page 1640
1 Rogac, at the their accommodation in the village of Radisani." Can you
2 see that?
3 A. I can.
4 Q. And would you think that the time which is indicated could be
5 accurate?
6 A. I really don't recall exactly. I don't recall exactly.
7 Q. Would you recall whether you sought go to Ljuboten in the
8 afternoon of that day?
9 A. I sincerely cannot remember that.
10 Q. You went to the village of Ljuboten from Radisani, is that
11 correct, later that day?
12 A. We tried to access Ljuboten in the area of the -- where we believe
13 the explosion had come from.
14 Q. And were you able to reach the outskirts of the village of
15 Ljuboten?
16 A. I do not recall doing so.
17 Q. Did you see any check-points on the way, any police check-points
18 on the way from Radisani towards Ljuboten on that day?
19 A. I recall that we tried to approach Ljuboten via Ljubanci, or we
20 tried to approach Ljubanci, and we did not see any police check-points on
21 the road to Ljubanci.
22 Q. And is that correct, sir, that at the time there was no
23 check-points, police check-points within the village of Radisani itself?
24 A. I do not recall seeing any police check-points in Radisani that
25 day.
Page 1641
1 Q. And you have just indicated that, on that day, you did not enter
2 the village of Ljuboten; is that correct?
3 A. No. I do not recall entering the village on that day. I'm -- it
4 is simply a case of, now sitting here, which days we went in there and
5 which we didn't. From this document, I cannot recall precisely that.
6 Q. I may assist you.
7 MR. METTRAUX: Perhaps if I can ask the registry to turn to the
8 next page of that document. That would be 1531 and -- sorry.
9 Q. I would kindly ask you to focus on the first paragraph of that
10 document.
11 It reads as follows: "Henry Bolton and Vladimir Rogac," I think
12 it is a mistake; it should be VR, "attempted to obtain authorisation from
13 the chain of command to go to Ljuboten to assess situation. They were
14 refused permission to go to the village. The fire-fight eventually
15 stopped."
16 Would that be a correct record of what happened on that day?
17 A. Now I do not recall exactly, but I recall that we could not enter.
18 Q. But from the position which you have managed to reach, I do
19 understand that you were able to make a number of observation about what
20 appeared to be going on in the village or around the village of Ljuboten;
21 is that correct.
22 A. Yes.
23 Q. And I'm going to put a number of proposition, and I would kindly
24 ask you to say whether you can agree with those?
25 The first thing is you heard what you believe to be a heavy
Page 1642
1 exchange of gun-fire; is that correct?
2 A. Yes.
3 Q. And you understood, as well, that this exchange of fire was not
4 just a one-sided affair, but that there was, indeed, exchange between two
5 sides; is that correct?
6 A. Correct.
7 Q. And that was a position which was shared by your colleague,
8 Mr. Rogac; is that correct?
9 A. Yes.
10 Q. And could you tell us for how long, approximately, you heard this
11 fire going on?
12 A. As I recall it now, it was some time. It was some extended period
13 of time. It wasn't five minutes or so, it was a lot more than that, but I
14 can't recall now exactly how long.
15 Q. And can you recall until what time of day this activity continued?
16 A. No.
17 Q. Sir, there's another documents which I would like to show you at
18 this stage.
19 MR. METTRAUX: That is Rule 65 ter 223. The ERN number is
20 N001-5356, N001-5360.
21 Q. Sir, this is under the tab number 2 in your binder.
22 Sir, am I correct to understand that this document is a special
23 report issued by your organisation, the OSCE?
24 A. Yes.
25 Q. And is that correct that special reports of that sort or press
Page 1643
1 releases which were distributed outside of the organisation would be
2 vetted or would at least go through either the head of the mission or the
3 deputy head of the mission?
4 A. I would not want -- this is not a press release. But, yes,
5 special reports would be -- would be cleared through the reporting chain,
6 yes.
7 Q. And at the time, sir, I think you have indicated the head of
8 mission was Ambassador Ungaro?
9 A. Yes.
10 Q. And his deputy at the time was Robin Seward?
11 A. Correct.
12 Q. And I think you have indicated to the Prosecutor in your proofing
13 that your understanding was that Ms. Eileen Simpson might have been the
14 author of that report; is that correct?
15 A. That is correct. That is my understanding. That is what I
16 believe.
17 Q. And at the time, Ms. Simpson was an UN dimension officer for the
18 OSCE; is that correct?
19 A. Yes. Human dimension.
20 Q. And could you just explain to us what procedure is followed when a
21 special report of that sort is issued, in particular where it is being
22 sent to?
23 A. Well, the normal procedure is that the author, who would generally
24 be a manager, if you like, a head of a field station or a head of a
25 department or a person with particular responsibilities, when they drafted
Page 1644
1 the document, it would go to the next level of management for checking and
2 clearance before going to the next and so on. Ultimately, the document,
3 at the discretion of the head of mission, would be sent on to the OSCE
4 Secretariat in Vienna or relative OSCE institutions.
5 Q. And once its been sent to Vienna, what happens with those
6 documents? Are they then distributed to member states?
7 A. They can be, yes.
8 Q. And is that also correct that reports such as those one, when
9 particularly sensitive, may be kept confidential? They are not
10 distributed to the public?
11 A. That's correct.
12 Q. Going back to the 10th of August, sir, did you come to understand
13 later or that day or later in time what had been happening north of the
14 village of Ljuboten?
15 A. Are you referring to the explosion?
16 Q. Yes.
17 A. Yes, we did.
18 Q. And what information did you obtain about that?
19 A. We obtained the information that a military vehicle had hit a mine
20 or there had been a detonation that had damaged the vehicle and there had
21 been casualties.
22 Q. And did you also obtain information to the effect that when the
23 Macedonian forces sought to rescue the injured, the NLA or EAAG, as you
24 would call them, fired upon the rescuers; is that information you had in
25 your possession?
Page 1645
1 A. No, it is not.
2 MR. METTRAUX: Your Honour, perhaps I will at this stage ask that
3 the investigator's note be marked for identification. We don't intend to
4 tender those at this stage, but simply for facilitation purposes, I think
5 I will come back to them and it would be easier to refer to a number,
6 perhaps than to the complete ERN.
7 JUDGE PARKER: So you're looking at tab 1.
8 MR. METTRAUX: Tab 1, yes, Your Honour.
9 JUDGE PARKER: And that will be marked for identification.
10 MR. METTRAUX: Please, yes.
11 THE REGISTRAR: As exhibit 1D12, marked for identification.
12 [Trial Chamber and registrar confer]
13 MR. METTRAUX: Can I ask the assistance of the registry, I'd like
14 to show Rule 65 ter 230; ERN number N001-5304, N001-5306.
15 Q. And, Mr. Bolton, that's in your binder at tab number 3.
16 Sir, would you agree that this appears to be a so-called spot
17 report in relation to the 10th of August, 2001?
18 A. I would agree.
19 Q. And could you explain, perhaps very briefly, what spot reports
20 stand for in the OSCE language?
21 A. It is to differentiate between routine reports. The field
22 operations of the OSCE have a reporting responsibility to the Secretariat,
23 and this may, depending on the field operation, be on a daily basis or a
24 weekly basis normally. The more to report, the more regular these regular
25 reports would be.
Page 1646
1 A spot report would be a specific report relating to a specific
2 event that was of relevance to the operations of the -- of the field
3 operation concerned, so it would be in addition to the regular reporting
4 process.
5 Q. And can I ask you perhaps to focus on the second page of this
6 document under the subheading "central Area," and it says as follows:
7 "At and 840 hours, an army truck struck a mine which had apparently been
8 placed in the early hours of the morning."
9 Would you agree that this is the event that we have been talking
10 about?
11 A. It would certainly appear to be, yes.
12 Q. And if I go on to the next paragraph, it says this: "There ensued
13 an exchange of fire, and helicopters carried out missions in the area
14 while wounded and dead were recovered."
15 Can you see that?
16 A. Yes, I see that.
17 Q. And it goes on to say this: "From the time of the incident, and
18 throughout the day, the village of Ljuboten was the focal point by for
19 operation by security forces, using mortar and small arms." Can you see
20 that?
21 A. I can see that, yes.
22 Q. And would you agree that this is generally consistent with your
23 own observation of that day?
24 A. Generally, yes.
25 MR. METTRAUX: And, Your Honour, we will offer this document at
Page 1647
1 this stage.
2 JUDGE PARKER: It will be received.
3 THE REGISTRAR: As exhibit 1D13, Your Honours.
4 MR. METTRAUX:
5 Q. I'd like to ask you a few question, sir, if you can recall about
6 the reaction to these events that you have been giving evidence about.
7 Would you recall that this particular evidence was condemned by
8 the Macedonian government as a terrorist attack? Can you recall that?
9 A. I don't recall that, no.
10 MR. METTRAUX: Well, perhaps, I will ask the registry to bring up
11 what is now marked as P45.
12 Q. That is, again, the white book, sir, or an excerpt thereof.
13 MR. METTRAUX: And the exact page would be N005-7606, and it is
14 under -- 07, I'm sorry. I'm being corrected. So that would be N005-7606
15 to 00 -- no, 0067. We'll manage.
16 Q. Sir, again, that is an excerpt of the book which you were shown by
17 the Prosecution earlier on. Can you see that?
18 And this is, sir, a letter from the prime minister of Macedonia,
19 Mr. Gorgevski, to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Kofi
20 Annan. It's under tab number 5. I'm sorry.
21 A. Thank you.
22 Q. And if I may draw your attention to the last paragraph but one, on
23 this page, there is a sentence which reads as follows: "The latest
24 terrorist attacks by the Albanian paramilitary army, in which 20
25 Macedonian soldiers were massacred." Can you find that?
Page 1648
1 A. Sorry, which paragraph?
2 Q. It is the last paragraph but one. It starts with the word, "I
3 will remind you once again."
