Page 4231
1 Tuesday, 13 April 2010
2 [Open session]
3 [The accused entered court]
4 --- Upon commencing at 2.23 p.m.
5 JUDGE ORIE: Madam Registrar, would you please call the case.
6 THE REGISTRAR: Good afternoon, Your Honours.
7 Good afternoon everyone in and around the courtroom.
8 This is the case IT-03-69-T. The Prosecutor versus
9 Jovica Stanisic and Franko Simatovic.
10 JUDGE ORIE: Thank you, Madam Registrar.
11 First of all, we have technical problems. We can see the
12 transcript on our screen which cannot be manipulated on the other one,
13 it's not available yet. Nevertheless, I suggest that we start.
14 Yes. It's still not functioning. There is a request
15 outstanding. Mr. Simatovic asked to address the Chamber for two minutes.
16 Mr. Simatovic, we'll allow you to address the Chamber, but only after you
17 have consulted with counsel because there are a lot of things that could
18 not be appropriately addressed by you such as started commenting on the
19 factual basis of our decision or commenting on the decision itself.
20 There are a lot of things that cannot appropriately be addressed, and
21 Mr. Bakrac is the one who could give you guidance in this respect. But,
22 once you've taken advice, you may address the Chamber for the two minutes
23 you asked for. Whether that will be today or next week is still to be
24 seen. That depends on the time available.
25 [The witness takes the stand]
Page 4232
1 JUDGE ORIE: Then, Witness JF-036, good afternoon.
2 THE WITNESS: [Interpretation] Good afternoon.
3 JUDGE ORIE: Before we continue, I'd like to remind you that you
4 are still bound by the solemn declaration that you've given yesterday at
5 the beginning of your testimony that you'll speak the truth, the whole
6 truth, and nothing but the truth. Is that clear to you?
7 THE WITNESS: [Interpretation] Yes.
8 WITNESS: JF-036 [Resumed]
9 [Witness answered through interpreter]
10 JUDGE ORIE: I meanwhile establish that the system, the LiveNote
11 system, is functioning again.
12 Mr. Hoffmann, you may continue.
13 MR. HOFFMANN: Thank you, Your Honours. At this point,
14 Your Honours, the Prosecution will play first clip from video 65 ter
15 4490. The video ERN is V000-6820. The transcripts have been provided to
16 the booth, and the first clip is marked as clip 1. It is a video
17 containing various footage. This video is seised by the Ministry of
18 Interior of Montenegro in 2006 from the premises of Vasilije Mijovic in
19 the context of a national criminal investigation. That video was then
20 handed over by the Ministry of the Interior of Montenegro to the ICTY
21 Office of the Prosecution on May 14, 2006.
22 Examination by Mr. Hoffmann:
23 Q. And, Witness, I will ask you to carefully review the footage that
24 we play now, and I will afterwards ask you some questions. And we'll
25 start with the first clip which starts at 1 hour 12 minutes 54 seconds of
Page 4233
1 the original tape.
2 [Video-clip played]
3 THE INTERPRETER: [Voiceover] "Battalion of young Serbian fighters
4 is ready for inspection. Ready to report."
5 MR. HOFFMANN:
6 Q. Witness, we have stopped this clip at just 10 seconds of this
7 clip, in the original at 1 hour 13 minutes, and I just ask you if you
8 recognise any of the people displayed at this screen shot?
9 A. I recognise the person with the dark sunglasses; that's
10 Colonel Mijovic.
11 Q. And just for the record, that is the person to the very right on
12 the screen shot; correct?
13 A. Correct.
14 Q. And if I can ask you to look at the person in the black uniform,
15 he will appear later on in this clip and maybe you can answer whether you
16 know him at the end of this clip. So we'll continue this clip until
17 1 hour 14 minutes and 44 seconds?
18 [Video-clip played]
19 THE INTERPRETER: [Voiceover] "May God be with you, Serbian heros.
20 May God be with you.
21 "Soldier Mijovic Bosko: Rifle number 686205.
22 "Soldier Rajko Parabag: Rifle number 686203.
23 "Soldier Spasoje Rajinovic: Rifle number 686207."
24 MR. HOFFMANN:
25 Q. Sir, did you have a chance to view that person in the black
Page 4234
1 uniform that we saw at the earlier screen shot and did you know that
2 person?
3 A. Well, I know this person under the nickname of Mungos; he was one
4 of the instructors in Mr. Mijovic's unit.
5 MR. HOFFMANN: Your Honours, for the next question I would like
6 to go into closed session briefly.
7 JUDGE ORIE: Would private session do? That's practically the
8 same in this courtroom.
9 We turn into private session.
10 [Private session]
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 4235
1 (redacted)
2 (redacted)
3 (redacted)
4 [Open session]
5 THE REGISTRAR: We are in open session, Your Honours.
6 JUDGE ORIE: Thank you, Madam Registrar.
7 MR. HOFFMANN: We do continue the clip and that is now clip 2.
8 It runs until minute -- 1 hour 21 minutes, and it shows an interview with
9 Mr. Mijovic.
10 [Video-clip played]
11 THE INTERPRETER: [Voiceover] "Today the young Serbian army has
12 been issued their weapons. Please say a few words in honour of this
13 event.
