Tribunal Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia

Page 12819

 1                          Monday, 24 June, 2002

 2                          [Open session]

 3                          [The accused entered court]

 4                          --- Upon commencing at 9.03 a.m.

 5            JUDGE LIU:  Call the case, please, Madam Registrar.

 6            THE REGISTRAR:  Good morning, Your Honours.  This is case number

 7    IT-98-34-T, the Prosecutor versus Naletilic and Martinovic.

 8            JUDGE LIU:  Yes, Mr. Krsnik?

 9            MR. KRSNIK: [Interpretation] Good morning, Your Honours.  Thank

10    you for giving me the floor.  I shall be very brief, and I -- I understand

11    that you -- I sought to address you with regard to the latest decision we

12    received on Friday.  We wish to expression our concern with the Chamber

13    and say that this is a major blow to the Defence.  We also wish to say

14    that the witnesses are not ready to come to The Hague with all that haste,

15    either for the depositions or for the main hearings as viva voce

16    witnesses.  Why, Your Honours?  One-third of the witnesses have no

17    passports or visas, and it takes time to obtain those.  One-third of the

18    witnesses are sick or for health reasons cannot come.  And one-third needs

19    to be organised to come, because at no time did we tell them that they had

20    to come to The Hague.  From the very beginning, they were on our

21    deposition lists -- depositions list, as you know, and now all that needs

22    to be organised, and it is quite impossible within these seven days.

23            Moreover, Your Honours, the question arises as to the purpose of

24    coming to The Hague for depositions.  The Defence is now no longer

25    interested in that.  If they have to come to The Hague, then why don't


Page 12820

 1    they come to the courtroom and testify in vivo?  Because the Defence does

 2    not want to lose any witnesses.  We believe that that would seriously

 3    prejudice our case.

 4            There is yet another possibility, Your Honours, for those

 5    witnesses who are either ill or have no passports, to organise a videolink

 6    for them.  But in any event, Your Honours, the Defence needs time to go

 7    down there, in that case, and prepare the witnesses, proof the witnesses,

 8    and instruct them about all the technical and other details, just as Mr.

 9    Stringer had to travel to the United States when they were -- their

10    witnesses were testifying by videolink.

11            Your Honours, my concern is even greater because we think that

12    this institution is a very serious one and perhaps for safety reasons we

13    should go into private session.  It is up to you to decide.  We do not

14    believe that these reasons changed for five days.  We held all the

15    meetings with the head of the security for the Tribunal with all the

16    relevant and honourable officials of this Court, and nobody ever said

17    anything.  Quite the contrary, all the checks were done.  You know that

18    people went to Mostar, checked it all, Your Honours.  In Mostar, there

19    must be -- well, I'm talking perhaps off the top of my head but there must

20    be 100 or 200 of officials of the -- the UNHCR and representatives of this

21    Tribunal.  What has happened now at this particular moment, when the

22    witnesses are to give depositions?  Is it because Mr. Paddy Ashdown became

23    the High Representative and he was -- he testified in this Tribunal in two

24    cases? Perhaps that has something to do with the change.

25            But in any event, Your Honours, could we at least receive some


Page 12821

 1    indication, some instruction?  Because within these seven days, or rather

 2    until we still have these witnesses who are already here and unless we are

 3    done with them, I simply cannot organise anything.  I know that this is

 4    not your fault.  I know that from the very beginning of this case -- and I

 5    am grateful to you for your effort to be fair and just, I think that you

 6    will show such an effort now, that you will help us somehow.  We do hope

 7    that we shall find a way to hear those witnesses, and this notification,

 8    which says that some safety reasons, security reasons, have arisen now,

 9    could we please have this notification or this information?  Your Honours,

10    I simply do not believe that news.  It must be something else.  Something

11    else must be the matter.  It has nothing to do with security reasons, and

12    I say that in public for all the world to hear.

13            So could we please see this information or this notification, if

14    possible?  Thank you very much, Your Honours.

15            JUDGE LIU:  Yes, Mr. Seric?

16            MR. SERIC: [Interpretation] Good morning, Your Honours.  I shall

17    be very brief.  I will not repeat what my colleague has said before me,

18    but I fully agree with everything he said.  However, I wanted to add one

19    comment in relation to the -- to our future schedule, because the

20    Defence's work was closely related to, connected with, the visit to

21    Mostar, because Mr. Martinovic's Defence wanted to use that time, because

22    these are all witnesses for Mr. Krsnik, and it will be enough for only one

23    of us to be present there, and the other two members of our team and our

24    investigators would seize this precious time to carry out final

25    preparations for our witnesses so that they could -- so that we could take


Page 12822

 1    over only a couple of days after the end of the depositions, and that was

 2    why we asked for the break.  However, in view of this new situation, this

 3    situation where we are not going to Mostar, this Defence will - and I have

 4    to say it straight away - this Defence will make a new application, that

 5    is that when Mr. Krsnik finishes, and of course it now depends whether the

 6    witnesses will be coming here to testify or whether he will give up from

 7    calling those witnesses who were envisioned for the depositions to after,

 8    we shall apply for a short break after that, because that time which we

 9    thought we would spend in Mostar to carry out the final preparations for

10    our case and for the organisation of witnesses, now we shall have to ask

11    for a break, a short one, the shortest possible, and I also believe that

12    the practice of this Tribunal has been -- has been so far that a short

13    break for the second accused has always been approved after the Defence of

14    the first accused has completed its case.  Thank you very much.

15            JUDGE LIU:  Well, I have to say that this Chamber was greatly

16    shocked by the news that we have to give up the deposition in Mostar at

17    that late hour.  So we very much sympathise with the Defence team,

18    with their situation they are now in.  As you understand, this Trial

19    Chamber has invested great efforts in this aspect.  We instructed the

20    Registrar and a representative from this Chamber to make a field

21    inspection, and we acted in accordance with the report they filed to this

22    Chamber.  In other words, this Trial Chamber has made superhuman efforts

23    to accommodate the request from the Defence team.  So that's why we said

24    that we are greatly shocked by this news and we have to change everything

25    we have done in the past.  So in this aspect, first, I will promise


Page 12823

 1    Mr. Krsnik that we will furnish the memos filed by the security section or

 2    Registrar on the security situation in this aspect.  Secondly, this Trial

 3    Chamber will do everything possible to help the Defence case -- to help

 4    the Defence team to facilitate its representation of their case in this

 5    aspect.  So if there are any requests from the Defence team, we would like

 6    to consider them after the filing.  I believe this is all I could say at

 7    this stage.  So could we have the -- yes, Mr. Seric?

 8            MR. SERIC: [Interpretation] I understand, Your Honour.  Now I will

 9    not bother you any more.  I merely wish to thank you, Mr. President, and

10    Their Honours.

11            JUDGE LIU:  Could we have the witness, please?

12                          [The witness entered court]

13                          WITNESS:   WITNESS NM [Resumed]

14                          [Witness answered through interpreter].

15            JUDGE LIU:  Good morning, Witness.  Can you hear me?

16            THE WITNESS: [Interpretation] Good morning, yes, I can.

17            JUDGE LIU:  Did you have a good weekend in The Hague?

18            THE WITNESS: [Interpretation] Yes, thank you.

19            JUDGE LIU:  Are you ready to start today?  We won't keep you

20    long.

21            Yes, Mr. Meek?

22            MR. MEEK:  Speaking of not keeping this witness long, Your Honour,

23    I believe the Prosecution has already used more time than the Defence did

24    on direct, Madam Registrar is going to check that.  We were wondering how

25    much time will be allowed.


Page 12824

 1            JUDGE LIU:  Well, we believe that the Prosecution is doing its

 2    utmost and trying to facilitate the proceedings in this case.

 3            Mr. Scott.  Could I ask you how long you are going to take for

 4    your further cross-examination this morning?

 5            MR. SCOTT:  Your Honour, I would hope with responsive answers to

 6    the witness could complete my cross-examination in about 45 minutes.

 7            JUDGE LIU:  Thank you very much.  You may proceed, Mr. Scott.

 8                          Cross-examined by Mr. Scott: [Continued]

 9       Q.   Good morning.

10       A.   Good morning.

11       Q.   Just to pick up from Friday before we move forward, I think we all

12    understand that at some point in approximately early October of 1993, you

13    came, took a senior position in the 3rd Brigade and then later in early

14    1994 you took a senior position in the 2nd Guards Brigade.

15            MR. SCOTT:  Mr. President, I don't know if these questions might

16    tend to identify so perhaps out of caution we should go to private session

17    for a moment.

18            JUDGE LIU:  Yes, we will go to the private session, please.

19                          [Private session]

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11                          [Open session]

12            JUDGE LIU:  Now we are in the open session.

13            MR. SCOTT:

14       Q.   Sir, if I understand your testimony from Friday, you were no

15    longer involved or a member of either the HVO components of the Federation

16    of Bosnia-Herzegovina army or of the Republic of Croatia army; is that

17    correct?

18       A.   I didn't quite understand, what time are you talking about?

19       Q.   Can you -- the current time?

20       A.   No, I am neither a member of the Croat Defence Council or the

21    Croatian Army.

22       Q.   Can you tell us, sir, how are you engaged in business or how you

23    support yourself?

24            JUDGE LIU:  Mr. Scott, do we have to go to the private session?

25            MR. SCOTT:  Well, Your Honour, I suppose out of caution we could.


Page 12827

 1    I didn't know depending on the nature that it was just a general business

 2    matter it might not be so identifying but out of an abundance of caution,

 3    we could.

 4            JUDGE LIU:  Yes, Mr. Krsnik?

 5            MR. KRSNIK: [Interpretation] Your Honours, two things, at first, I

 6    was shocked that so much time is granted I really do not know when I will

 7    finish my witnesses because I thought that Mr. Scott would out of sheer

 8    decency say 25 minutes not 45 minutes, and the second thing that shocks me

 9    that under the guise of questioning credibility, these questions are

10    asked.  I don't see the relevance of questions, what is this witness's

11    livelihood, how does he make his livelihood.  I would be the happiest if I

12    could answer this question.  What does it have to do with this case and

13    what is the relevance of that particular question?  How does this witness

14    now make a livelihood to this case?  Could the Prosecutor please analyse a

15    little bit his rights, the rights that he has in cross-examination?

16            JUDGE LIU:  Well, as first issue, I believe that the Prosecution

17    has promised us to finish his cross-examination in 45 minutes if he will

18    get the proper answer from this witness.  We believe that is bona fide

19    gesture so his request is granted.  At the second issue, this Chamber are

20    also interested in hearing the answer of this question.  So we'll go to

21    the private session, please.  Yes, Mr. Meek?

22            MR. MEEK:  Just for the record, Your Honours and the purposes of

23    the record we would like to object to the procedure whereby the

24    Prosecution gets much more time on cross than direct and we want a

25    continuing objection for the record, a contemporaneous objection so that


Page 12828

 1    at some point in the future it will not be said that we did not

 2    contemporaneously object to this procedure.  Thank you.

 3            JUDGE LIU:  Thank you very much.  Your objection is registered in

 4    the transcript.  We will take into consideration of our objections when we

 5    are allocating time to the Prosecution for the cross-examination in the

 6    future time.  Yes, Mr. Scott.

 7                          [Private session]

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Page 12829

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14                          [Open session]

15            THE REGISTRAR:  We are in open session.

16            MR. SCOTT:

17       Q.   Sir, do you know a man named Milan Kovac?

18       A.   Yes.  I know Mr. Kovac.

19       Q.   How do you know him?

20       A.   If you mean Mr. Kovac, a representative in the parliament of the

21    Republic of Croatia, is that the person you mean?

22       Q.   Yes.  How do you know him, please?

23       A.   He is from Herzegovina, from Posusje, which is a neighbouring

24    municipality and I am, as you know, from Siroki Brijeg.

25       Q.   Is he considered one of the persons, one of the Herzegovinians who


Page 12833

 1    continues to be in favour of a separate Croat entity in

 2    Bosnia-Herzegovina?

 3       A.   I don't know whom you mean, when you say that somebody advocated

 4    Herzegovina as a separate part of Bosnia-Herzegovina.  Not even the

 5    Croatian community never denied the attributes of statehood of Bosnia and

 6    Herzegovina and the Croatian people at the referendum in 1992 opted for an

 7    integral Bosnia and Herzegovina.  So Mr. Prosecutor, your allegation is

 8    not correct.