4 A. Yes.
5 Q. And as you will see, there is a sentence which reads: "The latest
6 terrorist attacks by Albanian paramilitary army, in which 20 Macedonian
7 solders were massacred."
8 Sir, from the content of that document, would you agree that this
9 refers or this appears to refer to both attacks, in relation to which you
10 have given evidence it?
11 A. Would appear to do so, yes. The numbers add up.
12 Q. Thank you.
13 MR. METTRAUX: We'll also tender this document, Your Honour.
14 JUDGE PARKER: It will be received.
15 MR. METTRAUX: It's P45. So we understand that the entire
16 document has been received.
17 JUDGE PARKER: Then why do you want this separately?
18 MR. METTRAUX: We don't need it separately, Your Honour.
19 JUDGE PARKER: You may then proceed.
20 MR. METTRAUX:
21 Q. Is that correct, sir, that this attack or attacks were also
22 condemned by members of the international community?
23 A. I do believe that they were, yes, I recall that.
24 Q. Can you recall these attacks being condemned by a representative
25 of the United States of America, sir?
Page 1649
1 A. I do not recall that.
2 MR. METTRAUX: Could the registry please assist by bring up
3 document 1D-114. It is 1D00-1887.
4 Q. And, sir, that is a document which is under tab 6 of your binder.
5 So this is a press article from the AP company, and it is dated
6 the 10th of August, 2001. "It reports an incident," it starts in those,
7 "At least eight Macedonian soldiers and six were killed and six were
8 injured after a truck hit a land-mine, Friday, close to Skopje,
9 threatening a tentative peace deal to avert all out war in Macedonia."
10 The Defence Ministry said that.
11 Can you say that?
12 A. I can see that, yes.
13 Q. And it is -- in the third paragraph, it says: "The explosion
14 occurred some ten, six miles north of the capital, near the village of
15 Ljubanci and Ljuboten, when a convoy of only trucks drove over a land-mine
16 that had been planted." A defence military official told the Associated
17 Press.
18 Can you see that?
19 A. Yes.
20 THE INTERPRETER: The court reporter asks to slow down. It is in
21 the transcript.
22 MR. METTRAUX: We will slow down.
23 Q. Sir, may I your attention to a particular paragraph further down
24 in this statement, which starts with the word, "No one supports." Can you
25 say that paragraph?
Page 1650
1 A. I can see that.
2 Q. And you will see from the previous paragraph that those words
3 which I read to you are attributed to Mr. James Pardue. Can you tell this
4 Chamber who Mr. Pardue is and was at the time?
5 A. Hi no dealings with Mr. Pardue, but I seem to recall that he was
6 the US representative in the negotiations that were ongoing at the time.
7 He was the representative of the US dealing with this particular issue.
8 Q. And what Mr. Pardue had to say about this incident is as follows:
9 "No one supports the Albanian extremists, certainly not the United States
10 nor any of our European allies. The use of force by the Albanian
11 extremists in Macedonia is unacceptable and totally rejected by the United
12 States."
13 Can you see that?
14 A. Yes.
15 MR. METTRAUX: Your Honour, we will seek to tender this document
16 as well.
17 JUDGE PARKER: It will be received.
18 THE REGISTRAR: As Exhibit 1D14, Your Honours.
19 MR. METTRAUX:
20 Q. Sir, can you recall at that time that the incident that you record
21 was also strongly condemned by the Security Council of the United Nations?
22 A. No, I can't. At the time, I was dealing with many issues on the
23 ground, and that was above my pay level.
24 Q. Well, I'd like to show you a document then, if that may assist.
25 MR. METTRAUX: It is 1D-115 and its ERN is 1D00-2009, and it's
Page 1651
1 under tab 7 in your binder.
2 Q. As you will see from this document, sir, it is a statement which
3 is attributed to the president of the Security Council of the United
4 Nations, and it is dated 13th of August, 2001.
5 If you look at the second paragraph of that document, it welcomes
6 the signing of the framework agreement, thereby indicating that it was
7 adopted later on the 13th. It goes on to say this in the fourth
8 paragraph. It reiterates -- the Security Council reiterates: It is
9 called to all who have contact with extremist groups to make clear to them
10 that they have no support from any quarter in the international
11 community."
12 Can you see that?
13 A. I can see that.
14 Q. "The Council condemns the ongoing violence by extremists and calls
15 on all parties to respect the cease-fire. The Council rejects any attempt
16 to use violence, including the use of the land-mines to undermine the
17 framework agreement which has been negotiated by the democratically
18 elected political leadership of the former Yugoslav Republic of
19 Macedonia." Can you see that?
20 A. Yes.
21 MS. METTRAUX: [Interpretation] We tender that document as well.
22 JUDGE PARKER: It will be received.
23 THE REGISTRAR: As Exhibit 1D15, Your Honours.
24 MR. METTRAUX:
25 Q. Sir, you have explained earlier today the reasons why you were
Page 1652
1 using the expression EAAG when referring to the NLA. Is that correct that
2 you were also attempting to avoid using the term "terrorist," which was
3 perhaps loaded?
4 A. Yeah. The word"terrorist" in that environment at that time was
5 defined by different people in different ways; and to avoid that
6 confusion, again, the purpose of usage of the expression "ethnic Albanian
7 armed group" was to avoid confusion, yes.
8 Q. You would agree that the term "terrorist" was used regularly to
9 describe the NLA?
10 A. Not regularly by the international community.
11 Q. But would you agree that it was sometimes used even by the OSCE.
12 A. It may have been.
13 MR. METTRAUX: If may assist, I'll ask the court -- the Registry
14 to bring up document 1D-119 under the ERN 1D00-1587.
15 Q. And, sir, that is under the tab 11 of your court binder.
16 As you can see, it's the record of the Parliamentary Assembly
17 resolution adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE in Paris on
18 the 6th and 10th of July, 2001. Can you recall that event?
19 A. No.
20 MR. METTRAUX: Well, I'll ask the Registry to assist by moving to
21 the fourth page of that document. That would be 1D00-1590.
22 Q. And, sir, I will ask you to focus on paragraph 32 of the
23 Assembly's resolution on South-east Europe?
24 Paragraph 32 reads as follows: "Believes conflict in the former
25 Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and southern Serbia has the potential to
Page 1653
1 destabilise the entire region." Can you see that?
2 A. Yes, I see that.
3 Q. And it goes on to say this at paragraph 33: "Apposes ethnic
4 Albanian groups in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo, and
5 southern Serbia, who have instigated violence this past year. Condemns
6 repeated acts of terrorism in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia."
7 Can you see this?
8 A. I can see that.
9 Q. And at paragraph 34, it reiterates its full attachment to the
10 territorial integrity and sovereignty of the former Yugoslav Republic of
11 Macedonia; is that correct?
12 A. That is correct.
13 Q. So what the assembly of parties of the OSCE was saying, in
14 essence, was that they regarded this attack as terrorist attacks; isn't
15 it?
16 A. I'm not in a position to say that they linked the two.
17 Q. Well, what the text says that they condemned "repeated acts of
18 terrorism," and you will understand that to refer to the incidents such as
19 the laying the land-mines or other similar activities; wouldn't you?
20 MR. SAXON: Your Honour, if I may, the witness has said he is
21 unable to link what is in this paragraph to acts of terrorism and what he
22 saw in Macedonia. I am wondering what we would accomplish by going
23 further with this?
24 MR. METTRAUX: I can clarify this, Your Honour.
25 JUDGE PARKER: You can proceed, Mr. Mettraux.
Page 1654
1 MR. METTRAUX: Thank you.
2 Q. Sir, so that is clear, my question may have been badly phrased,
3 but I'm not suggesting that this would refer specifically to the incident
4 that you witnessed. But would it be fair to suggest that this expression
5 "repeated acts of terrorism" would or could refer to incidents such as
6 the one that you have personally witnessed it?
7 A. It could and I believe does refer to incidents of a nature not
8 defined in this paragraph that occurred in Macedonia, yes.
9 Q. Thank you. And, sir, just for our information, at that stage, how
10 many state parties were members of the OSCE, if you can recall,
11 approximately?
12 A. At that time, I believe it was 55 participating states of the
13 OSCE.
14 Q. Yes, yes. So this would, essentially, be the view, I mean the
15 common view, of those 55 states. Would that be correct?
16 A. Of the Parliamentary Assembly of the those 55 state, yes.
17 Q. Thank you. And I think you have referred earlier to your
18 experience or your knowledge of the conflict in Northern Ireland. Can you
19 remember that? Not your personal experience, but your knowledge of
20 activities in Northern Ireland. Is that correct?
21 A. That is correct.
22 Q. And what you understood, sir, from this knowledge -- well, I mean,
23 let me rephrase that.
24 You understood that at that time the IRA, Irish Republican Army,
25 was using similar devices; is that correct?
Page 1655
1 A. Could you be more specific?
2 Q. Well, was that -- the point of your comment earlier about your
3 familiarity was it to underline the fact that the IRA was also using
4 explosive of this sort that you saw under the road?
5 A. I was referring to the tactic of using explosives in -- in
6 drainage tunnels, culverts under roads as a means of attacking the
7 security forces, yes.
8 Q. And is that correct, sir, that the IRA, the Irish Republican Army,
9 was commonly regarded as a terrorist group; is that correct?
10 A. Yes, but not because of the use of that tactic.
11 Q. And you have indicated, also, that you were a member of the
12 British Army for 11 years, I believe, and I hope you will be able to
13 confirm that the British government and the British Army never regarded
14 what are refer to as the troubles, I think, as an armed convict; is that
15 correct?
16 A. It was referred to as "The Conflict" in Northern Ireland.
17 Q. But the government never regarded the situation as being an armed
18 conflict; is that correct?
19 A. I believe that is correct, yes.
20 Q. Sir, is it correct that in your activity, yours or of that your
21 colleague, you had the opportunity to record a number of crimes committed
22 by the NLA?