14 "I have to say that I am happy and proud that so many Serbian
15 soldiers answered this call. As you can see, they accomplished a
16 historical deed today by receiving their rifles. We all know what the
17 Croatia 'soldateska,' in other words, the Ustasha, have in mind for us in
18 this area. We will train these young Serbian heros that will enable them
19 to master as well and as quickly as possible the weapons they have been
20 issued today and to protect their young lives. I want to use this
21 opportunity to say that, together with my instructors, I am fully
22 responsible for them, which means that for any kind of combat operations,
23 assaults, defence, defence of this part of the Republic of
24 Serbian Krajina, all of them upon completion of training will be assigned
25 to the Special Police Brigade of the RSK, and all commanders who are
Page 4236
1 performing the training are to join them as necessary in any kind of
2 combat operation. For this type of training, much time is needed. But
3 we don't have that much time, and a huge task is before us. A great
4 responsibility lies on our shoulders because, as you can see, all those
5 young Serbian men are 18 or 19 years old on average.
6 "Journalist: Colonel, sir, they are young and they grew up the
7 last four or five years in the Republic of Serbian Krajina. They
8 already know what their goals and tasks are -- to defend the Serbian
9 homeland. What kind of message can you give to their parents?
10 "Vasilije Mijovic: I must say that their parents, their mothers
11 and fathers, should be proud that they have sons who are ready to defend
12 their homeland that is these territories. They don't need to think much
13 because all the commanders, or rather, instructors, who are going into
14 action if necessary, and it will surely be necessary, will be leading
15 their platoons, detachments. And I claim with full responsibility that
16 during this time-period they will receive training that will enable them
17 to put up adequate resistance to any kind of aggression.
18 "Journalist: Colonel, sir, special units of the MUP,
19 Ministry of the Internal Affairs of the Republic of Serbian Krajina, the
20 instructors who train this young army, are battle hardened fighters from
21 1990 and 1991 up till now. What can you say, how will your units behave
22 in case of an Ustasha aggression against this territory?
23 "Vasilije Mijovic: I'll be very brief. The special units of the
24 RSK MUP take part in all combat activities on the territories of the
25 former Yugoslavia and anywhere where it is necessary to defend the
Page 4237
1 Serbian people. We are ready at all times to wait for the Ustasha and
2 show them how we defend our own country because we are defending our
3 homes, we are defending our land, and everybody knows from history that
4 this country it Serbian holy land.
5 "Journalist: Colonel, sir, in closing, what will your message
6 for the residents of Slavonia, Baranja, and Western Srem be?
7 "Vasilije Mijovic: Well, first of all, it is very clear to all
8 of us that we will not concede an inch of land to the Ustashas, and no
9 one can force us to abandon these territories. I mean to say that these
10 territories are ruled by one unified party, at this moment, determined to
11 defend Serbian land in our homes that have been our homes for centuries.
12 "Journalist: Colonel sir, thank you, and I hope your weapons
13 bring you luck.
14 "Vasilije Mijovic: Thank you, too, and with God's will we will
15 shortly recover our western parts as well because they're ours, and we
16 will not allow these people, this aggressor, who does not have an ancient
17 history like the Serbian people have."
18 MR. HOFFMANN:
19 Q. Sir, do you have any idea where this footage could have been
20 taken?
21 A. Well, judging by the country-side that we could see at the
22 beginning of the video-clip, this was in Baranja. You can see that this
23 is marshy land near Kopacki Rit, which is a national park. In other
24 words, it was not -- it wasn't filmed at a location A on this list
25 because judging by the lie of the land and the scenery, I wouldn't think
Page 4238
1 that this was in the Petrovo Selo in Baranja because the border with the
2 Republic of Hungary is very close, and I would assume that this was in
3 BiH, filmed in BiH.
4 Q. Just for the record, did I correctly get the translation that you
5 say this may have been in Bosnia-Herzegovina and not in the area of
6 Baranja?
7 A. No, quite the contrary. I said that judging by the lie of the
8 land because it's flat and because it's marshy land this must have been
9 filmed in Baranja.
10 Q. And do you have any idea at what particular location this might
11 have been? You have excluded two locations; do you know what location it
12 might have been?
13 A. I assume that this was the area around Bilje. I've already said
14 so.
15 Q. Have you ever attended or seen a similar event as seen on this
16 footage?
17 A. Yes, I attended a similar event at location A where there was a
18 gathering of young privates in the presence of their parents. There was
19 a celebration where Colonel Mijovic addressed all the present as a token
20 of his respect.
21 Q. And my final question on this clip: Could you identify the
22 journalist who interviewed Mr. Mijovic on the footage?
23 A. Yes, the journalist was from Beli Manastir, and on the list you
24 can find him under number 4.
25 Q. Thank you. And we play one last clip. It continues right after
Page 4239
1 this clip and runs until 1 hour, 24 minutes, 41 seconds of the original
2 tape. It's clip 3 for the booth.