 9       Q.   Sir, not going back to the 1992 referendum, isn't it correct, sir,

10    that at least a faction of the HDZ political party in Bosnia-Herzegovina

11    led by Ante Jelavic, involving you as well, isn't it true that at least a

12    faction of the HDZ party has continued to work for and promote and seek

13    the establishment of a separate Croat entity in Bosnia-Herzegovina in the

14    last several years?

15       A.   This is not correct.

16       Q.   All right.  Well, we'll come back to that.  Sir, have you been

17    involved in any efforts, groups or meetings, in connections with defending

18    Mr. Naletilic against the charges here?

19       A.   I don't know what you mean.  What meetings do you have in mind?

20       Q.   Well, are you aware of any organisations or groups that have been

21    formed or that have evolved for the purpose of assisting Mr. Naletilic's

22    Defence?

23       A.   There are no groups.

24       Q.   Apart from coming here to testify, sir, have you ever been

25    involved in any efforts discussions or meetings for the purposes of


Page 12834

 1    promoting and assisting the Defence of Mr. Naletilic against the charges

 2    here?

 3       A.   I can say to this Honourable Court that there are no organised

 4    groups, there are people who sit down, who reminisce on those war days and

 5    they just engage in friendly conversations.  There are no organised groups

 6    as such, in the way you imply, Mr. Prosecutor.

 7       Q.   Can you tell the Chamber when you were first contacted by anyone

 8    in connection with Mr. Naletilic's Defence team about testifying here in

 9    The Hague?

10       A.   The first time somebody contacted me -- do you mean my testimony

11    here before this Court?

12       Q.   Yes.  Any time that you were initially contacted about giving

13    testimony on behalf of the Defence in this case.  When did that take place

14    and who contacted you?

15       A.   Mr. Krsnik asked me whether I knew anything about 1992, what

16    happened at the time, and whether I would be willing to testify, and I

17    said I would.  And that I would be willing to say everything I know, and

18    that could assist this Honourable Court to arrive at objective information

19    and at the truth, and as such, I have placed myself at their disposal.

20       Q.   All right.  And just the other part of my question, can you give

21    your best estimate approximately of when that first contact was made?

22       A.   I believe that it was a year ago roughly.

23  [redacted]

24  [redacted]

25  [redacted]


Page 12835

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13       Q.   All right, sir I'm trying to be very careful not to ask you to

14    identify your position.  But you did make a -- you were at this gathering

15    and during a speech that you made at that gathering, sir, didn't you refer

16    to Mr. Mladen Naletilic, Tuta, as "the famous commander of the legendary

17    Convicts Battalion"?

18       A.   I don't remember that particular speech of mine.  I don't remember

19    what I said at the 3rd anniversary of the guard's brigade but I did say

20    to this Honourable Court that the Convicts Battalion was one of the units

21    that served as a foundation for the development of the 2nd Brigade of the

22    HVO.

23       Q.   And did you not refer to Mr. Naletilic as the "famous commander"

24    of that unit?

25       A.   I can't say that for a fact.  I can't remember.


Page 12836

 1       Q.   All right.  Could the witness be shown the second bundle of

 2    documents that were distributed on Friday?  And Exhibit -- I direct the

 3    witness's attention, please, to Exhibit 936.

 4            THE REGISTRAR:  Excuse me, Mr. Prosecutor, I don't see Exhibit

 5    936.

 6            MR. SCOTT:  All right.  Let me see if we can assist you.  My

 7    apologies, Your Honour, apparently Madam Registrar, it was apparently

 8    placed at the end of the first bundle so in this instance, Exhibit 936

 9    should be at the end of the first bundle of documents that was used on

10    Friday.

11            Mr. President, for obvious reasons perhaps I'll ask that it not be

12    placed on the ELMO so as not to identify the witness.

13       Q.   Sir, if you could look at Exhibit 936, and you have the full

14    Croatian language version in front of you, first of all, and again without

15    identifying yourself, and this document will have to be under seal but

16    does not the first page of that -- of this document include a photograph

17    of you?

18       A.   Yes.  This is my photo.

19       Q.   And directing your attention to the very last paragraph of the

20    document, in addition to talking about Slobodan Praljak and others, is it

21    not there where you are reported to have said, described quote, "The

22    famous commander of the legendary Convicts Battalion, Mladen Naletilic,

23    Tuta"?

24            MR. KRSNIK: [Interpretation] Your Honours, I cannot allow such

25    things in the Croatian text, can we please take a look at what it says?


Page 12837

 1    This -- these are journalists words, this is the journalist who concludes,

 2    and says this, in the last paragraph of the Croatian text.  Will you allow

 3    me?  At the end, let's say that the representatives of the brigade, so the

 4    representatives of the brigade, handed over, seized rifles as a

 5    souvenir and a war trophy, as a souvenir, for the days spent together in

 6    memory of the days spent during -- on front lines and to the Colonel

 7    Slobodan Praljak, to the general major Miljenko Lasic and the famous

 8    commander of the legendary Convicts Battalion, Mladen Naletilic, Tuta.

 9            Where does it say here that the witness mentioned this commander

10    in his speech?  Again, what is Mr. Prosecutor engaging in when he asks his

11    question?  It would have been fair of him to have said, "Did you hand over

12    the guns to Mr. Naletilic?"  But these are the words of the journalist.

13    These are not the words of my witness.  And this is as clear as a bell.

14            JUDGE LIU:  Well, Mr. Krsnik, I think the Prosecution was asking a

15    question to this witness.  This witness has the full right to deny any

16    allegations, no matter put by the Prosecution or by journalists in this

17    article.  Let the witness answer the question.

18            MR. SCOTT:

19       Q.   Let me ask a couple of follow-up questions to clarify, Witness, in

20    light of the comments made.  Were you present -- are you suggesting or did

21    you understand that some sort of special firearms or awards or gifts were

22    given to Mr. Praljak, Mr. Lasic and Mr. Tuta at this event?  Is that what

23    we should understand?

24       A.   These were no special awards or decorations.  These were rifles

25    which were given to them in memory of the days spent together on the


Page 12838

 1    front -- during the war, and they were handed over to the aforementioned

 2    gentlemen.

 3       Q.   All right.  And at the time that these firearms or weapons were

 4    awarded to Mr. Praljak, Mr. Lasic and Mr. Naletilic, when it was presented

 5    to Mr. Naletilic, was he indeed described when being handed and presented

 6    these weapons, was he indeed described as the famous commander of the

 7    legendary Convicts Battalion?

 8       A.   Here, these are the journalist's words, and as far as I know, when

 9    these were handed over, no descriptions were given.  The names were called

10    and the gifts were given to them, and that was the way the procedure

11    went.  There were no big words said about the people.  And as to what the

12    journalist wrote in here, that was his view of the things, and that was

13    the way he expressed himself on the paper.

14       Q.   All right, sir, we have to move on to try to finish as quickly as

15    possible.

16            MR. SCOTT:  Can I ask the witness please be shown or assisted with

17    Exhibit P926?

18       Q.   Now, sir, as you look at the Croatian version of this document,

19    you said a few moments ago, sir, that you deny the existence of any

20    movement or effort to create a separate Croat entity in Bosnia-Herzegovina

21    but sir, is it not true that in fact there have been a number of efforts

22    and steps take to do that, including a declaration of something called the

23    Croat national congress, in this particular instance dated the 28th of

24    October, 2000?  You're familiar with that, aren't you?

25       A.   I am familiar with the session of the Croatian National Parliament


Page 12839

 1    or Sabor.

 2       Q.   And who was the President on the 28th of that organisation or

 3    group on the 28th of October, 2000?

 4       A.   What organisation do you have in mind?

 5       Q.   The Croat National Congress?

 6       A.   President of the Croatian National parliament [redacted]

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13       Q.   And sir, isn't it correct that Mr. Jelavic was removed as the

14    Bosnian Croat member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina by the

15    Office of the High Representative for his anti-Dayton activities in

16    continuing to promote the creation of a separate Croat entity in

17    Bosnia-Herzegovina?

18       A.   Ante -- Mr. Ante Jelavic was elected at the democratic elections,

19    and he was legitimately elected by the Croatian people.  He enjoyed almost

20    95 per cent support of the Croatian people, and the Croatian people was

21    embittered by the decision of the High Representative, and the part of the

22    international administration in Bosnia and Herzegovina about abolishing

23    institutional rights of the Croatian people in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

24       Q.   All right, sir --

25            JUDGE LIU:  Yes, Mr. Krsnik?


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Page 12841

 1            MR. KRSNIK: [Interpretation] [no interpretation].

 2            JUDGE LIU:  We don't get any interpretation.  Could you please

 3    repeat it once again?

 4            MR. KRSNIK: [Interpretation] Your Honours, I really don't know

 5    where we are headed with this cross-examination.  What is the relevance?

 6    This is what happened in 2001.  But what I said already a long time ago,

 7    I'm very interested in the position of my learned friend.  Who does he

 8    advocate here?  Who does he Prosecutor here?  We are talking here about

 9    the political struggle about a democratic struggle that many is taking

10    place in two entities, one is the federation, the other is the Republika

11    Srpska.  I'm very shocked.  I see these decisions by the High

12    Representative for the first time and I believe Your Honours will also be

13    interested in how decisions are made in Bosnia-Herzegovina.  Somebody is

14    referring to the constitutional order of the federation.  The federation

15    does not have a constitutional order.  The only entity that has a

16    constitutional order is Bosnia and Herzegovina and the federation is just

17    one unit of the whole state and the other entity is Republika Srpska.  I

18    don't see the purpose of my learned friend's examination.  Does he

19    begrudge the Croat people their struggle, their fight for democracy?  I

20    said a long time ago that here he acts as an advocate, as a -- rather than

21    a Prosecutor.

22            JUDGE LIU:  Well, Mr. Krsnik, I think the Prosecution is entitled

23    to ask any question which is relevant to this case, and I believe that the

24    question asked by the Prosecution in this question, in this particular

25    circumstances, is related to the credibility of this witness.  Let us hear


Page 12842

 1    what the witness is going to tell us.

 2            MR. KRSNIK: [Interpretation] Your Honours, if you will allow me, I

 3    apologise.  Your Honours, what is the relevance when this witness says

 4    that in the federation, which is 70-30 ratio in favour of Muslims when he

 5    says that the Croats are deprived of their rights?  But what does that

 6    have to do with this case?  What is the relevance?  What is the relevance

 7    of the year 2001 and the -- where as the indictment refers to the year

 8    1993.

 9            JUDGE LIU:  Well, Mr. Krsnik, you have to understand that we have

10    the witness here.  I could not explain in detail how we see this question

11    is relevant to this case.  Your objection is correctly registered in the

12    transcript and we will allow the Prosecution to move on and at a later

13    stage, when we evaluate the evidence, the testimony given by this witness,

14    we will take your objections into consideration.

15            Yes, Mr. Prosecutor.  You may proceed.

16            MR. SCOTT:  Mr. President, because of the time, I'm simply going

17    to have -- so the witness knows I'm referring to and the Chamber, simply

18    going to have to ask the witness please be shown Exhibit P876.06.  Which

19    is -- which includes or is included in that exhibit a copy of the official

20    decision of the Office of the High Representative referring -- removing

21    Mr. Jelavic and others, and because of time, Mr. President, I don't have

22    time to go through that document with specific questions but I think the

23    document for these purposes will largely, I hope, speak for itself.

24    Perhaps the Chamber will have questions, Judges questions, about the

25    document.


Page 12843

 1       Q.   Sir, whether you agree with it or not, isn't it true that on March

 2    the 7th, 2001, the Office of the High Representative removed Mr. Jelavic

 3    from his position as the Croat member of the Presidency of Bosnia and

 4    Herzegovina?  I realise you may not agree with that but it's true, isn't

 5    it?

 6       A.   Ante Jelavic was removed by the High Representative, but I

 7    apologise, was I maybe supposed to have a Croatian version of this

 8    document?

 9       Q.   That particular document -- excuse me, witness, there is no

10    translation at this time, for which I apologise?