23 THE INTERPRETER: Interpreters comment: Could Mr. Mettraux speak
24 slower, please. The interpreters are not able to follow thoroughly.
25 THE WITNESS: I understood the question.
Page 1656
1 I recorded incidents and events, and attended the scenes of number
2 of those events, yes.
3 MR. METTRAUX:
4 Q. Is that correct that some other colleagues of yours recorded
5 similar events of crimes being committed by the members of the NLA during
6 this crisis period?
7 A. Again, they had the same role as I did. Many people in the
8 organisation, many of our monitors attended events and scenes of incidents
9 and reported on them, yes.
10 MR. METTRAUX: Can I ask the Registry, perhaps, to bring up
11 document 1D-121, and it's at ERN 1D00-1596 to 1598.
12 Q. And, sir, that is under tab 13, 1-3, of your binder.
13 Sir, would you agree that this would appear to be an internal OSCE
14 e-mail, dated 10th of July, 2001?
15 A. Yes.
16 Q. And it is being sent from the OSCE Spillover Monitor Mission to
17 Skopje; is that right?
18 A. Yes.
19 Q. And it is addressed to Ambassador Stoudmann. Can you recall who
20 he was at the time.
21 A. No, I am sorry. I can't.
22 Q. Now, if we go down this page, sir, there is a paragraph which
23 starts in those words: "I'm working on a supplemental report that will
24 address recent developments. The allegations with regard to alleged the
25 human rights violation by EAAG have increased and now include..." Can you
Page 1657
1 see that?
2 A. Yes, I can see that.
3 Q. And they include, under number one,"Illegal detentions of
4 civilians." Is that right?
5 A. Yes.
6 Q. "Forced labour," under number 2?
7 A. Yes.
8 Q. "Forced conscription," under number 3?
9 A. Yes.
10 Q. Under number four, "The use of juveniles in military operation or
11 within an area of engagement." Is that right?
12 A. Yes.
13 Q. Under number five, "Physical abuse and intimidation of assistants
14 at NLA check-points."
15 A. Yes.
16 Q. Under number six, it refers to "Ethnic cleansing."
17 A. Yes.
18 Q. Under number 7, "Looting."
19 A. Yes.
20 Q. Number 8, "Wanton destruction of property."
21 A. Yes.
22 Q. Under number 9, it refers to the use of mine and goes on to say
23 that the "EAAG is the only warring party known to have used mines." Is
24 that correct?
25 A. Is that correct to what as to what it says or what the situation
Page 1658
1 was?
2 Q. Yes. Is that what it says?
3 A. That's what it says.
4 Q. And under number 10, it refers to "Initiating hostilities in area
5 known to be inhabited by civilian, including children." Is that right?
6 A. Yes.
7 Q. And then it goes on to say this: "A videotape of the armed
8 activities in Tetovo, immediately prior to the cease-fire, shows children
9 playing in a field immediately adjacent to an area, from which the EAAG
10 initiated automatic weapons fire, and running away in terror as the
11 shooting continues."
12 Is that what it says?
13 A. That's what it says.
14 Q. And under 11, sir, it also refers to murder of an unarmed
15 civilian; is that correct?
16 A. That is correct.
17 MR. METTRAUX: Your Honour, I would like to tender this document
18 at this stage.
19 JUDGE PARKER: It will be received.
20 THE REGISTRAR: As Exhibit 1D16, Your Honours.
21 JUDGE PARKER: Mr. Mettraux, I assume you have deliberately
22 omitted tendering certain documents that you put to the witness and got
23 answers on; is that correct.
24 MR. METTRAUX: Well, partly, Your Honour. I think one of them I
25 have simply forgotten and will do that now, and that will be the document
Page 1659
1 under tab 11. That is 1D-119, 1D00-1587, and that is the Paris
2 Declaration of the OSCE. As for the report of the 16th of August, Your
3 Honour, I will come back to it with this witness, and I will seek to
4 tender it once I have asked questions from Mr. Bolton.
5 JUDGE PARKER: Thank you. The Paris Declaration will be received.
6 THE REGISTRAR: As Exhibit 1D17, Your Honours.
7 MR. METTRAUX: May I ask the Registry to bring up document 1D-122,
8 and that is ERN 1D00-1599.
9 Q. Sir, that is document 14, 1-4. Would you agree, sir, that this is
10 a special report prepared by your organisation concerning human rights
11 related complaints related to the EAAG in the Tetovo area?
12 A. It appears to be, yes.
13 Q. And if I may draw your attention to the first paragraph of that
14 document, where it say this: "The allegations under investigation are
15 related not only to the groups treatment of ethnic Macedonians in the
16 Tetovo area, but also towards persons in the ethnic Albanian community who
17 objected to the EAAG's activity." I'm afraid I can't read the last three
18 words.
19 But would you agree that that is what this document says?
20 A. Yes, I would.
21 Q. You will recall, I hope, that you have been asked by my colleague
22 about villages that were under the control of the NLA. Do you recall
23 that?
24 A. I recall that.
25 Q. May I ask you to turn your attention to the second paragraph of
Page 1660
1 that document then. It says this: "The mission specialists confirmed
2 reports from the OSCE's Tetovo area monitors that, even during the
3 cease-fire, the ethnic Macedonian civilian population north of Tetovo is
4 under heavy pressure from EAAG to leave."
5 Can you see that?
6 A. Yes.
7 Q. It goes on to say this: "These pressures take the form of
8 kidnappings, temporary detentions, and serious, persistent forms of
9 intimidation and restrictions on the movement of civilians attempting to
10 engage in ordinary activities such as agriculture, shopping, and going to
11 work."
12 Can you see that?
13 A. I can see that.
14 Q. And it goes to say this: "The conduct of the EAAG is consistent
15 with an attempt to ethnically cleanse that area."
16 Can you see that?
17 A. I can see that.
18 Q. You have also been asked by Mr. Saxon about what, I think, was
19 called authority bodies and check-points set up by the NLA.
20 Can you recall that?
21 A. Yes.
22 Q. If i may ask you to move on, then, to the third paragraph of that
23 document, which starts with the word, "furthermore." And in the middle of
24 this paragraph, it says this: "The EAAG is currently engaging in action
25 associated the with civilian admission of the area under their control;
Page 1661
1 for instance, regulating traffic, conducting 'police patrols,' closing
2 brothels."
3 Can you see that?
4 A. Yes.
5 Q. It goes on to say this: "Unfortunately, their treatment of ethnic
6 Macedonian civilians in the course of this activities actively discourages
7 a perception that said community would be safe, let alone fairly treated,
8 should the EAAG remain in control of their current area of influence in
9 this region."
10 Can you see that?
11 A. Yes.
12 Q. And it concludes thus: "To the extent the EAAG is engaged in
13 behaviour that creates intolerable conditions for ethnic Macedonians
14 during the cease-fire, it is both destabilising the cease-fire and
15 discouraging the political settlement."
16 Can you see that?
17 A. Yes.
18 Q. Then I will ask to you move on to the next page, the first
19 paragraph, sir.
20 MR. METTRAUX: For the Registry, that would be 1D00-1600.
21 Q. You were asked also, I believe, about check-points that were set
22 up by the NLA. Can you recall that?
23 A. Yes.
24 Q. And that's what the OSCE reports says about check-points in
25 Tetovo: "The mission has received numerous allegations of kidnappings
Page 1662
1 beatings, robberies, and intimidation of ethnic Macedonians at EAAG
2 check-points."
3 Can you see that?
4 A. Yes.
5 Q. And IT goes to say that: "Check-points are themselves a violation
6 of the cease-fire agreement." Is that what it says?
7 A. Yes.
8 Q. Then, sir, you were also asked about the proportion of ethnic
9 Albanians in the police forces. Can you recall that?
10 A. Yes.
11 Q. And I think you gave an estimate of one to 80; is that right?
12 A. Yes.
13 Q. Is that to say that it is a general estimate on your part and that
14 you didn't see figures in that regard?
15 A. That's correct.
16 Q. Well, if I may draw your attention, perhaps, to the third
17 paragraph of that document, which starts with the words, "The mission is
18 most likely..." Can you see that paragraph?
19 A. Yes.
20 Q. I would like to read the sentence in the middle of there, says as
21 follows: "As of 23rd of July, the mission has received credible
22 allegations that 25 persons have disappeared are allegedly detained by the
23 EAAG operating in Tetovo area."
24 Can you see that?
25 A. Yes.
Page 1663
1 Q. It goes on to say: "This number includes ethnic Macedonian
2 civilians and ethnic Albanians who were serving in the Ministry of
3 Interior as regular officers or as reservists at the time of their
4 disappearance."
5 Can you read that?
6 A. Yes.
7 Q. And would you agree, sir, that such kidnapping could very well be
8 a [indiscernible] disincentive to joining the Ministry?
9 A. Yes.
10 Q. And I will then ask you to go on to the last paragraph on that
11 page, which starts with the words "Human rights," and it say this: "Human
12 rights related complaints specific to the alleged conduct of the EAAG in
13 the Tetovo area now include: Illegal detention of civilians; beatings and
14 other physical abuse; forced labour; detained person report having been
15 forced to dig ditches; some ethnic Albanians report they were similarly
16 forced to assist the EAAG; forced conscription; use of juveniles in areas
17 of engagement; intimidation of ethnic Macedonian civilians, including
18 women, children, and elderly at check-points; looting and wanton
19 destruction of property; robbery."
20 And if you turn the page over, it will say: "Ethnic cleansing."
21 A. I have a page missing.
22 Q. It should be under the number 1D00-1602.
23 A. Uh-huh.
24 Q. Do you have it?
25 A. An extra page, yes.
Page 1664
1 Q. And it goes on to say this: "And engaging in a fire-fight with
2 automatic weapons without warning in an area immediately adjacent to
3 civilian dwellings and where children were at play."