3 [Video-clip played]
4 THE INTERPRETER: [Voiceover].
5 "Journalist: How is the young army?
6 "Soldier Vanja: At the moment, they haven't received enough
7 training. They have been here only for a day or two or three, but I can
8 say that they are very good so far, that they are progressing quite fast,
9 especially because they have very good instructors who are my colleagues,
10 my friends. And I hope that we will make a good army from these young
11 fellows; and not only a good army but a Serbian army which will defend
12 this region. And not just to defend -- they have to defend it, there's
13 no other way.
14 "Journalist: Vanja, since 1991 you have been in the special
15 units of the Republic of Serbian Krajina
16 MUP. Colleagues, friends, fellow soldiers -- how
17 have these four years passed?
18 "Soldier Vanja: I can tell you that these four years have passed
19 really fast. Immediately when I finished school I put soldiers' boots
20 on, I put a uniform on, and I'm satisfied. I wouldn't change it for, I
21 don't know, even if somebody offered me Hawaii or Tahiti or some enormous
22 fortune, not at all. I wouldn't change my friends, especially not those
23 who got killed. And in the memory of them and all those who gave their
24 lives for this, it's worth staying. I'm not talking only on my own
25 behalf but on behalf of my colleagues and on behalf of all those who
Page 4240
1 stayed in the first place.
2 "Journalist: A lot of things have happened in the last four
3 years which shouldn't be told. But tell us some story from the line of
4 contact, from the action.
5 "Soldier Vanja: Well, the story from the last field operation, I
6 was given a fancy car, a nice jeep, which was given personally to me for
7 my needs. And by chance, during one operation, not knowing where the
8 lines were, I crossed the line and they started firing at me so heavily
9 from all kind of weapons, from infantry weapons to artillery. I thought
10 that was the end of my career, but it wasn't.
11 "Journalist: You have told us about the line of contact and the
12 commander who leads the soldiers.
13 "Soldier Vanja: Oh, yes, that's from the last field operation.
14 He has millions of those adventures. There are so many of them that one
15 can't remember them. He was standing behind the car, he was looking for
16 something in the trunk when M120 fell some 5 metres away from him and the
17 man didn't even budge. Those who were near him threw themselves to the
18 ground. I mean, all of them were my friends and I would have done the
19 same. I mean, we have to protect ourselves. If you don't protect
20 yourself, not even God will protect you. However, he is either protected
21 by God or by devil or some -- something else. I don't know by whom. He
22 just turned, looked, pieces of shrapnel were all over the place. Later
23 on, when everything was over, he said: 'Something could have happened to
24 me. Look,' he said, 'how these can slaughter. What would happen if
25 something like that slaughtered me?' Anyhow, nothing happened. He has
Page 4241
1 his own way. I told him when something cut him into pieces not even I
2 could put him together.
3 "Journalist: Vanja, a few days ago we were on the lines of
4 contact and there were medical corps of the Baranja division. They have
5 some young girls there. You are a young girl, instructor of the special
6 units of the Republic of Serbian Krajina of the MUP. More than 600 years
7 have passed since the Battle of Kosova and the Kosova girl. 600 years
8 have passed and she is still alive.
9 "Soldier Vanja: The Kosovo girl is one thing, and I'm something
10 else. I don't like to be identified with anybody. She has her history,
11 her tradition, and I guess I'll have mine one day.
12 "Journalist: Thank you, Vanja, and all the best.
13 "Soldier Vanja: Thank you too."
14 MR. HOFFMANN:
15 Q. Sir, could you identify -- no, sorry, did you recognise the
16 female soldier referred to as Vanja?
17 A. Yes. I saw Vanja in place A in the company of Predrag Radetic,
18 also known as "Brada" or "the beard."
19 Q. And my final question: Did you also have a chance to review
20 other parts of the same video, identifying other locations on this video?
21 A. Yes, I had a good look, yes.
22 MR. HOFFMANN: Your Honours, the Prosecution tenders this video
23 into evidence. That is, in fact, the whole video containing various
24 footage of Mijovic and his unit. The total length is 1 hour and
25 45 minutes. It mainly shows footage of training as well as combat
Page 4242
1 operations. The witness has seen parts -- other parts of the video and
2 does recognise locations in Baranja. However, in the interest of time,
3 the Prosecution does not intend to play additional parts with this
4 witness at this point in time. As far as there's any spoken text to this
5 video, these have been transcribed and translated and it's part of the
6 Exhibit as uploaded into e-court. At a later stage, there will be
7 additional witnesses who will testify to other parts of this video.
8 MR. JORDASH: We object to the admission of the video, at least
9 the bits we haven't seen. I'm having difficulty understanding the
10 significance of even the last portion that's been played and the
11 Prosecution questions concerning this female soldier. I have absolutely
12 no idea how this female soldier figures in the Prosecution case. And so
13 whilst, of course, I don't want to take any bad points and I don't want
14 to object unnecessarily, I suspect the rest of the video is going to have
15 similar dark secrets which may emerge to bite the Defence at a later
16 stage.