11            JUDGE LIU:  Yes, Mr. Krsnik?

12            MR. KRSNIK: [Interpretation] And I haven't got it from the

13    Prosecution.  I don't have it at all.  This Exhibit 876.06, I haven't got

14    it in my bundle.  It may be an accident but I do not have it.

15            JUDGE LIU:  Well, it's in the second bundle of documents furnished

16    by the Prosecution on Friday.

17            MR. KRSNIK:  I don't have it.

18            JUDGE LIU:  But we all have it.  I think there must be some

19    mistake.

20            MR. SCOTT:  We believe that it's there, Mr. President, if some

21    reason one was left out of one of the bundles we will certainly correct

22    that.  Apparently everybody else in the courtroom has it.

23            MR. KRSNIK:  Sorry, I don't have it.  I checked a hundred times.

24            MR. SCOTT:  I'll provide it, Your Honour.

25            JUDGE LIU:  Yes, you have to provide.


Page 12844

 1            MR. SCOTT:  Of course, and every other bundle seems to have it but

 2    we'll provide it again to Mr. Krsnik, surely.

 3       Q.   Sir, on the -- again I'm going to ask you a similar question

 4    hopefully I ask you not to identify yourself but were you also involved

 5    in a gathering or proceeding involving the anniversary and an oath taking

 6    ceremony of the 2nd Guards Brigade on approximately the 5th of June,

 7    1994?

 8  [redacted]

 9  [redacted]

10       Q.   My apology.

11            MR. SCOTT:  If the witness can please be shown Exhibits P775.2?

12    It should be, I hope, the first document in the second bundle, P775.2.

13       A.   Your Honours, this document has not been translated.

14            MR. SCOTT:  The witness is right, Your Honour, I'll have to ask

15    the assistance of the interpreters before a translation can be provided

16    for the record.  But what I would like the translator's assistance on,

17    please, the assistance of the interpretation booth, just simply going to

18    read it to you for the purposes of framing the question, sir.

19            Directing the translation booth's attention to the part, the

20    bottom part of the first page where it says "the only different tune."

21            MR. MEEK:  Your Honours, I have a procedural matter here.  Your

22    Honours ruled last October that the Prosecution could not introduce or

23    attempt to introduce any documents against our clients, the accused,

24    unless they had been previously translated into a language which they

25    understood.  After I think was it November 10th or 11th, and now the


Page 12845

 1    Prosecution is doing exactly that, they are violating this Trial Chamber's

 2    order.  Our clients have not been able to read these documents because

 3    they do not speak English, they do not read English and I object strongly

 4    and I will keep objecting strongly to this procedure.  The accused has

 5    different rights than the Prosecution does.  We all know that, and this

 6    Trial Chamber entered the ruling last October, no documents could be

 7    attempted to be introduced against the accused unless they had been

 8    previously translated into a language that they understand.  And these

 9    documents have not, Your Honour.  I object.

10            JUDGE LIU:  You're absolutely right, Mr. Meek, on this point.

11    First of all, we believe that all the documents tendered have to be

12    translated into the language that the accused understand.  As for the

13    specific contents of this document, first, I'm not quite sure this

14    document is directly -- criminalise your clients in certain points.

15    Secondly, this is cross-examination.  I think the Prosecution is going to

16    ask a very simple question concerning with the certain paragraph or

17    certain sentence of this document, which the interpreters in the booths

18    will help us, I hope.  Thirdly, if the Prosecution wants to tender this

19    document into evidence, the translation shall be furnished as soon as

20    possible.

21            Mr. Scott, are you going to extensively use this document or just

22    put one question concerning with one paragraph of this document to the

23    witness?

24            MR. SCOTT:  Mr. President, I hope to put one, as far as possible,

25    I hope, to put one question to the witness based on the document.


Page 12846

 1            JUDGE LIU:  Yes.  You may proceed but if you want to tender this

 2    document, you ever to furnish us with the translation.

 3            MR. SCOTT:  Of course, Mr. President.  I understand that.

 4       Q.   If I can actually if I can have the assistance to put the

 5    document, the statement in full context lest there be some concern raised

 6    about that. If I can ask assistance of the interpreter in the paragraph

 7    starting "although inspiring."  If I can read it perhaps we can get the

 8    translation.  "Although inspiring a normal degree of proudness of Croat

 9    Herzegovina according to the instant translation by our interpreter, all

10    speeches were very moderate and not directed against Muslims or the recent

11    political decisions.  The soldiers were asked to understand that the

12    politicians were doing the best possible job, although people and soldiers

13    did not always like the decisions at first.  The army was there to defend

14    those decisions and executes orders.  This was stated by both politicians

15    and military leaders."  Obviously in the next section I will not refer to

16    the name.

17           "The only different tune was heard at the last speech made by, and

18    I leave that, the record, what is stated in the exhibit, who made a much

19    more violent speech delivered in the Nazi style of the 30s mainly directed

20    against the Chetniks, even spoke of the necessity to cross the Drina.

21    The monitor observed that after the parade he was publicly greeted by

22    another officer with a Nazi salute."

23            Now, based on that, sir, do you remember giving such a speech and

24    receiving such a salute?

25       A.   Your Honours, I regret that such information is presented here in


Page 12847

 1    this Court.  I never greeted anyone, nor did anyone greet me, with a Nazi

 2    salute.  Quite the contrary.  I condemn any Naziism and this allegation of

 3    the Prosecutor is not true.

 4       Q.   Sir, you were removed from your position in the HVO component of

 5    the Army of the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina by the stabilisation

 6    force, otherwise known as SFOR; is that correct?

 7       A.   I was suspended, I'm sorry, I was suspended by SFOR and removed by

 8    the Croat member of the Presidency at the time, and the reason was I

 9    helped to put out the fire.

10       Q.   Sir, isn't it correct --

11       A.   When the standard procedure of the commander of the SFOR directed

12    at the parties in the area was fully observed.

13       Q.   Sir, weren't the reasons given by SFOR that you were involved in

14    the unauthorized movement of HVO soldiers to Croatia and because of your

15    involvement in partisan HDZ politics which was inconsistent with a

16    professional military position?

17       A.   It is not true that at the time I was politically active or

18    involved in party politics.  That is simply not true.  However, at that

19    time, at this time, throughout that time that we are talking about, it is

20    true that there were those branches of the old system of the former

21    communist intelligence community which existed in all three sides, in the

22    Muslim and Croat and Serb side, the so-called counterintelligence service,

23    that is KOS, or UDB, and it is quite obvious that these services tried to

24    prejudice, tried to discredit, tried to undermine and so that a number of

25    such information was out of place, but that is how they removed everybody


Page 12848

 1    who was in their way, who they thought should be discredited and needless

 2    to say, the international community in Bosnia-Herzegovina at that time

 3    absorbed a large part of that information and practically, unfortunately,

 4    took decisions and made moves in the area of Bosnia-Herzegovina based on

 5    such information.  On the other hand, I also need to point out before this

 6    Honourable Court that I have cooperated fantastically well with SFOR

 7    officers, with SFOR commanders, with generals who conducted MPRI

 8    programme, Crosby Senton and General Carl Vaughan, that I was commended on

 9    several occasions by generals who were in the territory of

10    Bosnia-Herzegovina.

11       Q.   Sir, you're telling this Chamber --

12            MR. KRSNIK: [Interpretation] Your Honours?

13            JUDGE LIU:  Yes, Mr. Krsnik?

14            MR. KRSNIK: [Interpretation] Your Honours, could we go into

15    private session?  Why is it so difficult?  The Prosecutor is asking

16    questions and will Mr. Prosecutor please take note of this?  Because he

17    knows he will get an answer which will disclose the identity and secondly

18    we need these names in the transcript the Prosecutor needs to repeat the

19    question so that the names of the generals with whom the witness

20    cooperated can be put in because we do not have a single name of the -- of

21    any SFOR general or any other international organisations in the

22    transcript.

23            JUDGE LIU:  Well, Mr. Krsnik, the commanders of the SFOR is a

24    fact.  I believe that the interpreters will check with all those names at

25    a later stage.  It's a fact.  Everybody knows about the names of the SFOR


Page 12849

 1    commanders.

 2            Yes, Mr. Scott, you may proceed.

 3            MR. SCOTT:  Mr. President, again, perhaps out of an abundance of

 4    caution we should go to private session for a moment.

 5            JUDGE LIU:  Yes, we will go to private session, please.

 6                          [Private session]

 7  [redacted]

 8  [redacted]

 9  [redacted]

10  [redacted]

11  [redacted]

12  [redacted]

13  [redacted]

14  [redacted]

15  [redacted]

16  [redacted]

17  [redacted]

18  [redacted]

19  [redacted]

20  [redacted]

21  [redacted]

22  [redacted]

23  [redacted]

24  [redacted]

25  [redacted]


Page 12850

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20 

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Page 12857

 1    [redacted]

 2    [redacted]

 3    [redacted]

 4    [redacted]

 5                          [Open session]

 6            JUDGE LIU:  Mr. Krsnik, any re-examination?

 7            MR. KRSNIK: [Interpretation] Your Honours, just a few brief

 8    questions.  Unfortunately, those questions are to my mind not relevant at

 9    all but I have to because of the last questions put by the Prosecution to

10    discredit the witness.

11                          Re-examined by Mr. Krsnik:

12       Q.   [Interpretation] Witness, the last few questions with regard to

13    the removals, the actions by the High Representative, I had a feeling that

14    you did not have the opportunity to explain all the circumstances of these

15    events, and as you may have noticed, Mr. Prosecutor wanted to discredit

16    you by advocating one political option, that is Bosniak option, against

17    the Croatian political option in the year 2001, i.e. 2002.  Therefore, I

18    would kindly ask you to explain to the Honourable Court -- can we please

19    go to private session?  Because I'm sure that the witness will -- actually

20    he has to reveal his identity, if he wants to reply to my question?

21            JUDGE LIU:  Yes.  We will go back to the private session, please.

22                          [Private session]

23  [redacted]

24  [redacted]

25  [redacted]


Page 12858

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Page 12859

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Page 12860

 1  [redacted]

 2  [redacted]

 3  [redacted]

 4                          [Open session]

 5            THE WITNESS: [Interpretation] Very briefly, the elections were

 6    general parliamentary elections and they took place on the 11th of

 7    November, 2001.  The election law, the so-called Berry Elections Law

 8    which was detrimental for the Croatian people because it left room for the

 9    Croatian members to be elected by that -- somebody else could decide about

10    the election of the Croatian representative at the highest level.  If we

11    know that such an election model, and with regard to the fact that the

12    parliament consisted of two chambers at the level of the Federation of

13    Bosnia-Herzegovina and that it has 140 seats, Croats would receive some 30

14    seats, would be entitled to some 30 seats in the parliament.  So that at

15    any moment, the majority of votes is against them.  The second Chamber,

16    the Chamber of Peoples, which served as a correction to the other Chamber,

17    for checks and balances, and the composition of that other Chamber was 30

18    Croats, 30 Muslims, 30 Serbs, according to this election model, and with

19    regard to the fact that the federation consists of ten cantons, and

20    according to this allocation that the cantons were given for the election

21    into the Chamber of Peoples, I know for a fact that some members of the

22    international community at the time were asked in the Gorazde canton to

23    declare themselves as Croats of Muslim religion so that they could -- so

24    as to exert influence on the composition of the Croatian part of the

25    parliament so that the 30 seats that -- meant that they could not have 15


Page 12861

 1    plus 1 seats, which would have entitled them to the right of a veto on the

 2    decisions passed by the lower Chamber.  These precedents resulted in the

 3    situation that the Croatian people in Bosnia and Herzegovina found

 4    themselves in a very complex position, and as such, we voted in the

 5    elections on the 11th of November, and the Croatian people and all of its

 6    institutions felt threatened as a political people in Bosnia and

 7    Herzegovina, and they felt that their -- they are being led into a

 8    position of a minority, of a national minority, and the Washington

 9    Agreement, the Dayton Accords, and all the agreements signed in

10    Bosnia-Herzegovina clearly say that Croats are one of the three

11    state-forming peoples in Bosnia and Herzegovina.  In such circumstances,

12    in the elections, the Croatian people opted and gave its full support to

13    the Croatian Democratic Union.