4 Is that correct?
5 A. That's what it says.
6 MR. METTRAUX: Your Honour, I will tender this document as well.
7 JUDGE PARKER: It will be received.
8 THE REGISTRAR: As Exhibit 1D18, Your Honours.
9 MR. METTRAUX:
10 Q. Sir, are you also aware of the fact that the NLA would sometimes
11 intentionally target religion and historic sites?
12 A. I am.
13 Q. And would you be familiar with the incident of the Leshok
14 Monastery?
15 A. Yes.
16 Q. And could you tell this Chamber what happened with this monastery
17 or can you simply confirm that the monastery was destroyed by the NLA?
18 A. I can confirm that there was extensive. I did not myself visit
19 that location. It was outside my area of responsibility, but I was well
20 aware of reporting coming from the monitors who were responsible for that
21 area, yes.
22 Q. And are you also aware, sir, that the fact that the NLA would use
23 religious or historical sites or buildings as military emplacement?
24 A. Yes.
25 Q. Including mosques; is that correct?
Page 1665
1 A. That is correct.
2 Q. May I, perhaps, show you a document which is dated -- which covers
3 the period 1 to the 15 of August, and that is under tab 15.
4 MR. METTRAUX: That would be 1D-123 under the ERN number -- well,
5 the Registry has it already.
6 Q. Sir, if I may ask you to turn to the last page of that document,
7 that would be 1606, and focus your attention on the second paragraph or
8 first full paragraph, and it says this: "Two further observations are
9 also important. There has been a clear tendency on the part of the Tetovo
10 NLA to use religious and historic site as military installation or bases
11 of operations."
12 Can you read that?
13 A. Yes.
14 Q. And does that conform with your own experience?
15 A. Yes.
16 Q. And it goes on to say this: "Military emplacements are also
17 located in positions where they are on fire, includes religious and
18 historic sites. There is particular concern for the painted mosque and
19 the Teks [phoen] Monastery. The misuse of religious sites as military
20 installation must be condemned. It should be noted in the case of the
21 Teks, it appears the NLA was attempting to force the Macedonian forces to
22 fire on the site for propaganda purposes."
23 Can you read that?
24 A. Yes.
25 Q. And can you confirm that this report is, again, an OSCE report
Page 1666
1 covering the period of 1 to 15 August, 2001?
2 A. It certainly appears to be, yes.
3 Q. Would you agree sir that one particular problem relating to your
4 monitoring, as you call it, or investigation of human rights violation
5 related to the fact that the NLA would sometime pressure or intimidate the
6 population with whom you had to deal with?
7 A. Yes. We were not tasked to investigate. We were tasked to report
8 what had occurred. But, yes, in essence, that is correct.
9 Q. And if I may draw your attention, again, on the same document,
10 sir, that is just under last paragraph but one, starting in those words:
11 "Finally, it should be noted that investigation of human rights related
12 incidents is complicated by the problem that the NLA is applying pressure
13 to its own people, and must be considered as a possible source of human
14 rights abuses to ethnic Albanians, including beatings and murders."
15 Can you see that?
16 A. Yes.
17 Q. And it goes on say that: "Whilst the NLA officially denies
18 engaging in human rights abuses of ethnic Macedonians, such actions are
19 privately acknowledged in conversations with many person who speak own
20 their behalf. Ethnic Albanian of some professional standing and stature
21 have in the same breath denied that the NLA has engaged in human rights
22 violation, while vigorously acknowledging that, of course, the NLA has
23 executed, beaten, and threatened 'collaborators' and also destroyed their
24 property."
25 Can you see that?
Page 1667
1 A. Yes.
2 MR. METTRAUX: Your Honour, we will also seek to tender this
3 document at this stage.
4 JUDGE PARKER: It will be received.
5 THE REGISTRAR: As Exhibit 1D19, Your Honours.
6 MR. METTRAUX:
7 Q. Sir, you will recall that during your visits on the -- well, let's
8 bring that back perhaps.
9 Going back to the 10th of August, were you aware at the time that
10 the NLA had a presence in the village of Ljuboten?
11 A. At that time, no.
12 Q. And were you aware of any information having been received by your
13 organisation to that effect at that time?
14 A. No.
15 MR. METTRAUX: Well, may I ask the Registry to bring up document
16 1D-124, under the ERN 1D00-1607.
17 Q. And it is the under tab 16, sir, of your binder.
18 As you will see from the cover, it says that it is a daily
19 bulletin of non-compliance with the cease-fire from 1800 hours on 9
20 August, 2001 to 1800 hours on 10 August 2001. Can you see that?
21 A. Yes.
22 Q. And if I ask you to simply focus on the bottom right-hand corner,
23 you will see that this document comes from the mission archives of the
24 OSCE; is that correct?
25 A. Yes.
Page 1668
1 Q. And if I may ask you to turn your attention to page 1618, that
2 will be page number 12 of this document, and ask to you focus on the
3 number 37 item on this list.
4 And it relates from the earliest record to the 10th of August, and
5 it says this: "At 1530, a patrol from the police station Mirkovci
6 reported that in the house of the family Zendelovski in the village
7 Ljuboten, three persons were dressed in black uniforms and armed with auto
8 weapons."
9 Can you see that?
10 A. I can see that, yes.
11 Q. Was that information which you had in your possession at the time?
12 A. No, I don't recall that.
13 Q. But have you no reason to believe that it was not in the
14 possession of the OSCE at the time, in view of the fact that --
15 A. That's correct.
16 MR. METTRAUX: Well, Your Honour, I will also tender this
17 document.
18 JUDGE PARKER: It will be received.
19 THE REGISTRAR: As Exhibit 1D20, Your Honours.
20 MR. METTRAUX:
21 Q. Sir, I would like to move on to the 11th of August, if I may. And
22 you will recall that on that day, again, you heard mortar and infantry
23 fire coming from above the hills above Ljuboten. And I think you have
24 indicated that you heard this -- the sound of mortar and infantry weapons
25 at around 7.30 in the morning, early in the morning; would that be
Page 1669
1 correct?
2 A. I seem to recall that it was early in the morning, yes.
3 Q. And the sound of fire was clearly audible from Radisani; is that
4 correct?
5 A. Very much so, yes.
6 Q. Were you able, at the time, to locate the origin of the fire?
7 A. Approximately. We were able to observe impact, as well.
8 Q. And the impact that you witnessed were on the ridge above the
9 village of Ljuboten; is that correct?
10 A. Above Ljubanci, yes.
11 Q. Hmm. And is that correct that you -- the first impression that
12 you form was that one side was trying, and I think you used the expression
13 "to clear the other." Is that correct?
14 A. I may have used that expression. I believe there was a clearance
15 operation in place, clearing the area. I can relate that in military
16 terms, yes.
17 Q. But you have indicated, also, that later on you heard heavy
18 gun-fire coming from the same general area; is that correct?
19 A. Yes.
20 Q. And is that also correct, sir, that you formed the view then that
21 the activity and fighting in the hills was between the NLA and security
22 forces of the Republic of Macedonia?
23 A. That was my belief, yes.
24 Q. And, again, that was a belief that was shared by your colleague,
25 Mr. Rogic?
Page 1670
1 A. Yes.
2 Q. On that day, sir -- I mean, I don't want to go through all your
3 evidence because the statement has been admitted. But on that day, you
4 left your headquarters in Radisani and, again, went towards the village of
5 Ljuboten; is that correct?
6 A. Yes.
7 Q. Were you able to reach the village on that day?
8 A. I don't recall. No, we weren't. I don't believe we were. I
9 don't recall accurately, no.
10 Q. I understand that you indicated that on that day you saw a great
11 crowd of angry civilians on the road from Radisani to Ljuboten. Can you
12 recall that?
13 A. Yes, I can.
14 Q. And you also recall having been advised by the police not to go to
15 Ljuboten for your own security; is that right?
16 A. That's correct, yes.
17 Q. You have indicated to the Prosecutor that you had an agreement
18 with, I think, between the OSCE and the government about your freedom to
19 travel around the country; is that correct?
20 A. That's correct.
21 Q. And on that day, sir, you were eventually allowed to go through
22 and towards the village of Ljuboten; is that correct?
23 A. Yes. I'm sitting here trying to recall exactly which day we went
24 in there. We attempted many times, and we did at some point get into the
25 village, yes.
Page 1671
1 Q. And, again, you didn't see any police check-points on your way
2 from Radisani up to Ljuboten up to Ljuboten, that is?
3 A. Yeah. There's -- there was police check-point which was
4 permanently there. It had a name and I can't remember what it was now,
5 but there was a semi-permanent police check-point on the route.
6 Q. In the proximity of Ljuboten?
7 A. On the road to Ljuboten, yes. On a ridge that we regularly
8 travelled along, whenever we did go to the village, yes.
9 Q. But you were not stopped on that day at that check-point?
10 A. We would have been stopped, but --
11 Q. You were allowed through?
12 A. Yes. We didn't bypass the police check-points in that way, no.
13 Q. Okay. Well, let's move on to the 12th of August, if I may.
14 You've indicated in your statement or on your notes, rather, that
15 early in the morning, between 8.00 and 8.05, you heard what you believe to
16 be a loud mortar round; is that correct?
17 A. That's correct.
18 Q. And shortly thereafter, you saw a large plumb of smoke coming from
19 a location from within the village; is that correct?
20 A. Yes.
21 Q. It was close to the Orthodox church?
22 A. Yes.
23 MR. METTRAUX: Could the Registry please bring up, I think it is
24 photo number 4. It is a panorama picture of the village of Ljuboten. It
25 has the ERN N005-7065.
Page 1672
1 Q. Sir, are you able to see on that picture the place where you saw
2 that smoke coming from? If you want the picture to be focussed on one
3 particular part of this panorama, we can certainly arrange for that.
4 A. Yeah. Can we enlarge the right-hand side, yeah, and go left.
5 Q. Are you able to see the location where you saw that smoke coming
6 from on that day?
7 A. Not precisely. It would help if there was a southern view of it,
8 which was the view that I had.