17 JUDGE ORIE: Mr. Bakrac.
18 MR. BAKRAC: [Interpretation] Your Honours, I will leave it in the
19 Trial Chamber's hands to decide on the two video-clips that have been
20 shown us. I will have some questions for the witness with regard to
21 them. And as for the rest of the video material, I join Mr. Jordash's
22 words and I object to the admission of something that has not been played
23 here in the courtroom before the Trial Chamber.
24 JUDGE ORIE: Yes. It's my recollection that three clips were
25 played, isn't it? Yes. So I take it that you do not oppose -- object to
Page 4243
1 the three clips being played?
2 [Trial Chamber confers]
3 JUDGE ORIE: Mr. Hoffmann, first of all, the Chamber will not
4 admit those portions that are not played, whether we would make a
5 consolidated version at a later stage is another matter, but to admit
6 into evidence matters that we haven't even seen, I don't know what's on
7 it; therefore, the relevance, probative value, if you agree that it's all
8 about training with Mr. Mijovic, I even wonder whether I have to look at
9 the screen for one hour to see that people are trained and apparently are
10 belonging to that unit. I mean, I can imagine more or less what training
11 is.
12 But apart from the portions we've not seen, there was at least an
13 observation in relation to the relevance, especially of the last part.
14 And, of course, you're invited to say something about it, but I
15 understood that you -- the person shown on the video being a member of --
16 or, at least, being trained, being shown in a certain context, that the
17 witness knows that person from having seen her elsewhere -- is that how
18 we have to understand the relevance, or is there any other response to
19 what Mr. Jordash raised?
20 MR. HOFFMANN: No, exactly that is the point, that we see
21 contemporaneous footage of the training of the recruitment of young
22 soldiers just as the witness has described prior in his testimony and as
23 well as Mr. Mijovic makes his own statement about that training and the
24 tasks that are fulfilled. And also the interview helps to identify the
25 timing and the location of that footage.
Page 4244
1 And if I may, in terms of the relevance of the video itself, with
2 Your Honours leave, I would like to add one little clip at the very end.
3 Again, this is just part of the video, it hasn't been shown to this
4 witness, it would be just another -- a bit more than a minute. But I
5 think it would shed some light on the relevance of this video.
6 JUDGE ORIE: You've no questions in relation to that to the
7 witness?
8 MR. HOFFMANN: No.
9 JUDGE ORIE: I suggest that we look at the one minute and then
10 decide on admission of the portions that were shown. Please play the
11 last minute, Mr. Hoffmann.
12 MR. HOFFMANN: Thank you, Your Honours. And there is no spoken
13 text, therefore we have not provided any transcripts. That clip starts
14 at 1 hour 33 minutes and 3 seconds of the original tape and runs until 1
15 hour, 34, and 37 seconds.
16 [Video-clip played]
17 MR. HOFFMANN: Your Honours, why I played this clip at the last
18 screen shot at 1 hour 34 minutes and 37 you could see the licence plate
19 of a Croatian army vehicle. Beside the car, the video showed the killed
20 Croatian soldier and the papers for the car. This licence plate can also
21 be found at the second Kula camp video that was played earlier with
22 JF-005, the video from 2001 from the Kula camp of the JSO, the
23 Special Unit of the Serbian DB. It is Exhibit P162. The licence plate
24 is displayed at 44 seconds of that exhibit, together with other war booty
25 at the camp of the JSO of the Serbian DB.
Page 4245
1 And as there had been a number of questions from the Defence on
2 the war booty displayed at the JSO camp in Kula, I think this shed some
3 light about where this material comes from.
4 JUDGE ORIE: Mr. Hoffmann, you told us that what we could see on
5 the remainder of the video would be some training activities, et cetera;
6 but, apparently, where you sought the remainder to be admitted into
7 evidence, there are other very relevant -- there's other relevant
8 information, and Mr. Jordash expressed his fear to be bitten by the
9 remainder of the video, which now it seems that the first bite is here,
10 isn't it?
11 MR. HOFFMANN: Your Honours, I did refer that there is training
12 on the video but also footage of combat operations which this is part of
13 it.
14 JUDGE ORIE: Yes, but this is not primarily combat operation.
15 You are establishing a link between licence plates and you say this is
16 war booty. So that's a different matter from just combat. Combat is one
17 shooting at another and -- but you had a very specific matter on your
18 mind. And when I said we will not admit the portions not played, you
19 apparently clearly knew exactly what minute and for what purpose you
20 wanted us to look at it, which you did not tell us when you in very
21 general terms described what we were supposed to look at or what we had
22 not seen.
23 This just -- comment on the way of proceeding.
24 Any objections against the last minute?
25 MR. JORDASH: Would it be acceptable to consider this until the
Page 4246
1 next trial session, this as Your Honour has observed is -- has been
2 sprung upon us, and I'd like time, if I may, to consider and work out
3 what it is the Prosecution are saying and the significance of it.
4 Because, at the moment, it's an ambush.
5 JUDGE ORIE: We'll -- well, whether it's ambush, but, at least,
6 it's not -- it seems not to be a deep bite but a small bite.