14       Q.   Can you give us the percentage?

15       A.   95 per cent of the votes at the level of Bosnia and Herzegovina,

16    at the level of the federation it was 85 per cent.  And at the cantonal

17    level, at the level of counties, 75 to 80 per cent.  After that, some

18    people were removed from the election lists, which meant that some people

19    were deprived of their basic human rights, the right to elect and to be

20    elected, the right to work, according to us, according to me personally,

21    according to some intellectuals that I had spoken with, our precedents in

22    the democratic world or at least when it comes to the principles of

23    democracy advocated by the international community for Bosnia and

24    Herzegovina.

25       Q.   Please tell us what happened, who made the decision, what kind of


Page 12862

 1    a decision that resulted in that removal?  The elections are now over.

 2    What happened next, just briefly?

 3       A.   The High Representative, Mr. Wolfgang Petritsch made a decision

 4    on the suspension of the Croatian member of the Presidency of

 5    Bosnia-Herzegovina, that is Mr. Ante Jelavic.  Mr. Ivo Andric-Luzanski was

 6    also removed, Mr. Marko Tokic as well.

 7       Q.   Let's not mention any names.

 8       A.   They were vice-presidents of the Croatian Democratic Union.

 9       Q.   Witness, I apologise for interrupting again, I don't -- I would

10    like to ask you to say -- to explain to the Honourable Court how many

11    people were removed and were the elections over and were these same people

12    elected at the democratic elections?  They were elected they were just

13    about to start discharging their duties but the High Representative

14    removed them despite the fact that they had been elected at the democratic

15    elections; is that correct?

16       A.   That is correct.  It arises from this that the basic human rights

17    were taken away from some people and that the Croatian people are now

18    being reduced to a national minority, and when we add to that the fact,

19    recently I have read a statement by General Sylvester, the commander

20    of SFOR, who says that the mission of SFOR and the international community

21    in Bosnia-Herzegovina is to form a Bosnian nation.

22       Q.   What does that mean, a Bosnian nation?

23       A.   That means that everything is unified, centralised, that one

24    language is replaces all the other languages.

25       Q.   Are you saying that all the citizens of Bosnia-Herzegovina should


Page 12863

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13   English transcripts.

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18  

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20  

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23  

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25  


Page 12864

 1    be called Bosniaks?  Bosnians?

 2       A.   That is correct.

 3       Q.   Is that contrary to all the international agreements starting with

 4    the Washington Agreement, the Dayton Accords?

 5       A.   That is correct, because all the -- in all the agreements, Bosnia

 6    and Herzegovina consists of the three state-forming peoples and other

 7    peoples who live in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

 8       Q.   All right.  I believe that we have provided the Chamber with an

 9    explanation.  Just two more brief questions.  Can you tell us how often

10    have you been in Mostar in the last year or so?  Was that every day or ...

11       A.   Recently, I have been to Mostar a bit less frequently and

12    previously I was there very often.

13       Q.   How many international representatives live in Mostar?  Where do

14    they live?  And has there been any incident in the past year or so in the

15    city of Mostar, any incident whatsoever?  I'm asking you this question

16    which is beyond the context but I believe that the President will be

17    interested in the situation in Mostar.  He said so himself.  We have just

18    recently been furnished with a decision saying that Mostar is not a safe

19    place.  Has anything happened in the Mostar making it not a safe place?

20       A.   Nothing has happened that would involve the international

21    community, the situation in Mostar, in the safety respect, is okay.  It is

22    good.

23       Q.   As far as you know, have you ever spoken to anybody from the

24    circles?  How many representatives of the international community live in

25    Mostar?


Page 12865

 1       A.   I don't know exactly but there is the command of the

 2    multi-national division southeast.  Its headquarters are in Ortijes

 3    and there are other institutions, High Representative, RC, all the other

 4    institutions which are in Mostar.  I believe that there are no safety

 5    problems there.  And there is -- there are no, not in any way jeopardised.

 6       Q.   And my final question.  Can we please move to private session?

 7            JUDGE LIU:  Yes, we will go to the private session, please.

 8                          [Private session]

 9  [redacted]

10  [redacted]

11  [redacted]

12  [redacted]

13  [redacted]

14  [redacted]

15  [redacted]

16  [redacted]

17  [redacted]

18  [redacted]

19  [redacted]

20  [redacted]

21  [redacted]

22  [redacted]

23  [redacted]

24                          [Open session]

25            JUDGE LIU:  Any questions from Judges?  Judge Clark?


Page 12866

 1                          Questioned by the Court:

 2            JUDGE CLARK:  I wonder if I could ask you a few questions about

 3    the Convicts Battalion?  Do I understand your evidence correctly, when you

 4    say or I understand you to say, that the Convicts Battalion comprised of

 5    only one unit and one unit only?

 6       A.   Yes.  The Convicts Battalion was one unit and its military post

 7    code was 1717.

 8            JUDGE CLARK:  I'm not asking you about the post code.  I'm saying

 9    are you saying that the Convicts Battalion consisted of a unit which was

10    stationed in Siroki Brijeg and it had no other associated units?

11       A.   Correct.

12            JUDGE CLARK:  You say that the connection between the unit, I'm

13    being careful now, that you subsequently joined and which was formed, the

14    connection between that unit and the Convicts Battalion was merely that a

15    number of soldiers who had served with the Convicts Battalion transferred

16    to the new unit, the Baja Kraljevic.

17       A.   Correct.  Baja Kraljevic had some ten soldiers amongst which --

18    amongst whom me, who formed this new unit Baja Kraljevic.

19            JUDGE CLARK:  And was the leader of that unit known as "Lija"?

20    Was that his nickname?

21       A.   Yes.  Mr. Predrag Mandic, "Lija," of the Baja Kraljevic unit, who

22    is commander he was.

23            JUDGE CLARK:  Could you tell me who actually appointed him

24    commander?

25       A.   I believe that he was appointed by, according to the mobilisation


Page 12867

 1    development, it was either the ministry o the Main Staff or it was the

 2    presidency, as the signatory of that appointment.

 3            JUDGE CLARK:  What exactly do you mean by presidency?

 4       A.   At the time, the Croatian Community Herceg-Bosna, the Main Staff

 5    probably issued proposals, sent them to the Ministry of Defence, and then

 6    the level which was the signatory of the establishment of the unit, I

 7    can't exactly remember, but that is the chain, the chain, and that shows

 8    how decisions were made.

 9            JUDGE CLARK:  You described a few days ago when you were first

10    giving your testimony that the Convicts Battalion was founded by a number

11    of people, and you named the people, and included in that group of five or

12    six people was Mr. Naletilic.  The question --

13       A.   Correct.

14            JUDGE CLARK:  The question I want to ask you is why is the

15    Convicts Battalion so associated with Mr. Naletilic in the minds of so

16    many people?  Because we've heard evidence that media reports following

17    the recapture, if -- or the liberation of Mostar, in newspaper, radio,

18    television, eulogised Mr. Naletilic and clearly identified him as

19    the hero of the Convicts Battalion.  If he was one of many founders, why

20    is the Convicts Battalion, do you know, so associated with Mr. Naletilic

21    to the exclusion of others?

22       A.   A number of founders, but it is within the context of a team of

23    people who were jointly motivated to defend right from wrong, good from

24    evil, that was at the time imposed on Croats, I mean the evil, so the

25    inevitable answer was to set up a volunteer unit, to provide the necessary


Page 12868

 1    answer to this evil which was very near Siroki Brijeg, and if that team

 2    worked, then I suppose Mr. Naletilic was seen as a man who had absorbed

 3    this libertarian spirit of the west and who therefore showed more courage,

 4    more boldness at particular moments, to make the brave step right at the

 5    time, and to liberate the bordering areas of the municipality of Siroki

 6    Brijeg, and as such, the Convicts Battalion joined in the bloody war and

 7    participated with all the other units in the liberation of Mostar, and

 8    repulsed that evil which was manifested in the then-reservists Serb, and

 9    Montenegrin, the then so-called Yugoslav Army, to repulse them to the

10    areas further away from Mostar and when key facilities from taken, which

11    occupied, dominating positions around the city of Mostar, and from these

12    victories at that time arose in the people's perception and the public

13    opinion the image of Mr. Naletilic as a man who had played a very

14    important role in the liberation of Mostar and that part of Herzegovina.

15            JUDGE CLARK:  I don't think anybody denies that that has been the

16    evidence of nearly everybody, that Mr. Naletilic played a huge role, but

17    the question I'm asking you is:  Do you know why the Convicts Battalion is

18    forever associated with Mr. Naletilic to the exclusion of all others?

19       A.   I have already said, and that he is one of those men, that he was

20    probably a more ingenious person, a more creative person than other people

21    who were his interlocutors on this team, and he probably set the tone.  I

22    mean the -- he provided the initiative, the creative spirit, because each

23    one of those men, as far as I know them, those men lack this particular

24    trait, the initiative, the entrepreneurial spirit.  Perhaps they are very

25    good interlocutors for instance, in things when you say, "Yes, let's do


Page 12869

 1    that, for instance."  But then somebody else has to say, has to decide,

 2    right, we'll do this and that on that particular date and in that

 3    particular way.

 4            JUDGE CLARK:  So would you accept, then, sir, that Mr. Naletilic

 5    was the dominant force in the Convicts Battalion?

 6       A.   I think he was perceived as a man of initiative, because based on

 7    my experience, my war experience, I know that people who showed

 8    initiative, who were brave and courageous, they were all recognisable as

 9    such, and they were perceived as such and they were trusted by the troops.

10            JUDGE CLARK:  Thank you for answering my questions.

11            JUDGE LIU:  Judge Diarra?

12            JUDGE DIARRA: [Interpretation] Thank you Mr. President.  Witness,

13    it seems to me that you said that Mladen Naletilic left his post of the

14    commander of the Convicts Battalion in October 1992.  I'd like to know

15    why.  And in order to take up what other position?

16       A.   Sorry, I think that Mr. Naletilic quit the position of the

17    commander of the Convicts Battalion in either September or October, 1992,

18    and all of us who were there and worked together and acted together knew

19    even before that Mr. Naletilic had a serious pulmonary lung

20    complaint, and that at that time he used to say that a certain number of

21    leaders had already taken shape in all those combat and liberation

22    operations around the city of Mostar, and that a team had already stood

23    out with the traits of courage, valiance, sufficient integrity and

24    ingeniousness, sufficing to begin to lead the Convicts Battalion.  And he

25    withdrew.  Whether he went to the municipal staff to some post there, or


Page 12870

 1    to the municipal hall in Siroki Brijeg, I believe that he was the deputy

 2    mayor of Siroki Brijeg for a while, and in that capacity, he always showed

 3    concern for the dead, for the wounded.

 4            JUDGE DIARRA: [Interpretation] And who replaced him after he

 5    left?

 6       A.   Mario Hrkac.  That was our impression.  We thought that he was a

 7    natural soldier.  One of the soldiers who proved himself during the

 8    operations, a supreme fighter, Supreme Commander, and whom people --

 9            JUDGE DIARRA: [Interpretation] Thank you very much for the

10    description of Mr. Mario but who appointed him?  Who appointed him as

11    Naletilic's successor?

12       A.   At that time, I think it was the municipal staff, and then

13    following up the hierarchical ladder that I've already mentioned, the Main

14    Staff, the ministry, following up that ladder.  And that is how he came to

15    hold that position.  But naturally there was also Mr. Andabak there too.

16            JUDGE DIARRA: [Interpretation] Witness, I'm sorry, you talk about

17    the municipal staff.  Who appoints a commander of a battalion?  And you

18    also speak about the ministry.  You should give me -- you should tell me

19    not a thing but you should give me a positive answer.  If you do not know,

20    then you do not know but don't tell me that you think that it was the

21    municipal staff or the ministry who appointed Mr. Naletilic's successor as

22    the commander of the Convicts Battalion.

23       A.   Well, you know, what I'm saying, Your Honours, I'm saying this

24    because when I cast my mind back to 1992, at that time, those municipal

25    staffs played a dominant role.  And as for official appointments, I think


Page 12871

 1    that by and large, there were none, but somehow, what was done at that

 2    time, when I cast my mind back and when I think about that, and then from

 3    that perspective, it is possible that the municipal staff did its bit, but

 4    the -- that was the hierarchical ladder, the Main Staff, the ministry,

 5    they were the ones who proposed names and who appointed.