9 Q. Can you see the general area, perhaps, where the smoke could have
10 been coming from? Can you identify that?
11 A. I believe so, yes.
12 Q. Well, with the assistance of the usher, could you mark this
13 general location.
14 A. As I say, it is difficult to be precise from this view, but I
15 believe it was approximately this area. It may have been -- may have been
16 have been this area, but in that rough direction or that rough location.
17 MR. METTRAUX: We'll tender that picture, Your Honour, at this
18 stage. We'll attempt with also a southern version of this photograph.
19 At this stage, we will tender this one.
20 JUDGE PARKER: I wonder, Mr. Bolton, whether you could mark a
21 number 1 in the lower of the two areas you have circled.
22 THE WITNESS: Certainly.
23 JUDGE PARKER: Because that seemed from your evidence to be your
24 preferred memory of the location, and the second and alternative
25 possibility. Am I right?
Page 1673
1 THE WITNESS: Your Honour, it is very difficult. I wouldn't, at
2 this stage, wish to preference either.
3 JUDGE PARKER: Well, there's no need to mark the second, as long
4 as we know 1 is the one you first marked.
5 THE WITNESS: Mm-hm.
6 JUDGE PARKER: Thank you very much.
7 It will be received.
8 THE REGISTRAR: As Exhibit 1D21 Your Honour.
9 MR. METTRAUX:
10 Q. Sir, I will try to show you a picture form the southern
11 perspective to see whether it facilitate the identification of location.
12 MR. METTRAUX: And that will be N005-7603.
13 Q. And, again, sir, please feel free to direct the Registry to the
14 area which --
15 A. If we could zoom in on the left-hand side, please. A little
16 further. Can we go further?
17 Q. Are you able to locate the position from --
18 A. Yeah, I believe so. It was the -- in the area of this white wall
19 here.
20 MR. METTRAUX: We'll tender this as well, Your Honour.
21 JUDGE PARKER: It will be received.
22 THE REGISTRAR: As Exhibit 1D22, Your Honours.
23 MR. METTRAUX:
24 Q. And after this first loud explosion, sir, is it correct that you
25 heard two similar explosions shortly thereafter?
Page 1674
1 A. That's correct.
2 Q. And you also understood that that they landed in the general area
3 where you had seen the first round land; is that correct?
4 A. They were closer together, to each other, but separate, slightly
5 separate from the first impact or first detonation.
6 Q. And you understood or you heard, rather, a number of mortars being
7 fired in response to this origin of fire. Is that what you understood?
8 A. Following those original three detonations, yes.
9 Q. Is that correct that you understood the first three detonation to
10 have been come the NLA, sir?
11 A. That was my belief.
12 Q. And your belief was that those three mortars from the NLA were
13 directed at the police post, next to the church; is that correct?
14 A. There were potential targets in that area for the NLA, one of
15 which was a police location.
16 Q. And you understood the later fire, that is, after the first three
17 rounds, to have been the response of the army to this original fire; is
18 that correct?
19 A. I didn't know what they were in response to, but they followed,
20 yes.
21 Q. And you understood those to come from the army position.
22 A. Yes.
23 Q. I'd like to show you --
24 A. Can I --
25 Q. Yes, go ahead.
Page 1675
1 A. The security forces position, I wasn't in a position to say
2 whether it was army, police. I can't say that.
3 JUDGE PARKER: Could you assist me, if I could intrude,
4 Mr. Mettraux.
5 The responsive fire, were you able to see the fall of that fire?
6 THE WITNESS: At times, yes, Your Honour.
7 JUDGE PARKER: And where was that? Is it in the village or out of
8 the village?
9 THE WITNESS: It was further to the right of this photograph,
10 pretty much on the right-hand edge of this photograph, as it is shown now.
11 JUDGE PARKER: Within the village.
12 THE WITNESS: Within the village, yes, Your Honour. At times, we
13 could see the smoke of what we believed to be impact detonations, and
14 these were impact detonations that we believe came from mortar bombs that
15 were fired into that location. At times, that smoke was not -- we
16 couldn't see the impact, the explosion, but we could see the smoke rising
17 from those explosions or those detonations.
18 JUDGE PARKER: In one or two of his questions, Mr. Mettraux has
19 used the phrase "responsive fire. " I saw in that the possibility that
20 the responding fire was aimed at the source of the original firing. Is
21 that what you were meaning, or were you describing something differently?
22 THE WITNESS: If I can refer to my military background, the -- it
23 was unlikely, in n my view, that the firing position of the first three
24 detonations was within the village, because it is very close, for what I
25 believe to be a heavy mortar.
Page 1676
1 In that respect, the detonations, that we saw that corresponded
2 with the security forces position firing, were not landing in the area --
3 in an area that I would expect to find a firing position, if that
4 clarifies the situation.
5 JUDGE PARKER: Yes. And was the responsive fire apparently a
6 similar calibre mortar?
7 THE WITNESS: I believe it was a smaller one.
8 JUDGE PARKER: And in number?
9 THE WITNESS: To be specific, the first three detonations both I
10 and my colleague believed were probably 120-millimetre mortars.
11 Subsequent explosions were medium mortars, 81-, 82-millimetre mortars, and
12 we estimated somewhere in the region of 60 rounds fired.
13 JUDGE PARKER: Thank you.
14 I'm sorry, Mr. Mettraux, but there was an area there that I
15 thought we might as well explore and finish with.
16 MR. METTRAUX: I may perhaps assist further, Your Honour.
17 I will ask the Registry to bring up document 1D-125, and it is
18 under the ERN 1D00-1634.
19 Q. Sir, it is under tab 18 of your binder. I think that will be the
20 next one on your binder, and, again, that would be an OSCE spot report of
21 the 14th of August, 2001; is that correct?
22 A. Yes.
23 Q. If I may ask you to focus on point --
24 A. Sorry, I have 13th of August.
25 Q. Well, the document we have is dated 14th of August. I think this
Page 1677
1 is the this one, yes. Sorry, my mistake.
2 Yeah. If I may ask you to focus on the letter B, on the first
3 page, under the heading "Central Area." Can you see this?
4 A. Yes.
5 Q. It says that: "Ljuboten remains a focal point of interest, with
6 accusation in the media that there have been extrajudicial killings of
7 three people in the village, in addition to a further three women and four
8 men killed during the firing on Sunday."
9 Can you see that?
10 A. Yes.
11 Q. If I may ask to focus on the last paragraph but one, it says this:
12 "It now seems clear that the EAAG mortar fire brought to bear onto the
13 ethnic Macedonian part of the village originally sparked the fighting, and
14 at least a covert presence of EAAG did in fact exist in the village."
15 Can you see that?
16 A. I can see that, yes.
17 MR. METTRAUX: Well, Your Honour, we're going to tender this at
18 this point.
19 JUDGE PARKER: It will be received.
20 THE REGISTRAR: As Exhibit 1D23, Your Honours.
21 MR. METTRAUX: I'm grateful. And I will ask the Registry to bring
22 back the document.
23 Q. That is under tab 2 of your binder, sir.
24 MR. METTRAUX: That is under the ERN 1D00-1532, I would believe.
25 That would be incorrect, actually. It is N001-5356, and that would be the
Page 1678
1 third page of that document.
2 Q. Sir, if I may ask you to focus on the fourth paragraph on that
3 page, with the paragraph started "On 12th of August." Can you see this?
4 A. Yes.
5 Q. It says this: "On 12 of August, at 8.05 hours, the first mortar
6 round fell on the village. It landed in the vicinity of the Orthodox
7 church in the Macedonian section of the village."
8 Can you see that?
9 A. Yes.
10 Q. And is that consistent with your observations?
11 A. Yes.
12 Q. "Two more rounds followed, each closer to the church. All three
13 are believed to have been 120-millimetre mortars."
14 Again, is it consistent with your observations?
15 A. Yes.
16 Q. "These are more likely to have been EAAG rounds than government,
17 and were the first shots fired into the village. Thereafter, the army
18 fired on the Albanian side of the village with its smaller calibre
19 mortars."
20 Is that what it says?
21 A. That's a what it says.
22 Q. And is that consistent with your observations?
23 A. Yes.
24 Q. The next question that I have -- or the next point that I would
25 like to bring up with you is in the same document, sir, a bit further
Page 1679
1 down. That's the last paragraph but one, and that is the conclusion of
2 the author of that report about the exchange of fire. And it starts with
3 the word "In any event." Can you see that?
4 A. Yes.
5 Q. It says this: "It is clear that Macedonian fire on the village
6 was directed at the north edge of town, particularly near the fields, and
7 it appears that the security forces moved up through this area in an
8 action to clear it of any hostile forces that might be located there."
9 Can you see this?
10 A. Yes, I can.
11 Q. "It is also within the realm of possibility that the death of the
12 first two men occurred during that operation."
13 Is that what it says?
14 A. Yes.
15 MR. METTRAUX: Your Honour, I will tender it at this stage,
16 although I will use it again in the course of the cross-examination.
17 MR. SAXON: Your Honour, may I have a moment.
18 JUDGE PARKER: Yes, Mr. Saxon.
19 MR. SAXON: Your Honour, a fair reading of this document shows
20 that a number of portions are highly inconsistent, if I may say, with the
21 earlier report that was tendered during examination-in-chief that had been
22 authored by this witness. And so the Prosecution is concerned that really
23 the probative value and reliability of this document has not been
24 established. And to establish it, I think some additional questions need
25 to be asked of this witness regarding other portions of this document and
Page 1680
1 the person who authored it and how it was created.
2 Now, Mr. Mettraux could do that during cross-examination, or if
3 the Court prefers, the document could be marked for identification now and
4 the Prosecution could pursue this on redirect before any final decision is
5 made.