7 Mr. Hoffmann, if this relativates a bit what I just said, then --
8 MR. HOFFMANN: I was just responding to the allegation of the
9 ambush. That particular clip, although a bit longer, had been notified
10 in the witness notification memo that it may be potentially used with
11 this witness. Obviously we are not in a position to spell out in advance
12 of the trial session every little part of the evidence that we will
13 present. The video has been --
14 JUDGE ORIE: Mr. Jordash, you may react later today, respond
15 later today.
16 MR. BAKRAC: [Interpretation] Your Honours, with your leave, I can
17 react immediately and I can say that I object to the admission of the
18 last clip. The fact that the registration plates depicted in this part
19 of the footage and then in another part of the footage is no evidence
20 because it doesn't really prove how those registration plates arrived
21 where they were recorded. So I don't see a link between one and the
22 other.
23 JUDGE ORIE: Yes. That's evaluation and interpretation of the
24 evidence. What Mr. Hoffmann wants to establish that we see on this
25 video-clip a vehicle with a certain licence plate and that we see the
Page 4247
1 same licence plate elsewhere. And, of course, it will be in the totality
2 of the evidence to establish whether there were two licence plates with
3 the same number or whether it was put on a different car, whether it had
4 been stolen, whatever it is. That's not a matter of admissibility but of
5 weight and evaluation of the evidence.
6 Therefore, that objection is denied. We'll decide once we've
7 heard Mr. Jordash's observations. Have you prepared the four clip video
8 that only the clips played today in court, because if we would admit it,
9 we limit it to that.
10 Apart from that, I have one observation. I noticed that in the
11 written transcript under the images reference was made to special units
12 of the "Serbian MUP," whereas in the transcript it now appears special
13 units of the "Serbian 2nd Krajina Corps," I don't know whether I --
14 that's what I heard; I don't remember as a matter of fact, but would you
15 please compare the original words spoken and to see whether there was any
16 reference to the special units of the -- at least I saw the word MUP, and
17 whether that is in line with what we have now in evidence as the words
18 spoken and translated by the interpreters and transcribed by our
19 transcriber. Would you please pay attention to that.
20 MR. HOFFMANN: We'll certainly to that. As far as I recall,
21 there was reference made to the special unit of the RSK MUP.
22 JUDGE ORIE: I remember the MUP, and I now see, at least if it's
23 the same place, the 2nd Krajina Corps, which -- because I think there was
24 only once --
25 MR. HOFFMANN: I will verify it.
Page 4248
1 JUDGE ORIE: I have -- what I'm thinking of is of page 9, line 7,
2 where it says "since you have been in the special units since 1991, you
3 have been in the special units of ..." and that's where I thought we saw
4 the reference to the MUP in the transcript below. Could you please
5 verify that.
6 And then no further questions for the witness?
7 MR. HOFFMANN: We will verify. And I have no further questions,
8 thank you. And we will also compile the collection of the four clips.
9 JUDGE ORIE: Yes. Hoping that we'll admit them into evidence,
10 isn't it? Yes.
11 Mr. Jordash, are you the first one to cross-examine the witness?
12 MR. JORDASH: I am, yes, Your Honour.
13 JUDGE ORIE: Witness JF-036, you will now be cross-examined by
14 Mr. Jordash. Mr. Jordash is counsel for Mr. Stanisic.
15 You may proceed.
16 Cross-examination by Mr. Jordash:
17 Q. Good afternoon, Mr. Witness.
18 MR. JORDASH: Thank you, Your Honour.
19 THE WITNESS: [Interpretation] Good afternoon.
20 MR. JORDASH:
21 Q. Could you cast your mind back, please, to the MUP building in
22 Beli Manastir in 1991. Who was stationed there, please, if anyone?
23 A. Before the conflict, it was the Croatian police; and after the
24 break-out of the conflict, it was the Krajina police; and then towards
25 the end of the year, it was also the Department of State Security of the
Page 4249
1 Beli Manastir sub-centre.
2 Q. So during 1991 it was the Krajina police, and is this what you're
3 saying at the end of 1991 it became the department of the state
4 security ... [Microphone not activated]
5 A. Correct.
6 Q. What happened to the police at the end of 1991? Where did they
7 transfer to, if anywhere?
8 A. They remained there in the same building. They didn't go
9 anywhere.
10 Q. And who was number 1 in the same building -- sorry, no, let me
11 strike that.
12 In 1992 did that situation remain the same with the DB and the
13 police sharing the MUP building?
14 A. Yes.
15 Q. Are you able to give us a picture of the numbers of police
16 officers who were stationed at that building in 1992?
17 A. No, I can't. I don't remember.
18 Q. Are we talking tens or hundreds or thousands?
19 A. Tens of them.
20 (redacted)
21 (redacted)
22 (redacted)
23 (redacted)
24 Q. How many rooms did the police have at their disposal?
25 A. I really can't tell you exactly. The building had several tens
Page 4250
1 of room.
2 Q. And police officers would return there, and that was their
3 work-place when they were not out on patrol; is that correct?