 6            JUDGE DIARRA: [Interpretation] Thank you.  I do not have any

 7    further questions.

 8            JUDGE LIU:  Any questions out of Judges' questions?  Yes,

 9    Mr. Krsnik?

10                          Further examination by Mr. Krsnik:

11       Q.   I believe I only have one question arising from Judge Clark's

12    questions.  Was Mr. Ludvig Pavlovic one of the founders of the Convicts

13    Battalion?

14       A.   Yes.

15       Q.   Tell us how did he end up, and does he also -- has he also become

16    a legendary figure?  Is he a charismatic person?

17       A.   Yes, he is a charismatic person in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

18       Q.   And my final question, and I'm very happy that Their Honours asked

19    those questions because I did not want to do that, on purpose, tell us, if

20    basically from the time when the Convicts Battalion was founded, until its

21    end, who was in truth its genuine commander and who were the operative

22    commanders, that is commanders on the ground, in the field, I mean between

23    October 1992 until November 1993?

24       A.   The operative commander was Mario Hrkac.

25       Q.   And after him?


Page 12872

 1       A.   After him, it was Zeljko Vukoja.

 2       Q.   Were there operative men, those who go to the ground?

 3       A.   Yes, of course.

 4       Q.   And who was the commander basically?

 5       A.   Mr. Andabak.

 6       Q.   That is from the foundation until the end of 1993?

 7       A.   Yes.  He was there from day one until the end.

 8       Q.   And my final question, are you aware that Mr. Andabak was on

 9    insulin at that time, regularly, every day, at that time.  I'm not asking

10    about a later time as a grave diabetic?

11       A.   Yes, I know that he was very gravely suffering from diabetes and

12    that he had to be administered insulin every day.

13            MR. KRSNIK: [Interpretation] Thank you very much, that is all.

14            JUDGE LIU:  Mr. Scott?

15            MR. SCOTT:  Mr. President, I want to be completely transparent

16    about this I would have a couple of questions related on Mr. Krsnik's

17    re-direct and only I would ask those questions only if allowed to cover

18    that.  Not arising from Judge's questions.

19            JUDGE LIU:  Well, Mr. Scott, I think we give you the opportunity

20    to ask questions only out of Judges's questions.  If there is some

21    questions you are going to ask which is related to just Judges's

22    questions, that is allowed.

23            MR. SCOTT:  No, Your Honour, as I said I wanted to be fully

24    transparent about that and if that's the case, I have no questions.  Thank

25    you.


Page 12873

 1            JUDGE LIU:  Thank you.  Yes, Judge Clark?

 2                          Questioned by the Court:

 3            JUDGE CLARK:  Arising out of that it's a question I've been

 4    anxious to know the answer to for a long time and you appear to be the

 5    appropriate person.  Maybe you know.  Is in Ivan Andabak still alive?  And

 6    if so, where is he?  Do you know?

 7       A.   Mr. Andabak is alive and I believe he is in Slavonia, in the

 8    Republic of Croatia.

 9            JUDGE CLARK:  I think we've all been curious about him for a

10    while.  He's alive and well, I take it?

11            JUDGE LIU:  Well, there is no questions out of this question.  I

12    have to put an end.  Thank you, Witness, for coming here to give your

13    evidence.  We appreciate it very much.  When the usher pulls down the

14    blinds, she will show you out of the room.  We all wish you a pleasant

15    journey back home.

16            THE WITNESS: [Interpretation] Thank you very much, Your Honours.

17            MR. KRSNIK: [Interpretation] While the witness is being out, may I

18    say that I'm happy you asked that question.  I know that you joined us

19    later, that you did not attend Status Conferences and perhaps I should

20    tell you to read parts of the transcripts of the Status Conferences while

21    Her Honour Judge Wald was there.  I do not want to waste time.  There were

22    very interesting dialogues between me and the Prosecution because the

23    Prosecution conducted that interview with Mr. Andabak in a very incorrect

24    way, but they removed him from all the witness lists, that is he was

25    arrested and brought for an interview with the Prosecutor, but I merely


Page 12874

 1    drawing your attention to those transcripts and I'm very happy that you

 2    asked that question.  Thank you very much.

 3            JUDGE LIU:  Well, Mr. Krsnik, it's not proper, first, without my

 4    permission, you make that statement.  Secondly, we still have the witness

 5    here.

 6            MR. KRSNIK: [Interpretation] I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Your Honours.

 7    It will not happen again.

 8                          [The witness withdrew]

 9            JUDGE LIU:  Yes, Mr. Meek?

10            MR. MEEK:  I have some exhibits to give to Madam Registrar.  Your

11    Honour, Mr. President, I've just learned today that the -- that Defence

12    counsel -- excuse me.  Just learned at the break, Your Honours, that

13    tomorrow at 1.30, Defence counsel have a meeting with the Registrar, with

14    security, Mr. Rhode and other members which will address some concerns

15    Defence counsel has and have had for sometime and I would just ask if it

16    would be possible if you would consider allowing us to break at 1.25

17    tomorrow so that this Defence counsel team and Mr. Seric and Mr. Par, I

18    believe we are all very interested in attending that meeting.  Perhaps we

19    could take one 15 minute break instead after half hour break.  We would

20    very much like to attend that meeting tomorrow.  That's all I'm bringing

21    to your attention, Your Honours.

22            JUDGE LIU:  Thank you very much for informing us about that but

23    this Trial Chamber has not been informed there is a meeting.  If there is

24    any, we'll break early to allow you to attend that meeting.

25            MR. MEEK:  Thank you very much, Your Honour.


Page 12875

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Page 12876

 1            JUDGE LIU:  Any documents to tender at this stage?  And what about

 2    the Prosecution?

 3            MR. SCOTT:  Mr. President, it would assist the Prosecution if you

 4    would allow us again given past practice to sort through the documents

 5    actually used and deal with it on paper, please.

 6            JUDGE LIU:  Yes, but you have to do it as soon as possible.

 7            MR. SCOTT:  Of course.

 8            JUDGE LIU:  Thank you very much.

 9            MR. MEEK:  Yes, Your Honour, I think we only have one new

10    document, and I believe it's D1/390 and perhaps D1/107.  I think that's

11    already been submitted.  I believe the other exhibits we use were merely

12    photographs and a Prosecution exhibit P704.  I believe that's all we would

13    ask to tender into evidence, Your Honour.

14            JUDGE LIU:  Thank you very much.  We believe that we have to make

15    a decision concerning the admission of those documents at a later stage.

16            Mr. Krsnik, are you ready for your next witness?  At this moment,

17    I have to tell you that we haven't been furnished with the list of

18    witnesses.  So we don't know who will be the next witness yet.

19            MR. KRSNIK: [Interpretation] Your Honours, I apologise but then I

20    must tick off my co-counsel because this should have been done a long time

21    ago.  We supplied this list last week both for my learned friends and for

22    you and I do believe that we filed the definitive list.  My apologise,

23    Your Honours.  Could we go into private session, please so that I can give

24    you the name of the witness and the pseudonym we are proposing.

25            JUDGE LIU:  Yes, we will go to private session.


Page 12877

 1                          [Private Session]

 2  [redacted]

 3  [redacted]

 4  [redacted]

 5  [redacted]

 6  [redacted]

 7  [redacted]

 8  [redacted]

 9  [redacted]

10  [redacted]

11  [redacted]

12  [redacted]

13  [redacted]

14  [redacted]

15  [redacted]

16                          [Open session]

17            JUDGE LIU:  Good morning, Witness.

18            THE WITNESS: [Interpretation] Good morning.

19            JUDGE LIU:  Would you please make the solemn declaration in

20    accordance with the paper that the usher is showing to you?

21            THE WITNESS: [Interpretation] I solemnly declare that I will speak

22    the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

23                          WITNESS:  WITNESS NN

24                          [Witness answered through interpreter]

25            JUDGE LIU:  Thank you very much, you may sit down, please.


Page 12878

 1            Mr. Krsnik, we will make a break at 15 minutes past 12.00.

 2            MR. KRSNIK:  Thank you.

 3            JUDGE LIU:  You may proceed.

 4            MR. KRSNIK: [Interpretation] Thank you, Your Honours.  You are

 5    very kind.

 6                          Examined by Mr. Krsnik:

 7       Q.   [Interpretation] Witness, first see if that is your name on this

 8    sheet of paper.  Don't read it aloud, just say yes or no?

 9       A.   Yes, it is.

10       Q.   Thank you very much.  We shall all be addressing you as Witness

11    NN.  It is for your protection.  Please mind that in your answers, try not

12    to disclose your identity.  If you see that in answering a question that

13    might disclose your identity please request a private session because that

14    is what we can do, and then next time, please find the exact speed at

15    which you should answer, not too slow and not too fast.  I know that is

16    not easy because you are not often in this position, but you see we have

17    to take care, the interpretation here is of vital importance and we have

18    interpretation into two languages so will you please be cooperative?

19       A.   Very well.

20       Q.   Thank you.  And let us start off immediately.  I will tackle only

21    one year, 1993.  Perhaps by way of introduction, just a little bit, we may

22    do something earlier than that, if need be, but basically we shall be

23    talking only about 1993 and we shall be referring to just one event.  Will

24    you please make your answers as concise, as concrete as possible so that

25    we can move on?  So will you please tell something about your court --


Page 12879

 1    about your self to the Court without giving us your name?

 2       A.   I was born on the 23rd of August, 1956 in Doljani, municipality of

 3    Jablanica.  I completed my elementary education in Polog, municipality of

 4    Mostar, the secondary school I completed in Mostar.  I studied electrical

 5    engineering and read it in Split.  I graduated in 1980 and at that time, I

 6    began to work for Unis in Sarajevo.  After that --

 7       Q.   You can follow this dot.  You see on the screen.  If you can

 8    follow that dot, and if you see when it stops.  When it stops, then

 9    start.

10  [redacted]

11  [redacted]

12  [redacted]

13  [redacted]

14  [redacted]

15       Q.   Please do not tell us these things because we are in open

16    session.  This is the first time, you see, don't give you the offices that

17    you held unless we go into private session, first.  This will be

18    redacted.  Yes, I'll take care.

19       A.   After that --

20            MR. KRSNIK: [Interpretation] Perhaps Your Honours, perhaps because

21    these are particulars so perhaps we should go into private session just in

22    case, thank very much.

23            JUDGE LIU:  Yes, we will go into private session, please.

24                          [Private session]

25  [redacted]


Page 12880

 1  [redacted]

 2  [redacted]

 3  [redacted]

 4  [redacted]

 5  [redacted]

 6  [redacted]

 7  [redacted]

 8  [redacted]

 9  [redacted]

10  [redacted]

11  [redacted]

12  [redacted]

13  [redacted]

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16  [redacted]

17  [redacted]

18  [redacted]

19  [redacted]

20  [redacted]

21  [redacted]

22  [redacted]

23                          [Open session]

24            THE WITNESS: [Interpretation] The situation was extremely grave

25    for us, the Croats, because we were a minority due to a very large influx


Page 12881

 1    of refugees and certain political decisions which were at that time taken

 2    in the municipality of Jablanica itself and that was the appointment of

 3    Dr. Safet Cibo of the Presidency of the war Presidency of those three

 4    municipalities, that is Jablanica, Konjic and Prozor.

 5       Q.   Are you aware who appointed him, it was a lawful decision, a

 6    lawful way and whether the relations between the Croats and Bosniaks

 7    changed and how?  Again just in so many words so the first question is who

 8    appointed Dr. Cibo?

 9       A.   Dr. Cibo was appointed by Mr. Alija Izetbegovic, and when he came,

10    he wasn't alone.  A large number of units came to the municipality of

11    Jablanica.  I mean Zuka's units as far as I know.  Then some "swans," BH

12    Army units came and they took areas in the municipality of Jablanica

13    itself.

14       Q.   Witness, will you please slow down?  I'm sorry that I am

15    interrupting you but I will have to do it otherwise Judge Diarra has to

16    wait for the interpretation into French from English, so it slows down

17    matters.  Will you please slow down?