6 JUDGE PARKER: Is it not an OSCE report?
7 MR. SAXON: It is, Your Honour.
8 JUDGE PARKER: And we have been to date receiving OSCE reports,
9 including a number not directly authored by the witness. From my point of
10 view, the appropriate approach would be to receive the document because of
11 its apparent credibility due to its source, to leave it then for
12 re-examination, to explore further the reliability of its content, a
13 matter to be taken into account by the Chamber in its eventual weighing of
14 it.
15 You followed all that, Mr. Mettraux?
16 MR. METTRAUX: Absolutely, Your Honour. There might be a few
17 issues with which Mr. Bolton may want to take issue with the content of
18 that document. At this stage, he hasn't taken issue it; and as you
19 pointed out, if the Prosecution think there a discrepancies between the
20 two, it can deal with that in re-examination.
21 JUDGE PARKER: I think, in our experience, there are likely to be
22 some various ranges of qualities in a document like this. And individual
23 officers of an organisation like OSCE might well embrace parts of a
24 report, not necessarily others. But the overall document has a
25 credibility due to the nature of its source; and if there are particular
Page 1681
1 issues, I think they can be adequately explored in the process of your
2 cross-examination, perhaps Mr. Apostolski's, and Mr. Saxon's
3 re-examination.
4 So this document will be received.
5 MR. METTRAUX: Thank you, Your Honour.
6 THE REGISTRAR: As Exhibit 1D24, Your Honours.
7 MR. METTRAUX:
8 Q. Sir, there is another document I would like to ask you to look at.
9 MR. METTRAUX: That is document 1D-127, under the ERN 1D00-1640.
10 Q. That's under your tab 20 in the binder.
11 As you can see, sir, this is a report related to the military
12 activities on 12th of August, 2001. Do you have that in front of you?
13 A. I do.
14 Q. And it is records the fact that: "On the 12th of August, 2001, in
15 the morning, I was at the rest house performing my regular duties; and
16 about 8.00, we heard main long lasting repeated shots."
17 Can you see that?
18 A. I can see that.
19 Q. And if you can see from the signature, the "I" stands for Captain
20 Grozdanovski [phoen], a commander of a mortar battery. If you continue
21 through that document, you will see that: "Later, the commander of the
22 battalion called me and ordered me to visit the observation post at
23 check-point Smoke, and to prepare the battery for action."
24 Can you see that? It's the second sentence of the first paragraph
25 sir.
Page 1682
1 A. Yes.
2 Q. And if I may ask you now to turn to the second paragraph, it says
3 this: "From the observation towards the village, I realised that the
4 terrorists were firing from the area of the church, from an old house
5 about 100 metres under the mosque. Most probably, there was a sniper;
6 whereas, above the mosque, from the new houses, the second one, there was
7 a machine-gun firing towards us."
8 Can you see that?
9 A. I can see that.
10 Q. "Then I informed the commander about the situation, and he ordered
11 me to destroy those positions with several mortar shells from a
12 120-millimetre mortar."
13 Can you see that?
14 A. Yes.
15 Q. And it goes on to say this: "In the period of time between 9.00
16 and 10.00 hours, we fired several mortar shells as follows: Around the
17 church, we fired eight mortar shells; towards the sniper, we fired five
18 mortar shells; whereas, towards the machine-gun, we fired three mortar
19 shells; at the military activities in the area of Ljuboten village, we
20 fired altogether 16 120-millimetre mortar shells."
21 Can you see that?
22 A. Yes.
23 Q. And then it goes on to say: "The military activities continued,
24 even afterwards; but because the police had entered the village, I did not
25 engage anymore the battery after 10.00, towards Ljuboten village."
Page 1683
1 May I ask you, sir, whether that is consistent with your own
2 observations?
3 A. Can I just have a moment to read through it again?
4 Q. Certainly.
5 Perhaps to assist you, this identifies three firing positions from
6 the terrorists: One from the area of the church; the second one from an
7 old house, about 100 metre from the new houses; and then one from above
8 the mosque.
9 And then he goes to say that they fired eight mortars at the area
10 towards the church, five towards the second location where the sniper was,
11 and three towards the location where the machine-gun was.
12 A. Can you repeat your question to me? Sorry.
13 Q. The question was, essentially, whether some aspects - I'm not
14 suggesting that you might have observed all of these events - but does
15 this description of what happened in that part of the village coincide
16 with or at least consistent with your own observations or a part thereof.
17 A. A part thereof. It is my belief that there were more mortar
18 rounds fired in that area, or certainly that impacted in that area, than
19 this would account for.
20 Q. Well, we will come to that.
21 MR. METTRAUX: And I will ask the Registry -- well, first, I will
22 tender this document, Your Honour.
23 JUDGE PARKER: It will be received.
24 THE REGISTRAR: As Exhibit 1D25, Your Honours.
25 MR. METTRAUX:
Page 1684
1 Q. I will ask --
2 A. Can I add that I'm referring only to the mortar fire, and I did
3 not observe any small arms fire.
4 Q. I understand.
5 MR. METTRAUX: Well, if the Registry can now bring up document
6 1D-128, under the ERN 1D00-1642.
7 Q. That's, sir, another similar military report of the same day.
8 This one is signed by Lieutenant Braznjarkovski [phoen] Darko, and this
9 report suggests that at around 8.00 in the morning, an army position above
10 Ljuboten, again, "smoke was targeted by machine-gun and sniper fire."
11 Can you see that?
12 A. Mm-hm, yes.
13 Q. And, again, it goes on to say that an order was given to respond
14 to enemy fire and to shell the position from which fire was coming from
15 inside the village.
16 Can you see that?
17 A. Yes.
18 Q. And the report identifies three positions from which the fire was
19 coming from the village, and I will list them for you and you will tell me
20 whether that's the correct ones.
21 It says that: "The machine-gun position was located left from the
22 mosque; a sniper position from the house under the mosque."
23 A. Sorry. Can you -- oh, yes. Okay.
24 Q. "And, finally, a mortar position in the direction of the village
25 graveyard." Is that correct?
Page 1685
1 A. That's what it says, yes.
2 Q. And then it goes on to say that the army returned fire to all
3 three positions, with six mortars towards the first position, five towards
4 the second, and five in the general direction of the graveyard. Is that
5 correct?
6 A. That's what it says, yes.
7 Q. And, again, sir, would that be generally consistent with your
8 observations or a part thereof?
9 A. A part thereof. That would account for some more of the mortar
10 bombs that I believe landed in that area, yes.
11 MR. METTRAUX: Your Honour, I will seek to tender this document as
12 well.
13 JUDGE PARKER: It will be received.
14 THE WITNESS: [Interpretation] As Exhibit 1D26.
15 JUDGE PARKER: I think we will have to interrupt you,
16 Mr. Mettraux. I'm sorry.
17 We will have the second break now, and resume at five minutes past
18 1.00.
19 --- Recess taken at 12.36 p.m.
20 --- On resuming at 1.09 p.m.
21 JUDGE PARKER: Mr. Mettraux.
22 MR. METTRAUX: Thank you, Your Honour.
23 Q. Mr. Bolton, I attempted to make a modest contribution to the
24 completion strategy of the Tribunal by speaking fast, and I have been
25 reminded by many interpreters that I should slow down and should pass on
Page 1686
1 the message to you. So if we can both try not no overlap with each other
2 and perhaps take a bit more time, I shall endeavor to do that.
3 Your Honour, I would also like to bring to your attention another
4 matter which the Registry tree kindly pointed out to us, and this relates
5 to one exhibit which we have tendered. We referred to it as Rule 65 ter
6 223, but in fact what we have tendered and what has been admitted are the
7 first five pages of that document, which consist of the report which I
8 have been discussing with Mr. Bolton. And for the record, the ERN range
9 of that document is N001-5356 to N001-53601. I'm grateful to the Registry
10 for that.
11 Q. Sir, we left off at 12th of August, and I would just like to ask
12 you a two or three more questions about that day.
13 The first one is: You would confirm that you did not enter the
14 village on that day; is that correct?
15 A. That's correct.
16 Q. And do I understand properly that the reason why you did not or
17 could not enter the village on that day was because of the animosity of
18 the civilians, or some civilians in any case, that were around the village
19 and the animosity which they showed to your team; is that correct?
20 A. There was -- when we tried to approach the village initially,
21 right at the beginning following the mine strike, there was animosity from
22 the villagers in Ljubanci. Subsequently, we did not meet with animosity
23 when trying to approach Ljuboten from the other direction, which was
24 further to the east avoiding Ljubanci.
25 Q. And was there any particular reason why you did not attempt to
Page 1687
1 enter the village on that day? Was it the same animosity?
2 A. There was no animosity, but there was --
3 Q. The potential?
4 A. -- a determination on, on one occasion, not to let us past, and
5 there was also occasions when we were stopped by the police.
6 Q. And did you ask to it go through or was it your own determination
7 that the risk was too great to get into the village on that day?
8 A. We had no intention to drive into the middle of an exchange of
9 fire. But nonetheless we were, on occasion, stopped by civilians and did
10 not want to provoke an incident and on other occasions stopped by police,
11 and, again, did not want to provoke an incident by pushing the matter
12 further, by driving through, for example.
13 Q. Is that when the police officer explained to you that they were
14 doing that for the purpose of your own security; is that correct?
15 A. Correct.
16 Q. There is another matter, sir, I would like to bring back these
17 notes taken by Mr. Tucker which have been marked as 1D12, and that would
18 be the third and last page of that document. It's the first tab of your
19 binder, sir. That would be the previous document, I believe.
20 If you --
21 A. Yeah.
22 Q. Yes. If you focus on the third paragraph on that page, it records
23 the following event, incident of fact in any case. It says, "he," that's
24 you, Mr. Bolton, "and Vladimir Rogac were trying to facilitate this
25 movement," that's the movement of the villagers," and were in contact the
Page 1688
1 HQ who in turn were in contact with the Crisis Management Committee. The
2 ICRC were also involved ..."
3 Can you remember trying to facilitate the evacuations of the
4 villagers on that day?
5 A. Yes.
6 Q. And can you also recall that the Crisis Management Centre was
7 notified of that fact and that a request for police assistance was made?