4 A. Yes. In case of some of them.
5 Q. And in the case of those who did not?
6 A. The border police, for example, did not return to the building.
7 They returned home from their posts after the end of their working day.
8 Q. Apart from the border police, did any other police officers not
9 return to the MUP building at the end of the day?
10 A. I don't know. I'm not sure, I don't know. I can't give you a
11 precise answer. It is possible that there were others as well.
12 Q. Was the head of the SUP or MUP of Beli Manastir based in that
13 building in 1992?
14 A. Yes.
15 Q. Who was that?
16 A. Radoslav Zdjelarevic was the secretary, and the person under
17 number 3 on this list was the chief.
18 Q. And was the senior hierarchy of the police also stationed in that
19 building in 1992? Is that where the police administration were
20 stationed?
21 A. I don't understand your question. I don't know what you mean by
22 the senior hierarchy. Are you referring to some particular services or
23 who are you referring to exactly?
24 Q. Well, who was the immediate subordinate of number 3? Was that
25 person stationed in the SUP building?
Page 4251
1 (redacted)
2 (redacted)
3 (redacted)
4 (redacted)
5 (redacted)
6 (redacted)
7 Q. Thank you. Now, I want to ask you about a different subject,
8 please.
9 JUDGE ORIE: Could we go into private session for a second.
10 [Private session]
11 (redacted)
12 (redacted)
13 (redacted)
14 (redacted)
15 (redacted)
16 (redacted)
17 (redacted)
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Page 4252
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12 [Open session]
13 THE REGISTRAR: We are in open session, Your Honours.
14 JUDGE ORIE: Thank you, Madam Registrar.
15 MR. JORDASH: Thank you, Your Honour.
16 Q. Mr. Witness, I want to try to have a picture of the military
17 formations in the Beli Manastir municipality in 1991 and 1992. The
18 Army of the Republika Srpska Krajina was stationed in that region; is
19 that correct?
20 A. Yes.
21 Q. Were there troops in Beli Manastir in 1991 and 1992?
22 A. In 1991 there were still JNA troops and also partially in 1992 up
23 until the arrival of international forces which was sometime in February
24 when the UNPROFOR came and the army officially left the territory and
25 only the police remained behind.
Page 4253
1 Q. Thank you. So at that point when UNPROFOR arrived and the army
2 left, there was two, essentially, two military formations, the TO and the
3 police; is that correct?
4 A. Yes. The Territorial Defence actually became or transformed
5 itself and became the so-called "blue brigade" of the police.
6 Q. And was that a process which took some months? If so, when did
7 it begin and when, in your opinion, did it end or did it finalise?
8 A. I cannot answer that accurately, but I think it took a couple of
9 months.
10 Q. Approximately when was that?
11 A. I cannot remember, and I really wouldn't want to speculate.
12 Q. Beginning, middle, or end of 1992? Are you able to say?
13 A. Well, I think it wasn't at the beginning. It's possible that it
14 was either in the middle or at the end of the year, but I'm not sure, as
15 I've already said. I cannot really recall that detail.
16 Q. Okay. Up until that time, whenever it was, in 1992, there were
17 two TO brigades in the Baranja district; is that correct?
18 A. Yes.
19 Q. One which had its HQ in Darda, one which had its HQ in
20 Beli Manastir; correct?
21 A. I believe you said "Dahl," but that's not correct.
22 Q. I think what I said was or what I intended to say was that one
23 was had a HQ in Darda and what had its HQ in Beli Manastir; is that
24 correct?
25 A. Yes.
Page 4254
1 Q. And at some point before UNPROFOR arrived, weapons - is this
2 correct? - weapons were moved?
3 A. I wouldn't know anything about that.
4 Q. Well, you know that during 1991 weapons of the Beli Manastir
5 municipal TO HQ were moved to the border garrison barracks in
6 Beli Manastir; is that correct?
7 A. Yes.
8 Q. The commander of the TO at that point was Lazar Brnovic?
9 A. Yes.
10 Q. And Milivoje Vukovic was in charge of the TO armoury; is that
11 correct?
12 A. No.
13 Q. Who was in charge of the TO armoury?
14 A. Well, if you mean the weapons depot, yes.
15 Q. Was it those two who were just mentioned who were responsible for
16 the transfer of the weapons?
17 A. I don't know which transfer you are referring to. I know about
18 the transfer from that warehouse to the local staffs in various towns.
19 Q. Well, the transfer in the first instance to the border garrison
20 from the Beli Manastir municipal TO HQ, were those two individuals
21 responsible for that transfer?
22 A. I really don't know.
23 Q. At the start of the conflict in Baranja, the chain of command for
24 the TO changed, and the TO of Darda and Beli Manastir started to report
25 to the TO HQ SAO SBWS; is that correct?
Page 4255
1 A. I don't know about that.
2 Q. It's not something you heard about?
3 A. No, I didn't hear about it. I'm not familiar with that.
4 Q. Okay. Well, I'll move on then.
5 MR. JORDASH: May I go into private session, please.
6 JUDGE ORIE: We turn to private session.
7 [Private session]
8 (redacted)
9 (redacted)
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Page 4256
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Page 4257
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17 [Open session]
18 THE REGISTRAR: We are in open session, Your Honours.
19 JUDGE ORIE: Thank you, Madam Registrar.
20 Could you find an appropriate time for a break within the next
21 couple of minutes, Mr. Jordash.