18       A.   When he came, those units take the territories and the situation

19    drastically changed at our expense.

20       Q.   Will you please just repeat which are the units which came with --

21    at the same time as Dr. Cibo because they are not in the transcript?

22       A.   I know that Zuka came, then some kind of "swans," Suad Alic's

23    Brigade from Konjic with their tanks came and they moved around the town

24    and at the same time, some procurative measures were applied against

25    Croats which did not exist before, that is goods were confiscated from


Page 12882

 1    Croat shops, areas were taken from Croats, at checkpoints the control was

 2    stepped up and the plates were being removed and practically the freedom

 3    of movement was restricted.

 4       Q.   Can you tell us what month was that when Dr. Cibo arrived and

 5    whether that was a lawful decision or whether that was a decision that was

 6    imposed?

 7       A.   It was not a lawful appointment for a very simple reason.  I know

 8    there was a huge resistance by the then Muslim authorities in Jablanica to

 9    his arrival and his appointment.  Nijaz Ivkovic, the then-president of the

10    municipality of Jablanica personally warned me and told me that the HVO

11    would no longer be able to exist in Jablanica as soon as Mr. Safet Cibo

12    arrived.  And his arrival was sometime at the beginning of March, 1993.

13       Q.   Let's talk about some specific events because we've heard a lot

14    about these things already.  Where was your place of work?  Did you go

15    there every day?  Did something change in that respect, if it did, when?

16  [redacted]

17  [redacted]

18  [redacted]

19  [redacted]

20  [redacted]

21  [redacted]

22  [redacted]

23  [redacted]

24  [redacted]

25  [redacted]


Page 12883

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 2  [redacted]

 3            JUDGE LIU:  Well, I did not expect that the witness's testimony is

 4    going into details.  So if you need, Mr. Krsnik, we could go into the

 5    private session.

 6            MR. KRSNIK: [Interpretation]

 7       Q.   See, Witness, even I forget.  We have to protect your identity, I

 8    know that you're focused on the answers rather than on not revealing your

 9    identity, however, whenever you speak either about yourself or your

10    family, ask for private session.

11            MR. KRSNIK: [Interpretation] Can we please go into private

12    session, indeed, because this gentleman is easily identifiable in the

13    small -- in the small midst where he lives.

14            JUDGE LIU:  Yes, we will go to the private session, please.

15                          [Private session]

16  [redacted]

17  [redacted]

18  [redacted]

19  [redacted]

20  [redacted]

21  [redacted]

22  [redacted]

23  [redacted]

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Page 12884

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Page 12885

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21  [redacted]

22  [redacted]

23                          [Open session]

24            MR. KRSNIK: [Interpretation]

25       Q.   Witness, please now you have to be careful, make sure you do not


Page 12886

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Page 12887

 1    reveal your identity, if you want to go to private session, we will do

 2    that.  Did anybody else have their headquarters in that house besides the

 3    Mijat Tomic Battalion?

 4       A.   No, nobody else but the civilian components of the HVO, which

 5    subsequently was organised there.

 6       Q.   What went on?  What happened next?

 7       A.   Because of the general panic that was felt in the village, we

 8    started asking around.  We wanted to -- we asked the headquarters what we

 9    should do, and the command of that battalion, they informed their

10    superiors and that is the command of the Herceg Stjepan Brigade in Konjic

11    and they asked them whether there was anything that could be done for the

12    blockade to be lifted off the village.

13       Q.   When you said the blockade or the circle, was that a bit lower

14    beyond the Sovicka Vrata, you said there was a block on the road, that

15    there was?

16       A.   Yes, that was the place some 1.5 to 2 kilometres below Sovicka

17    Vrata.

18       Q.   The Chamber knows already a lot about this place.  I believe that

19    they now recognise these names.  Did you have any contacts with Bosniaks,

20    Muslims or BH Army in Sovici and Doljani?  Did you ask them what it was

21    all about, what was going on?

22       A.   A gentleman from the battalion command contacted the commander of

23    the army battalion in Sovici, Mr. Dzemal Orovic.  I think that these two

24    gentlemen were Stipe Pole and Juka Groznica.  At the same time

25    representatives of the BH Army from Jablanica came to us, Salih Jusic and


Page 12888

 1    Zajko Sihirlic, and they told us that there were no problems, that they

 2    did what they were supposed to do, and that we should not fear anything,

 3    that the blockade will be lifted.  This was simply not true.

 4       Q.   Okay.  So this is 15.  Did something special happen on the 16th of

 5    April?

 6       A.   On the 16th of April, the panic increased in the village.  The

 7    people started getting ready to leave.  At the same time, the number of

 8    armed provocations increased in the area of Kosna Luka, that is a village

 9    halfway between Doljani and Jablanica.  The shooting increased in the

10    mountains, there were an increased number of provocations by the members

11    of the BH Army.

12       Q.   Did you inform the superior command of that?

13       A.   Yes.  We were in constant contact with the Herceg Stjepan Brigade.

14    We asked them to do something because every moment was crucial because

15    the -- we were under a constant blockade.

16       Q.   Tell me, what did your neighbours, Muslims in Doljani, do?  Did

17    they help you?  Did they assist you in any way?  What was your

18    relationship with them?

19       A.   Throughout 1992 and throughout 1993, we -- the life in the village

20    was absolutely normal and those relations were good, and nothing indicated

21    that something like that could happen, but what surprised us was the fact

22    that all the Muslim left Doljani in the night of the 16th and they all

23    left towards Jablanica.  On the following morning, we just saw the cattle

24    roaming around, that all the villages in Doljani, all the houses in

25    Doljani were empty, and that the -- our neighbours left towards


Page 12889

 1    Jablanica.  This had a compounded our situation because we then realised

 2    that something was being prepared for us.

 3            MR. KRSNIK: [Interpretation] Now is the time for a break.  I have

 4    to interrupt you.  I believe, Your Honours, that it is the time for the

 5    break.

 6            JUDGE LIU:  Yes.  We will resume at quarter to 1.00.

 7                          --- Recess taken at 12.15 p.m.

 8                          --- On resuming at 12.49 p.m.

 9            JUDGE LIU:  Yes, Mr. Krsnik, please continue.

10            MR. KRSNIK: [Interpretation] Thank you, Your Honour.

11       Q.   We left off with the 16th of April.  Witness, did you want to say

12    something else about that day, the 16th of April?

13       A.   Nothing special.

14       Q.   Tell me, please, you were in touch with the Herceg Stjepan Brigade

15    in Konjic and Mijat Tomic was one part of that brigade; is that correct?

16       A.   Yes.  We had regular information as to what was going on in the

17    territory of Konjic municipality, i.e. what was going on in Trusinea and

18    other villages.  We had that information and that increased the panic in

19    the village.

20       Q.   Can you tell us when that happened n which villages, and whose

21    villages were those?

22       A.   Those were villages in the area of Klisa municipality, inhabited

23    by Croats.  A terrible massacre had taken place in those villages.

24       Q.   Before the 16th?

25       A.   Yes, before the 16th.


Page 12890

 1       Q.   Let's move on to the 17th.  We said something about the 15th, the

 2    16th.  And on the 17th of April, 1993, I'm not going to interrupt you,

 3    just tell the Honourable Court what you know about that date, what

 4    happened?

 5       A.   First of all, I said that we found out that in the course of the

 6    previous night, the Muslims had left Doljani village.  This resulted in a

 7    huge panic in the morning hours of the 17th.  On several occasions, we

 8    asked for the blockade to be lifted off.  We saw, given the things that

 9    had happened in Konjic, given the provocations from Kosna Luka, we were

10    afraid that we would have the same destiny as the villages in Konjic

11    municipality, i.e. what happened to us on the 27th -- the 20th of July.

12       Q.   I'm not with you.

13       A.   What I'm saying is that what Cibo wanted to do with his policy.

14       Q.   You mean the 17th and the 18th?

15       A.   Yes.  When things that happened in Konjic were supposed to happen

16    in Doljani as well.  However, the timely intervention of our Main Staff

17    prevented that.

18       Q.   And you mentioned 20th --

19       A.   28th.  It did not happen then but it did happen on the 28th of

20    July.  What happened was that the Muslim forces from Jablanica stormed

21    into Doljani, carried out the massacre of 36 civilians, took away about

22    250 civilians, women, children including, to the camp in Jablanica.

23            MR. KRSNIK: [Interpretation] --

24            THE WITNESS: [Interpretation] Can we go to private session because

25    I need to something say.


Page 12891

 1            JUDGE LIU:  Yes, Mr. Bos?

 2            MR. BOS:  Could we have the year he's talking about the 28th of

 3    July but we'd like to have the year as well.

 4            JUDGE LIU:  Yes.  Witness?

 5            THE WITNESS: [Interpretation] It was in July, 1993.

 6            MR. KRSNIK: [Interpretation] And can we go to private session,

 7    please?

 8            JUDGE LIU:  Yes, we will go to the private session.

 9                          [Private session]

10  [redacted]

11  [redacted]

12  [redacted]

13  [redacted]

14  [redacted]

15  [redacted]

16  [redacted]

17  [redacted]

18  [redacted]

19  [redacted]

20  [redacted]

21  [redacted]

22  [redacted]

23  [redacted]

24  [redacted]

25  [redacted]


Page 12892

 1  [redacted]

 2  [redacted]

 3  [redacted]

 4  [redacted]

 5  [redacted]

 6                          [Open session]

 7            THE WITNESS: [Interpretation] I'm saying this because the Army of

 8    BH army intended to carry this out already in the month of April.  With

 9    the arrival on the morning of the 17th, probably on the order of the Main

10    Staff, the blockade started being lifted off Doljani and Sovici, shooting

11    started in the surrounding -- in the neighbouring mountains and hills.  We

12    were in Doljani all that time, with the civilians and with our battalion,

13    and all this stopped in the afternoon hours.

14            MR. KRSNIK: [Interpretation]

15       Q.   Were there any -- was there any fighting in Kosna Luka, that is

16    from Jablanica towards Doljani?

17       A.   All that time, there was -- Doljani was being shelled from

18    mortars, there was shooting from the direction of Kosna Luka.  However, in

19    the village of Doljani, there were certain groups, although they thought

20    that everybody had left Doljani, these groups were shooting and provoking

21    throughout the day of the 17th.

22       Q.   Do you know who was the commander of the units which participated

23    in the conflict in Sovici on the side of the HVO?

24       A.   Since the command of -- in Konjic was informed, and they in turn

25    informed the Main Staff, and given the units that were there at the time,


Page 12893

 1    I believe that it could have been only Mr. Petkovic or the commander of

 2    the zone in charge of that area, and that is Mr. Mica Lasic.

 3       Q.   You said that the fighting stopped in the afternoon.  Do you know

 4    when the fighting stopped in the afternoon?  Did somebody surrender?  How

 5    did this all end?  In Sovici, I mean.

 6       A.   The commander, Mr. Stipe Pole, the commander of Sovici, told me

 7    that the battalion commander, Dzemal Ovnovic had surrendered to him and

 8    then this commander was asked to order all the others, other members of

 9    the army, to surrender, because there was no further need for any

10    fighting, because that is what the situation was and the situation was in

11    favour of the HVO.

12       Q.   Tell me about the ratio of forces in Sovici and Doljani, the ratio

13    of HVO forces vis-a-vis the BH Army forces that is before the conflict,

14    until the 17th?

15       A.   Until the 17th, looking at the structure of the population, the

16    ratio was 50-50.  Looking at the entire local commune.  In Sovici, there

17    were about 70 per cent Muslims and 30 per cent Croats.  This ratio was

18    impaired for a very simple reason.  Quite a number of Muslims from other

19    municipalities came and settled in this village.  I know some people

20    from Jajce.  Then members of the army came here from Prozor across the

21    Baca hill.  So in Sovici the ratio was 70-30.

22       Q.   And the ratio of soldiers, how many men did you have in your

23    battalion?

24       A.   We had about 150 to 170 men, because a large part of our soldiers

25    had remained in Jablanica together with the civilians there.  And


Page 12894

 1    according to my knowledge, the Sovici Battalion counted about 250 men,

 2    that is the BH Army.

 3       Q.   But how many HVO soldiers were there on the 17th to the 18th?  How

 4    many of the HVO troops were there?