8 A. I am not privy to the conversations that took place between the --
9 our headquarters and the Crisis Management Centre. However, we reported
10 everything back to them, and all our requests were at that point
11 channelled through them.
12 Q. And are you aware that shortly thereafter the Crisis Management
13 Centre in fact sent a police unit or police group to assist with the
14 evacuation, or is that a fact that you are not aware of?
15 A. I'm not aware of that.
16 Q. Thank you. I'd like to move on now to the 14th, sir, the 14th of
17 August, when you entered the village at last. I won't go through your
18 evidence again, but I think you explained in your statement that you
19 considered that the best course of action was for you to contact the
20 police to ask an investigative judge to attend; is that correct?
21 A. That's correct.
22 Q. And can you recall,, sir, whom in the police you called at the
23 time to ask for the investigative judge to come?
24 A. We had a -- I believe, a number of conversations with the police
25 both directly and indirectly. I refer there to other organisations that
Page 1689
1 were involved in this also. There was ICRC and there was UNHCR. And we
2 were speaking both directly and indirectly there to the command element of
3 Skopje police.
4 Q. Can you remember the name of that person? Was it
5 Mr. Bliznakovski?
6 A. And -- there were two people, I think, that were on the Macedonian
7 police side involved in that conversation. Those communications which
8 Mr. Petro Stojnovski [phoen] and Mr. Bliznakovski, yes.
9 Q. And would you agree that there those were the people who had
10 negotiated your safe passage to the village; is that correct?
11 A. I specifically don't recall that particular incident, of them
12 facilitating our movement at that time. But certainly on other occasions
13 they did.
14 Q. And on that occasion, sir, the police allowed you through without
15 any problem to the village; is that correct?
16 A. Yes.
17 Q. And they also --
18 A. There was brief delay.
19 Q. Yes. And they also arranged for an investigative judge to come to
20 the Cair police; is that correct?
21 A. Now that I don't know. I don't know where that -- I don't know of
22 that.
23 Q. I'll come back to that. Now you explained, I think, in your
24 statement that you had a number of conversations with the police in Cair
25 thereafter. Is that correct? Through the police, to the investigative
Page 1690
1 judge. Is that correct?
2 A. I was not in Cair -- Cair myself, if you're referring to the
3 police station there. And I do not know the location of the police that
4 we were talking, because it was via telephone.
5 Q. Okay. Is that correct, sir, that, I mean, you were able to enter
6 the village without any difficulty and there was no interference on the
7 part of the police during your stay in the village?
8 A. That's correct.
9 Q. And you were left to do what you wanted at that time?
10 A. Yes.
11 Q. I'd like to ask you now a few questions about your observations in
12 the village and in particular your observations of the bodies of the five
13 deceased.
14 Is that correct, sir - and that may be an obvious question - that
15 you had no ballistic or forensic information at the time?
16 A. Regarding what?
17 Q. Regarding the circumstances or causes of death of these five
18 individuals.
19 A. No, that's correct. I had no forensic information relating to
20 those five bodies.
21 Q. And am I correct to understand then that the conclusions that you
22 drew were based solely on your discussions with some of the villagers and
23 your own observations?
24 A. And my own experience --
25 Q. And your own experience.
Page 1691
1 A. -- and knowledge of fire-arms and the effect of -- of bullets.
2 Q. And would you say, or am I correct in stating your position as
3 follows. That the -- your observations about the two -- the first two men
4 that you observed were particularly suspicious, if I can put that in those
5 terms?
6 A. I was concerned at the manner in which they appeared to have met
7 their death, yes.
8 MR. METTRAUX: Perhaps I will ask the registry once again to
9 bring 1D24.
10 Q. And that is again, sir, the report of the 16th of August and it is
11 at tab 2 of your document. That would be the second page of that
12 document.
13 And that would be the paragraph which starts with: "Two of the
14 dead were along ..."
15 Can you see that?
16 A. Yes.
17 Q. I will read the paragraph to you: "Two of the dead were along or
18 near the road where it passed through a residential area. Three others
19 were found in a field on a hillside immediately above the uppermost house
20 at the edge of town."
21 Can you see that?
22 A. I see that.
23 Q. And it says this: "Based on observations of the scene, including
24 the conditions of the bodies and the wounds they received, there is a
25 particular concern regarding the circumstances of the deaths of the two
Page 1692
1 men found within the town. Both of these individuals may have been shot
2 at close range, and there are numerous spent shell casings in the area of
3 the bodies."
4 Is that consistent with your own observations, sir?
5 A. Yes. With the -- the final sentence states: "Both of these
6 individuals may have been shot at close range." I would emphasise "may"
7 and that I wasn't the author of this report. There were certainly
8 numerous spent shell casings in the area of the bodies.
9 Q. And your insistence, sir, on the word "may" is that you would not
10 feel comfortable making any final determination on that point. Is that
11 how I should understand it?
12 A. My -- I'm confident that they were shot. I have no means to judge
13 the distance from which they were shot or from which the bullets that hit
14 them were fired.
15 Q. And would that be correct, sir, that some of the injuries which
16 you observed could also have been done post-mortem. Is that a
17 possibility?
18 A. Some, yes.
19 Q. I will just move on to the next paragraph of the same report, sir.
20 It starts with the word: "In the case of the first men, it was noted that
21 there were what appeared to be gouge marks in the centre of a blood-stain
22 on the pavement that were at least superficially consistent with the men
23 having been shot whilst lying on the ground -- on the road," I'm sorry.
24 Is that again at least consistent with your own observations?
25 A. Yes.
Page 1693
1 Q. Sir, if we turn to the next page of that document at page 3. And,
2 sir, that would be, again, the last paragraph but one, starting with the
3 word "in any event."
4 Is that correct, that the report goes on to sound a more cautious
5 note when it says this: "It appears that the security forces moved up in
6 this area in an action to clear it of any hostile forces that might be
7 located there."
8 And it says this: "It is also within the realm of possibility
9 that the death of the first two men occurred during that operation."
10 Would you agree, sir, that it would be a reasonable possibility,
11 as indicated by your colleague in the report?
12 A. I do not know what was in the mind of the author of this at the
13 time, but -- and it also depends on the definition of the operation, but,
14 yes, in effect.
15 Q. And I think you have indicated, sir, in your own reports, or
16 statement, I'm sorry, that did you not search any of the bodies; is that
17 right?
18 A. I did not search them, I did not go through the pockets, I did not
19 go -- did not search them for items on the body, no.
20 Q. I apologise, sir. If we turn now to the other three bodies that
21 you observed which were further up the hills north of the village.
22 If I may ask you to turn to the second page of this same document,
23 and it is a paragraph that starts with the word "in contrast to the
24 situation." That would be, I believe, the fourth paragraph. Can you see
25 that?
Page 1694
1 A. Yes.
2 Q. In middle of that paragraph, it says this: "There is a general
3 sense that their death," which is the three deceased, "are less suspicious
4 and possibly related to legitimate military actions."
5 Can you see that?
6 A. I can see that.
7 Q. And the report notes, in particular, that there were no shell
8 casings around the bodies, which is consistent with your observation,
9 isn't it?
10 A. Yes.
11 Q. There were also no superficial indications that they were shot at
12 close range. Is that again consistent with your observations?
13 A. Yes.
14 Q. And the report also notes that there were signs of fire on two --
15 to a nearby house; is that correct?
16 A. Yes.
17 Q. And the report goes on to conclude that the men -- it appeared the
18 men were shot from a distance while running uphill. Would that be again
19 be consistent with your observations?
20 A. Generally, yes. Yes.
21 Q. I would like to show you a picture, sir, which was taken by you on
22 that day, and that is 1D129 under the ERN 1D001645, and that's under the
23 tab number 23 in your binder.
24 Can you recognise this picture, sir?
25 A. I can, yes.
Page 1695
1 Q. And that would be the dead body of Mr. Xhelal Bajrami; is that
2 correct?
3 A. I believe so, yes.
4 Q. And you would agree that Mr. Bajrami appears to be wearing what we
5 could say are civilian clothes; is that right?
6 A. That's correct.
7 Q. And you did not see any indication around him of any weapons or
8 defensive position; is that right?
9 A. I did not, yeah, that is correct.
10 Q. And you understood this person to have been a civilian; is that
11 right?
12 A. There was nothing to indicate otherwise.
13 Q. That's right. And, again, that's not a person that you searched.
14 You have indicated that you didn't search any of the persons at the time.
15 A. Correct.
16 Q. I would like to ask you whether you were later informed by
17 Mr. Tucker or anyone else that 26 rounds of live ammunitions were found in
18 the pockets of that person, or is that information that was not shared
19 with you?
20 A. I certainly don't recall that information being shared with me.
21 Q. And such information, sir, you would agree, would have been
22 relevant to your assessment perhaps of the status of that person, had you
23 had that information?
24 A. Yes.
25 MR. METTRAUX: Your Honours, I don't see the -- oh, yes. I would
Page 1696
1 like to tender this document, Your Honour, this picture.
2 JUDGE PARKER: It will be received.
3 THE REGISTRAR: As Exhibit 1D27, Your Honours.
4 MR. METTRAUX:
5 Q. Sir, there's a few more pictures that I would like to show to you.
6 The first one is a picture of Mr. Kadri Jashari, and it is at 1D130 under
7 the ERN of 1D001646.
8 Sir, I understand the picture is a black-and-white picture, so my
9 question may be a bit unfair. But can you recall that this person was -
10 it is tab 24 in your binder - that this person was bearing black trousers
11 and a black jacket at the time of his death. Is that correct?
12 A. That is what I recall, yes.
13 Q. If you can turn to the next picture which is under 1D131. That's
14 a picture of Mr. Bajram Jashari, under 1D00-1647, and that's number 25, I
15 would think.
16 Well, sir, I should have used P41.
17 MR. METTRAUX: I apologise to the Registry. I think we have a
18 colour picture of this document, which is the same picture. P244, I am
19 told.