22 MR. JORDASH: Certainly, Your Honour.
23 Q. So in -- you are not able to testify as to Martic's activities,
24 contacts, or communications in 1991, 1992; is that fair?
25 A. Yes.
Page 4258
1 Q. You cannot comment or give evidence about Martic's contacts,
2 activities, or communications with Jovica Stanisic in 1991 or 1992; is
3 that fair?
4 A. No, I cannot.
5 MR. JORDASH: That's a convenient moment, Your Honour, thank you.
6 JUDGE ORIE: Thank you, Mr. Jordash. We will have a break, and
7 we'll resume at five minutes past 4.00.
8 --- Recess taken at 3.32 p.m.
9 --- On resuming at 4.12 p.m.
10 JUDGE ORIE: Mr. Jordash, you may proceed.
11 MR. JORDASH: Thank you, Your Honour. May I ask if we may go
12 into private session, please.
13 JUDGE ORIE: We move into private session.
14 Madam Registrar, could we move into private session.
15 [Private session]
16 (redacted)
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Page 4259
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Page 4265
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25 [Open session]
Page 4266
1 THE REGISTRAR: We are in open session, Your Honours.
2 JUDGE ORIE: Thank you, Madam Registrar.
3 MR. JORDASH:
4 Q. Would you agree with this assessment that by September or October
5 1991, most of the weapons from the TO stores or from the JNA had been
6 distributed widely in Baranja?
7 A. Yes.
8 Q. Would you agree with this as well, that it was only in September
9 or thereabouts of 1991 that representatives of the DB from Sombor started
10 to arrive in the district of Baranja?
11 A. That is when I saw them for the first time. I don't know whether
12 they had arrived before. I didn't know them before.
13 MR. JORDASH: Can we go back into private, please.
14 JUDGE ORIE: We move into private session.
15 [Private session]
16 (redacted)
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Page 4267
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Page 4269
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9 (redacted)
10 (redacted)
11 [Open session]
12 THE REGISTRAR: We are in open session, Your Honours.
13 JUDGE ORIE: Thank you, Madam Registrar.
14 MR. JORDASH:
15 Q. As far as you are aware, the DB had nothing to do with
16 Captain Dragan establishing a training camp in Tito's castle prior to
17 September of 1991?
18 A. As far as I know, no.
19 Q. And as far as you are aware, the Serbian DB had nothing to do
20 with the attack on Bilje in August of 1991; is that correct?
21 A. Yes.
22 Q. And as far as you are aware, the non-Serbs who had been arrested
23 in Baranja prior to the establishment of the rule of law after September
24 1991 had nothing to do with the DB of Serbia; is that correct?
25 A. Yes.
Page 4270
1 Q. What role did Zorik Andrijasevic play in Baranja in 1991 and
2 1992?
3 A. Well, no, he wasn't in Baranja at all. He was the chief of the
4 DB in Sombor, which is in Serbia.
5 Q. What were his contacts with Jovica Stanisic in that period?
6 A. I wouldn't know.
7 Q. What were his contact with Kostic during that period?
8 A. Again, I wouldn't know. On one occasion, however, with my own
9 chief, I went to Sombor, and that's where I saw Kostic as well and
10 Chief Andrijasevic.
11 MR. JORDASH: Can we go into private again, please.
12 [Private session]
13 (redacted)
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Page 4271
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Page 4290
1 [Open session]
2 THE REGISTRAR: We are in open session, Your Honours.
3 JUDGE ORIE: Thank you, Madam Registrar.
4 MR. BAKRAC: [Interpretation]
5 Q. Witness, my last question about that incident in Grabovac is as
6 follows: Let's look at a very short document. 2D75. To save time, I'm
7 going to read a sentence to you. The heading is the Krajina MUP, the
8 special purposes unit of Tikves, the 3rd of June, 1992. One tank of
9 petrol issued for the police station ...
10 JUDGE ORIE: Mr. Bakrac, Madam Registrar has difficulties in
11 finding the document in e-court. Could you please repeat.
12 MR. BAKRAC: [Interpretation] Your Honours, 2D75. My assistant
13 has just signalled to me that the document has been uploaded in e-court
14 and on my colleague Petrovic's screen I can see it in e-court, both in
15 the original and in the translation.
16 MR. HOFFMANN: If I may assist, it can be found under the
17 65 ter number 2D00075.
18 JUDGE ORIE: Yes, there we are.
19 Please proceed, Mr. Bakrac.
20 MR. BAKRAC: [Interpretation]
21 Q. Witness, did you ever see this document before?
22 A. No.
23 Q. Will you agree with me that the document clearly shows that the
24 special purpose unit of Krajina MUP in Tikves in 1992 did have it's own
25 petrol and that it did not have to obtain fuel anywhere else, and
Page 4291
1 especially not where you allegedly saw their van?