 5       A.   About 150.

 6       Q.   And you said the BH Army?

 7       A.   About 250.

 8       Q.   I see.  Do you know what happened to members of the BH Army on the

 9    17th, those who surrendered in Sovici?

10       A.   According to what I know, a military police platoon took those

11    soldiers to the military prison in Ljubuski.

12       Q.   And this military police platoon was in Doljani all the time?

13       A.   Yes.

14       Q.   And on the 17th of April, were all the members of the BH Army

15    captured?

16       A.   No, because on the surrounding hills the fire still went on, and

17    in the days that followed, some of the members of that BH Army surrendered

18    to the military police.  However, they stayed together with the civilians.

19       Q.   And tell me, please, do you have any knowledge upon whose orders?

20    Military police took them to Ljubuski and when were they taken there,

21    according to what you know?

22       A.   According to what I know they were taken there around noon on the

23    17th and I presume they had been taken because they had been ordered by

24    the commander of the military police.

25       Q.   Do you know who physically drove them there?  Was it military


Page 12895

 1    police again or --

 2       A.   Yes, it was the military police.

 3       Q.   Let us move on now to another topic.  What happened to civilians?

 4    And please be quite open and quite straightforward.  We have heard here

 5    all kinds of testimony so let us hear it from you.  What happened to

 6    civilians in Sovici and Doljani?

 7       A.   As for the civilians in Doljani, they left during the night.  That

 8    part which stayed behind, because a certain part of them had stayed

 9    behind, they all gathered in the hamlet of Basici.  Civilians from

10    Sovici, by and large, gathered, they were looking where to put up, they

11    wanted to be in one place, and they picked out the hamlet of Junuzovici

12    because in a way it was outside the combat area and most of the

13    civilians put up there and some of the civilians also went to the hamlet

14    of Krkaca.

15       Q.   And what about the school in Sovici, were there any civilians?

16       A.   No, not in the Sovici school except later on the soldiers who

17    surrendered and were also civilians in parts.  They were in the school in

18    Sovici.

19       Q.   Can you tell us go whether anybody cared for them, did anybody

20    guard them and who?

21       A.   I personally know, being the civilian HVO commander, I know that I

22    did my utmost to provide those people with basic medical care, and I mean

23    Dr. Vlado Luban, who regularly visited them, examined them.  He is a

24    physician who before the war was the director of the health centre, and

25    all those civilians know him very well.  He regularly -- they were


Page 12896

 1    regularly visited by Mr. Miroslav Juric, who is the President of the

 2    Catholic Charities Society, in case they were short of food or anything

 3    else.  He attended to that, as far as I know, the civilians lived

 4    normally.  It was the area of combat operations so they lived in fear but

 5    there was no harassment or anything else.

 6       Q.   And how did you organise food for them?

 7       A.   They could go home without any problem whatsoever but since there

 8    were many troops in the village and all sorts of things, they preferred to

 9    be to keep together.  They cooked their own food, as I said Mr. Juric

10    visited them so that in case there were short of anything they would be

11    supplied with it.

12       Q.   Tell me, please, your personal knowledge, did those civilians stay

13    with you all the time or not?  If not, when did they leave?  Will you

14    please tell the Court about that?

15       A.   After these conflicts, when the press service of the BH Army --

16    used it in the media and kept inciting the public saying that everything

17    that moved in Sovici had been killed or burnt down, European monitors,

18    UNPROFOR, I don't know, various other organisations they could come and

19    see for themselves how the civilians were living.  I know concretely of a

20    visit of Mr. Petkovic and Sefer Halilovic, accompanied by Mr. Berislav

21    Pusic, chairman of the exchange commission, representing Herceg-Bosna, and

22    Hasan Rizvic, their representative of the army command from Jablanica.

23       Q.   And Hasan Rizvic was, what was his office?

24       A.   He was the commander of the army in Doljani and then when they

25    moved to Jablanica he was made responsible for the exchange on behalf of


Page 12897

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Page 12898

 1    the BH Army.

 2       Q.   Can you remember the date when that was?

 3       A.   No, I couldn't really.

 4       Q.   What about the month?

 5       A.   All I know that during that contact we were told that those

 6    civilians had asked in view of all that was happening to be transferred to

 7    the territory held by the BH Army that is to Jablanica and that that be --

 8       Q.   Yes, you may.  Just slow down.

 9       A.   And that it be done, that is that they simply be transferred.  And

10    we asked or rather Minister Pusic that is what he told us later on he said

11    that there would be no problem but he also requested that Croat civilians

12    be released from Jablanica because they also wanted to get out, and there

13    were about 600 of them.  Further on, the Croats from Konjic and especially

14    from the village of Radasina, where another massacre had taken place, they

15    were also asking to be released.  It was said that both requests would be

16    met. And on the basis of that understanding, between Petkovic and

17    Halilovic, and I believe it was in sometime in the beginning of May, that

18    is on the 4th or the 5th of May, I can't say exactly those civilians were

19    transferred or rather they were driven away to the territory controlled

20    by, that is to Jablanica, that is to the territory controlled by the BH

21    Army.  However, the Croats from Jablanica were not allowed to do the same.

22    And half of them ended up in prison later on and another half were sent to

23    some labour platoons, subjected to particular torture for the duration of

24    that, that is until the 1st of March, 1993.

25       Q.   Now, please, I do not know if I understood you well.  I'd like to


Page 12899

 1    clear this up for the Honourable Court.  So you said that Petkovic and

 2    Halilovic agreed the exchange Berislav Pusic on behalf of the HZ HB,

 3    Hasan Rizic on behalf half of the BH Army and they agreed on the release

 4    of civilians.  And the civilians in Sovici leave and the Croats never

 5    left?

 6       A.   Never.

 7       Q.   And who was the operative officer responsible for the exchange?

 8    Was it Minister Pusic or somebody else?

 9       A.   I don't know, I don't know, I guess it was he.

10       Q.   Tell me, please, let us move on to another subject and let us be

11    very open about it.  We have heard here about houses being put fire to,

12    about mosques being damaged.  So let us move into that area.  Tell us, did

13    the mosque in -- what happened to this mosque in Sovici?  What do you know

14    about that?

15       A.   The mosque in Sovici and in Doljani was mined.

16       Q.   Mined?  What do you mean mined?

17       A.   Well, it means that it was demolished, that explosives were

18    planted.

19       Q.   You mean dynamite?

20       A.   Yes, I mean dynamite.  At night.  We requested the military

21    police and others to investigate and establish who had done it because

22    that was a crime.  And we are ashamed of that to this day.  We still feel

23    the shame.  The military police conducted an investigation but I

24    personally never learned who had done that.

25       Q.   Do you remember the date perhaps?


Page 12900

 1       A.   That was on the 18th or maybe 19th or the 17th I'm not quite sure.

 2       Q.   So you are telling us 18th, 17th or perhaps 18th to 19th?

 3       A.   Yes, yes, yes.

 4       Q.   I see.  And what happened to houses?  Were they indeed torched?

 5    What happened to them?

 6       A.   The houses were by and large set on fire.  After all these

 7    happenings, towards the end of 1993, Muslim houses were also set on fire

 8    but not all of them and Croat houses too, in a large part of these hamlets

 9    one could say that most of the villages were burnt down.  The houses

10    were torched during the operations themselves, that is in the course of

11    the operations, the houses were destroyed and burnt, and a large number of

12    houses were also torched later on during those operations.  Who did that,

13    I cannot know of any personal knowledge but I know that it was out of any

14    control and we were really decisively against it resolutely against that,

15    but naturally the troops came from all over it was impossible for us, like

16    civilian commander under the command of a small battalion, we could not

17    prevent it, we could not put an end to that, but I can tell you that it

18    was beyond any control, but nevertheless there are some Muslim houses in

19    Doljani which were never torched but I must also say that a number of them

20    were torched after the 27th, 28th.

21       Q.   You year you mean?

22       A.   1993.  And after this massacre in Doljani, a certain knowledge

23    that we gained and that we received --

24       Q.   And then a large number of houses were burnt?

25       A.   They were burnt.


Page 12901

 1       Q.   What happened to the civilians after the 27th, that is in Sovici

 2    and Doljani, did they stay there or did they leave?

 3       A.   The civilians in Doljani, I have already said they were all taken

 4    to the museum in Jablanica and from Sovici they simply moved out towards

 5    West Herzegovina or Croatia or wherever they could be accommodated, so

 6    that the village practically remained empty with nobody but troops in it.

 7       Q.   And now I'd like to ask you to move towards conclusion.  Are you

 8    aware that members of -- if the members of the Convicts Battalion were in

 9    Sovici and Doljani between the 17th, 18th, 19th?

10       A.   I know that in the operations, soldiers from Tomislavgrad

11    participated, also from Posusje, Siroki, that there were ATG groups which

12    practically -- were not in Sovici itself.  They went along the edges of

13    the village to positions held by the army, to neutralise those positions,

14    because fire was coming from there, and that is the area above Sovici,

15    Pasije Stijene for instance, Bacina, Pisvir, all the way to Kosna Luka

16    because our principal objective was to establish a defence line facing

17    Jablanica because that is where the village was -- where the thrust of the

18    attack against the village came from.  So that from what I know, and from

19    the command, these ATGs did not come down to the village of Sovici itself.

20       Q.   But did you see them in Kosna Luka?  Will you tell the Honourable

21    Court how did they get to Kosna Luka which way did they take?

22       A.   Well, as I have said they followed on the edge, Pasije Stijene,

23    Bacina, Pomen, Pisvir, 904 feature, that is also Tovarnica.

24       Q.   Perhaps it would be easier for you I have a photographer here this

25    is Exhibit 8.2 and we could perhaps show it and perhaps you could point at


Page 12902

 1    those mountains and which route did they take to come down to Kosna Luka?

 2    And perhaps it could be put on the ELMO and you will show us then.  You

 3    keep on talking until we get the signal.

 4       A.   They climbed down between features 902 and 904, between Tovarnica

 5    and they took that road between these two hills to come down to Kosna

 6    Luka.

 7       Q.   Now we have got it on, take this pointer show us which road that

 8    they took to come down to Kosna Luka

 9       Q.   It's still on not.  We're waiting and we'll come back to this.

10    Tell me, did you see Mr. Naletilic in Doljani and Sovici or Sovici, if

11    yes, when and where?

12       A.   I saw Mr. Naletilic in the afternoon, in the evening on the 19th,

13    in front of the command in Doljani.  When he came with two or three of his

14    men, since I was the commander of the civilian part of the HVO and Stipe

15    Pole, as the military commander, and that was the first time that I met

16    Mr. Mladen Naletilic.  However, that day, some very regrettable things

17    happened that day, that is that day practically three soldiers, members of

18    that ATG group were killed, and Mr. Naletilic, from what I know, was there

19    only briefly and he said that he had to go back in order to prepare for

20    the funeral of those three members of that ATG group.

21       Q.   Did you talk with him?

22       A.   Yes, but it -- very briefly because he was with his men and he

23    said that he was very sorry, as far as I can remember, that one soldier

24    was Boka, and he was his neighbour and he said he simply had to go to his

25    family in Siroki and he left that command in no time.


Page 12903

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Page 12904

 1       Q.   And what about the ATGs?  Did they leave?

 2       A.   Yes, they left, those who had been with him but as far as I can

 3    remember, Mr. Cikota stayed on at the feature, at that Tovarnica, because

 4    he was to reinforce the positions facing Jablanica together with our home

 5    guards.

 6       Q.   And did those ATGs ever come back to Sovici or Doljani after the

 7    19th?

 8       A.   I did not see them.

 9       Q.   Very well.  And my last question.

10            MR. KRSNIK: [Interpretation] Could we go into private session,

11    please?  And we shall wait for the ELMO to work, but then will you use the

12    marker and draw the route which the ATGs took and my last question but can

13    we go into private session?  And then I will turn you over to my learned

14    friend?