20 Q. There again, sir, you would agree that Mr. Jashari was wearing
21 black trousers and a black jacket; is that correct?
22 A. Certainly dark, yes. Very close to black, yes.
23 MR. METTRAUX: If we can go to the next picture, it would be
24 1D-132, 1D00-1648.
25 Q. That's under your tab 26, sir. That's a picture of Mr. Muharem
Page 1697
1 Ramadan.
2 MR. METTRAUX: And I understand it is also P186, although there
3 may not be any markings of the name of the person on the Prosecution
4 Exhibit.
5 Q. But, sir, would you agree that, again, Mr. Ramadani, at the time,
6 was wearing black trousers, a black shirt, and a black long coat?
7 A. Again, certainly dark, and I remember them as dark. Specifically
8 black, I can't tell you. But certainly very dark.
9 Q. Can you see, sir, on the chest of Mr. Ramadan, under the hole
10 which you have identified, I believe, as an exit wound, can you see a
11 black belt?
12 A. I can see something dark, yes.
13 Q. And did you observe that belt at the time?
14 A. I don't recall specifically. Certainly, my attention was not
15 drawn to it, no.
16 Q. Would you agree, sir, that at the time, one of the uniforms used
17 by the NLA or combination of uniform was a black outfit, top to bottom?
18 A. Yes, but not of this nature.
19 Q. You would agree at least with me that a person in that sort of
20 clothing could be mistaken then for a member of the NLA?
21 A. I cannot say that, no.
22 Q. Did you wonder, sir, why Mr. Ramadani was wearing a long, what
23 would appear to be, leather black coat in the middle of the summer? Is
24 that something that you asked yourself at the time?
25 A. No. It's common to come across Albanians in high temperatures,
Page 1698
1 wearing what I would myself believe to be excessive amounts of clothing.
2 Q. And, sir, in the middle of the situation in the village, with an
3 exchange of fire, would you agree with the possibility that that uniform
4 could have been mistaken for that of a NLA or not?
5 MR. SAXON: Objection.
6 JUDGE PARKER: Yes, Mr. Saxon.
7 MR. SAXON: I believe that, first of all, we've heard this
8 before. We've heard this question asked and answered before; and second
9 of all, the question as its formulated is really asking the witness to
10 speculate, and I don't see how this will assist the Court.
11 MR. METTRAUX: We'll proceed, Your Honour.
12 JUDGE PARKER: Thank you, Mr. Mettraux.
13 MR. METTRAUX:
14 Q. Sir, at the time, you were aware that the NLA would sometimes
15 would wear a mixture of civilian and military clothes, wouldn't you?
16 A. Correct.
17 Q. And you would also agree with me that, at times, NLAs wearing
18 uniforms would mingle with individuals wearing no uniforms; is that
19 correct?
20 A. I believe in every single case - and there were many that I had
21 dealings with the NLA - they always wore something that would indicate
22 that they were actually NLA.
23 MR. METTRAUX: Well, could the Registry please bring back document
24 1D-123.
25 Q. And, sir, I'll ask to you look at the documents under tab 15.
Page 1699
1 MR. METTRAUX: Again, that is 1D19 for the record.
2 Q. And I will ask to you turn to the second page, please.
3 And, again, this is, sir, the human rights developments report
4 dated August 1st to 15th 2001, and the first paragraph say this: "As
5 civilians and persons with little or no training become engaged in the
6 conflict, the overall level of discipline in both forces can be expected
7 to decline. Indeed, during the collapse of the cease-fire in Tetovo in
8 August, armed ethnic Albanians in civilian clothes were observed moving
9 through the city with groups of uniformed NLA."
10 Can you see that?
11 A. I can see that.
12 Q. So you would agree that the OSCE, perhaps not you permanently, but
13 some of your colleagues, have witnessed NLA in uniforms mingling around
14 with people in -- identified as armed ethnic Albanians in civilian
15 clothes; is that correct?
16 A. I cannot say that there were not such cases. I can refer to my
17 own experience, which is that I believe in every case, there was something
18 related to the dress of the individual that would indicate he was part of
19 the group.
20 The NLA often did -- they were part of community and they often
21 did mingle with what I might term as non-combatants, but the combatants,
22 those that considered themselves as combatants, invariably wore something
23 to indicate the fact.
24 Q. And, again, sir, that is your observation?
25 A. Correct, yes.
Page 1700
1 Q. Did you receive information at the time, however, that members of
2 the NLA in civilian clothes had been seen in the village at the time?
3 A. Civilian clothes, yes -- well, at which time?
4 Q. Well, during the weekend in question, sir.
5 A. I have -- I may have received some information which I do not
6 recall, but not from the monitors who were working with me, until we
7 entered the village on the 14th.
8 Q. Well, if we can go back, sir, to the second document in your
9 binder.
10 MR. METTRAUX: And, again, that is the special report of the 16th,
11 and that is 1D24.
12 Q. And I ask you to turn to the third page of that document.
13 And if we can go to the fourth paragraph which starts with the
14 words, "There are several." And I would like to read to you the last
15 sentence of your colleague who wrote the report, and he says this:
16 "Reports from other international observers in the area indicate that
17 there were EAAG in the village in civilian clothes and that there was an
18 exchange of fire from deer rifles within the village."
19 Am I right to understand that you personally did not possess that
20 information at the time?
21 A. No. I did not, nor was I aware of any other international
22 observers in the area.
23 Q. We're going to come back to that in a minute, sir.
24 Another matter which I would like ask you about: Were you made
25 aware at any stage of weapons being confiscated from within the village?
Page 1701
1 A. I do not recall of being informed of such a thing, no.
2 Q. You've indicated, I think - and correct me if I'm wrong - but you
3 have only visited or you have only gone inside one of the houses in the
4 village on the 14th; is that correct?
5 A. No, that's not correct. I went into, I think, three or possibly
6 four.
7 Q. There's one I'm particularly interested in, and it is the basement
8 in which you went and, I think, identified a gun and ammunition. Is that
9 correct?
10 A. That's correct.
11 Q. And you also understood at the time that this was the basement in
12 which the first two person, whom you saw dead in Ljuboten, had been hiding
13 earlier that day; is that correct?
14 A. That is what I had been informed, yes.
15 Q. So you understood that those persons at the time had access to
16 weapons.
17 A. Yes.
18 Q. Did you --
19 A. Whilst they were in the basement.
20 Q. Yes. Did you have information at the time that hunting rifles had
21 been used in the village during that incident, or did you only become
22 aware of that information later on in time? I'm referring, again, to what
23 I have just read to you.
24 A. No, I did not have that information.
25 Q. There's another matter, sir, which I would like to --
Page 1702
1 A. That weapon was not a hunting rifle.
2 Q. I understood that you indicated that this weapon was or could be
3 used for hunting birds; is that correct?
4 A. Correct. But it is not a rifle. It was a shotgun and the -- the
5 practical use of such a weapon compared to a rifle, which has a high
6 velocity bullet, is very different.
7 Q. I stand corrected on the type of weapon, sir. Thank you.
8 There is another part of this report which I would like to discuss
9 with you, and that is the next paragraph.
10 But before that, is that correct, sir, that were not able to
11 identify any of the persons who had killed any of the five persons whom
12 you saw dead in the village on that day. Is that correct?
13 A. Sorry, just to clarify, you're asking whether I could identify any
14 individual --
15 Q. Whether you had knowledge of the identity of any of the persons
16 who might have killed those people.
17 A. No. I did not have that.
18 Q. I would like to draw your attention in relation to this issue on
19 the next paragraph of the report of Ms. Simpson about this issue, and it
20 says this: "It is possible there were exchanges between Macedonian
21 villagers and Albanians villager, and also possible that there were
22 Albanian to Albanian exchanges. It would be important to examine bodies
23 to determine what kind of round caused their wounds.
24 "It is possible that these persons were killed by army or by
25 Macedonian villagers or by EAAG. The EAAG has recently lost two brigade
Page 1703
1 commanders and is vigorously eliminating suspected moles and collaborators
2 in the area under their control."
3 Would you agree, sir, that, as suggested by your colleague and
4 without a thorough examination of the bodies and a forensic examination,
5 it would indeed be very, very difficult or impossible to determine who
6 might have killed these people?
7 A. It's a judgement that I don't feel I'm able to make.
8 Q. But it was not an unreasonable judgement on her part to make.
9 A. I suppose not. I believe it is taken out of the context of the
10 situation.
11 Q. But, again, that is not an unreasonable conclusion to draw, the
12 suggestion that the determination on that point should await further
13 investigation, in particular, ballistic and forensic.
14 A. That I would agree with.
15 JUDGE PARKER: Mr. Mettraux, sorry to interrupt. Would this be a
16 convenient time.
17 MR. METTRAUX: Absolutely, your honour.
18 JUDGE PARKER: You were getting up steam again and getting up
19 speed again, so I think we will let you relax.
20 I'm sorry, Mr. Bolton, but we must adjourn to allow another
21 Chamber to use the courtroom. So we resume tomorrow at 9.00 a.m.
22 MR. METTRAUX: Your Honours, perhaps before we break, it has been
23 drawn to my attention that the answer of Mr. Bolton was not recorded, and
24 if Mr. Bolton could be kind enough to repeat his last answer for the
25 record.
Page 1704
1 My question was: It is not an unreasonable conclusion to draw the
2 suggestion that a determination at that point should await further
3 investigation, in particular forensic and ballistic? And I believe that
4 you had you agreed with that proposition.
5 A. Yes. I would agree that that would help determine the issue, yes.
6 Q. I'm grateful. Thank you.
7 JUDGE PARKER: We are adjourned until tomorrow morning at 9.00.
8 --- Whereupon the hearing adjourned at 1.47 p.m.,
9 to be reconvened on Friday, the 8th day of June,
10 2007, at 9.00 a.m.
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
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25