15            JUDGE LIU:  Yes.  We will go to the private session, please.

16                          [Private session]

17  [redacted]

18  [redacted]

19  [redacted]

20  [redacted]

21  [redacted]

22  [redacted]

23  [redacted]

24  [redacted]

25  [redacted]


Page 12905

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 8  [redacted]

 9  [redacted]

10  [redacted]

11  [redacted]

12  [redacted]

13  [redacted]

14  [redacted]

15  [redacted]

16  [redacted]

17  [redacted]

18                          [Open session]

19            THE WITNESS: [Interpretation] ATG groups took this edge of the

20    village on the other side is the Pomeli municipality and the Muslims had

21    taken this whole part of the hill.  Pasije Stijene, and Bacina Mount for

22    a simple reason and I absolutely must tell it, in order to control the

23    village of Doljani, and Ravno hydro power plant as the principal power

24    generating facility.  It was their strategic goal.  It wasn't only that

25    they wanted to take the village, so they had deployed their forces on the


Page 12906

 1    Bacina Mountain, Pomen, Oklanice, Pisvir is behind there and all this way

 2    here, so the ATG group moved in that direction, this is where 904 feature

 3    is, here is 902, and between them in Tovarnica where they climbed down.

 4            MR. KRSNIK: [Interpretation]

 5       Q.   Now, wait now in Tovarnica just draw an arrow, an arrow down

 6    pointing at Doljani, just do that and telling us which date was it when

 7    they climbed down.

 8       A.   It was on the 20th of April, and before that, before they

 9    descended -- before that descent the leader of that ATG group, Cikota, was

10    killed and he had our home guards with him.

11       Q.   And where did these ATGs come down from the mountain to Kosna

12    Luka?

13       A.   To Kosna Luke?  On the 19th, except that on the 19th they came

14    down on the 19th, and when they came down it was then that Boka was killed

15    and Cikota stayed behind, that is up in the hills, with the home guards,

16    in order to reinforce the line and he was killed on the 20th.

17       Q.   Now, you have this marker.  Take the black marker and just draw an

18    arrow from Tovarnica to Kosna Luka.

19       A.   [marks]

20       Q.   Thank you very much and just the documents.

21            MR. KRSNIK: [Interpretation] Could our honourable Madam Registrar

22    give the documents to the witness at the same time.  D1/392, 393, 394,

23    395, 396, and 397?

24       Q.   Witness, everybody warns me and I was really in the wrong too.

25    Will you please slow down?  Everybody warns me.  You do not have to read


Page 12907

 1    these documents, will you just cast a look at those documents?  Don't read

 2    through them because these documents are self explanatory and if you are

 3    reading any of them, then tell us now I'm reading document such and such

 4    because you have a number down there?

 5       A.   I'm talking about documents D1/392 tell us are you familiar with

 6    that document or not?

 7       A.   Yes, it is.

 8       Q.   Go on.

 9       A.   D1/393. I'm familiar with it.  Document D1/394.

10            JUDGE LIU:  Yes, Mr. Bos?

11            MR. BOS:  Could I just ask, what does it mean if the witness says,

12    "I'm familiar with the document"?  Could he give some more explanation

13    other than saying he's familiar with it.

14            JUDGE LIU:  Yes.

15            MR. KRSNIK: [Interpretation]

16       Q.   Just say what is it that you're familiar with, the incident

17    described, the document itself?

18       A.   No, no, no.  I mean I know about the incidents that described

19    here.

20       Q.   So that is what you mean?

21       A.   Yes, when I say that I'm familiar with.

22       Q.   Witness, will you please give us the document, the number of the

23    document and the date?  I think that every document must bear a signature

24    somewhere.

25       A.   So the document D1/394 [RealTime transcript read in error


Page 12908

 1     "D1/354"], the 15th of April, 1993.

 2       Q.   I don't know.  The document, the transcript is wrong because it

 3    says 354, it should be 394.

 4       A.   Yes, 394.

 5       Q.   Let's move on.

 6       A.   Yes.  Document D1/395 of the 23rd of March, 1993.  No.

 7       Q.   You don't know this document?

 8       A.   No, I don't.  Document D1/396, 11th of January, 1993, yes, I'm

 9    aware of the problem that the document refers to.  And document D1/397, of

10    the 19th of January, 1993, no, I'm not aware of it, but now that I read

11    this, I see that it reflected the reality on the ground.  And what

12    happened at the time, and how they were getting ready.

13       Q.   Right.  And now let's go to documents of the Prosecution, 362 and

14    360.  These are orders issued by Mr. Milivoj Petkovic.  Will you please

15    have a look at them?

16            MR. KRSNIK: [Interpretation] I'm very glad to say that this

17    document has been translated into French, Your Honour, Judge Diarra.

18       A.   Document 4 of May, 1993, yes, I'm familiar with it.  And document

19    362, dating 5 of May, 1993, yes.

20       Q.   Thank you, sir, for coming here and I hope that you have assisted

21    this Chamber in getting a complete picture of the events.  I have

22    finished, Your Honours, I have no further questions.

23            JUDGE LIU:  Well, Witness, we still have 15 minutes to go.  At the

24    beginning of the direct examination, Mr. Krsnik asked for a short break

25    before the cross-examination.


Page 12909

 1            MR. KRSNIK:  Tomorrow.  The meeting is tomorrow, Your Honour.

 2            JUDGE LIU:  Well, I'm just asking you, Witness, whether you are

 3    ready to continue for another 15 minutes for cross-examination by the

 4    Prosecution?

 5            THE WITNESS: [Interpretation] Yes, yes.

 6            JUDGE LIU:  Yes, Mr. Bos.  We have to stop at quarter to 2.00

 7    sharply.

 8            MR. BOS:  Yes, Your Honour.

 9                          Cross-examined by Mr. Bos.

10       Q.   Good afternoon, Witness NN, I will call you Witness NN as you are

11    a protective witness.

12            MR. BOS:  Could the witness be shown Exhibit P2 and Exhibit P906

13    which are two maps?  I'll also provide the exhibits which I intends to use

14    for the cross-examination of this witness.  If I could ask the usher to

15    put Exhibit P2 the map, if it's there on the overhead projector, please?

16    P2.  If I can assist the registry, we have a copy here of Exhibit P2.  The

17    other exhibit which I will need shortly is Exhibit P906.  If this map

18    could be pleased placed on the ELMO, please?

19       Q.   Now, witness, in front of you you have some of the municipalities

20    in Herzegovina, and I'd like to focus on the municipality of Jablanica

21    which is the topic of discussion here today, so I don't know if we can

22    focus out a bit.  That's fine.  Please stop.

23            Now, Witness, is it correct that the municipality of Jablanica is

24    strategically a very important municipality?

25       A.   Yes.


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Page 12911

 1       Q.   And one of the reasons why it's such an important strategic

 2    important municipality is that the two main roads which go up north to

 3    Bosnia and to Sarajevo run through this municipality?  Is that correct?

 4       A.   Yes.

 5       Q.   Isn't it also true that the major power stations of

 6    Bosnia-Herzegovina are actually found in this municipality?

 7       A.   In addition to elsewhere, there are also some in Jablanica.

 8       Q.   Isn't it true that the major power stations are in Jablanica?

 9       A.   No.

10       Q.   But there are power stations in Jablanica?

11       A.   There is one.

12       Q.   And where is that power station?  Could you indicate it on the map

13    here?

14       A.   It is in Jablanica itself.  In the town.

15       Q.   Could we now place Exhibit 906 on the overhead projector?  Now,

16    witness, this is a map of Bosnia-Herzegovina which indicates all the

17    municipalities, and the municipalities indicated in the red colour or

18    orange colour are the municipalities which consist -- which consisted the

19    territory of Herceg-Bosna as it was founded on the 18th of November,

20    1991.  Would you agree with me on that?

21            MR. KRSNIK: [Interpretation] Your Honours, I really don't know

22    whether this is the Prosecutor's tactic to prevent me from finishing with

23    my witnesses.  I believe that I've followed your guidelines.  I have

24    followed your instructions closely.  I was very specific.  I did not go

25    outside 1993, whereas my learned friend starts with the map of HZ HB and


Page 12912

 1    the 11th of November, 1991.  This is my objection, and please decide, and

 2    I always trust your wisdom.

 3            JUDGE LIU:  Well, Mr. Krsnik, we believe this question is related

 4    to this case, and we'll see where Mr. Bos will lead us, and if he is going

 5    to -- somewhere far away, we'll stop him.

 6            MR. BOS:  Thank you, Your Honours.

 7       Q.   So, Witness, my question was, does the area indicated in orange

 8    reflect the territory of Herceg-Bosna as it was founded in 1991?

 9       A.   I can say for Jablanica, yes.

10       Q.   And isn't it true, Witness NN, that Jablanica also fell in one of

11    the cantons as it was assigned to the Vance-Owen Peace Plan, one of the

12    canton that is was assigned to the Bosnian Croats?

13       A.   I believe so.

14       Q.   Well, Witness, wouldn't you agree with me that although the

15    majority of the population in Jablanica was Muslim, that this municipality

16    was very important for the Bosnian Croats to gain control because of its

17    strategic position and because of its resources?

18       A.   It was very important for anybody, because of its position.

19       Q.   Okay.  That's for now for the maps.  Now, Witness, at the end of

20    your examination-in-chief you were shown a few documents by the Defence

21    and I would just like to have you to have another look at Exhibit D1/397.

22            JUDGE LIU:  Yes, Mr. Krsnik?

23            MR. KRSNIK: [Interpretation] My witness has looked at me when the

24    Prosecutor said Bosnian Croats.  I kindly ask my learned friend not to say

25    Bosnian Croat.  They are Croats from Bosnia-Herzegovina.  There is no such


Page 12913

 1    thing a thing as a Bosnian Croat, so can my learned friend address the

 2    witness in that way and use that term?  Thank you very much.

 3            JUDGE LIU:  Well, it seems that we have already arrived at

 4    agreement on using of the terms.

 5            MR. BOS:  I will do so, Your Honour.

 6       Q.   Witness, you have Exhibit D1/397 in front of you?  I think you

 7    do.  Let me just -- upon asking to comment on this document, you said that

 8    this document reflected the reality on the ground.  Is that correct?  Is

 9    that what you testified?

10       A.   I testified and said that the BH Army, all the time prepared

11    itself in order to cleanse Jablanica of Croats and to destroy the HVO and

12    I testified that this document corroborates the fact that this was done

13    systematically and in a coordinated manner.

14       Q.   Well, Witness NN, if you testified that -- if you talk about

15    cleansing it seems to me that you're talking about offensive actions and

16    if you just look at paragraph 2 of this document, which reads as follows:

17    "The BH Army units in the area of Jablanica and Konjic, SO, should be in

18    full combat readiness and prepared for persistent defence in case of

19    attack."  So this paragraph talks about defensive actions rather than

20    offensive actions, doesn't it?

21       A.   Mr. Prosecutor, in Jablanica, we were a very small ethnic group

22    and not for a single moment did we build our defence in order to attack.

23    This is just ridiculous, farcical, that we could do anything in Jablanica

24    municipality where we were less than 10 per cent.  There were about 2.000

25    of us and about 20.000 Muslims and for us to be preparing for an attack


Page 12914

 1    was practically impossible.

 2       Q.   All right.  Isn't it true that HVO troops outside the municipality

 3    could actually move into the municipality and assist the HVO?  And if you

 4    look at paragraph 5 of this same document, it says, "Prevents movements,

 5    regrouping or advance by HVO units from other municipalities in your zone

 6    of responsibility."  Isn't that exactly what happened, Witness NN?

 7       A.   In the area of Jablanica municipality, there were no other HVO

 8    forces, just the Mijat Tomic Battalion until the moment we asked for the

 9    area to be deblocked.

10            MR. BOS:  Your Honours, I'm going to move to a different topic so

11    maybe this is a good time to end.

12            JUDGE LIU:  Yes.  Witness, I'm afraid that we have to keep you for

13    another day.  We will continue tomorrow morning.  You have to understand

14    that you're still under the oath so during your stay in The Hague, do not

15    talk to anybody about your testimony and do not let anybody talk to you.

16            THE WITNESS: [Interpretation] I understand.

17            JUDGE LIU:  So we will rise until tomorrow morning at 9.00 in the

18    same courtroom.

19                          --- Whereupon the hearing adjourned at

20                          1.45 p.m., to be reconvened on Tuesday,

21                          the 25th day of June, 2002, at 9.00 a.m.

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