2 A. I wouldn't know that.
3 MR. BAKRAC: [Interpretation] Your Honours, I would like to tender
4 this document into evidence, please.
5 JUDGE ORIE: No objections.
6 MR. HOFFMANN: Your Honours, just for the record, I would ask
7 that Mr. Bakrac informs the Chamber and the public where these documents
8 came from. He has told me already, but I think for the record.
9 JUDGE ORIE: Mr. Bakrac, where did it come from?
10 MR. BAKRAC: [Interpretation] Your Honours, I received the
11 document from Mr. Mijovic as well as the next few documents that I'm
12 going to use with this witness.
13 JUDGE ORIE: Yes, that's on the record.
14 No objections, Mr. Hoffmann?
15 MR. HOFFMANN: No. And my understanding is that this was done
16 recently, just for the time-period, Mr. Bakrac, I'm correct that --
17 JUDGE ORIE: Well, if you have no objections, then we have a
18 number to be assign. If there's any other matter which needs -- which
19 the Chamber needs to know or on which the Chamber will have to decide,
20 we'd like to hear. But no objections.
21 Madam Registrar.
22 THE REGISTRAR: This will be Exhibit D33, Your Honour.
23 JUDGE ORIE: And is admitted into evidence. It can be a public
24 document, Mr. Bakrac, I take it?
25 MR. BAKRAC: [Interpretation] Yes, yes, Your Honour. There's no
Page 4292
1 reason for it to be under seal. May I please continue?
2 JUDGE ORIE: Please.
3 MR. BAKRAC: [Interpretation] Thank you.
4 Q. Sir, you have testified about Mr. Mijovic.
5 MR. BAKRAC: [Interpretation] Can we now please look at
6 Exhibit 2D00092. It's a 65 ter document. Could we please move into
7 private session, Your Honours, because I'll have questions about --
8 JUDGE ORIE: We move into private session.
9 [Private session]
10 (redacted)
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Page 4293
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Page 4297
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9 (redacted)
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11 (redacted)
12 [Open session]
13 MR. BAKRAC: [Interpretation]
14 Q. Witness --
15 THE REGISTRAR: We are in open session, Your Honour.
16 JUDGE ORIE: Thank you, Madam Registrar.
17 MR. BAKRAC: [Interpretation]
18 Q. Witness, in your statement - and I'm trying to speed this up so
19 that we can complete your testimony today and you don't have to be
20 recalled - you said that in 1995 you believe and you heard that
21 Vaso Mijovic participated in some illegal involvement in reregistration
22 of vehicles?
23 A. Well, I think I didn't mention Vaso Mijovic but, rather, members
24 of his unit.
25 Q. Very well.
Page 4298
1 MR. BAKRAC: [Interpretation] Could we now please have 65 ter
2 2D00091 on the screens.
3 Q. And, Witness, in view of your experience, would you please
4 comment on an Official Note, or rather, minutes. First of all, could you
5 please take a look at the first sentence where it says compiled on
6 29 July 1995 at the Beli Manastir SUP after items temporarily seised
7 during the forensic investigation into Zeljko Milovanovic
8 aka Gavro et al. were handed over, and we can see that it was done by a
9 commission consisting of Budimir Zecevic before the ATD unit. Are you
10 familiar with this?
11 A. No.
12 Q. Jovo Ralic before the Beli Manastir DB?
13 A. Yes.
14 Q. Zoran Cuca before the Beli Manastir SUP?
15 A. No.
16 Q. Milorad Kesic before the Beli Manastir SUP?
17 A. No.
18 Q. And, now, I would like you to take a look at this next page,
19 toward the bottom of the page, under numbers 52, 53, 54, 55, 56. Am I
20 correct that these are actually motorcycles as you mentioned yesterday?
21 A. Yes, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56.
22 Q. Please do not repeat all that because we have a limited amount of
23 time, but please take a look the vehicles between numbers 59 and 70. Are
24 all those vehicles including Jeeps, Porsches, and Audis, and so on?
25 A. Well, listed between the numbers of 59 and 70 there are no Audi
Page 4299
1 vehicles. There is an all-terrain vehicle, a Jeep. Under number 60,
2 Puch. There are Nissan vehicles, both passenger vehicles and all-terrain
3 vehicles.
4 Q. Just one more question --
5 JUDGE ORIE: Mr. Bakrac, the Chamber know what a Suzuki motorbike
6 is; that's a motorbike. The Chamber know what a Porsche 928 is,
7 apparently with keys; what an Audi 100 is; what a red Golf is. So
8 there's no need to -- these are vehicles either on two wheels or and four
9 wheels and most likely they had a spare wheel as well.
10 Please proceed.
11 MR. BAKRAC: [Interpretation] Very well. Can we now have the last
12 page, please.
13 Q. We don't need to read the whole thing. You can see the
14 commission members, the secretary of the SUP, I assume, and commander,
15 Vasilije Mijovic. My question is this: Was this -- were these notes on
16 the seizure of vehicles prepared according to the provisions and the
17 rules of service?
18 A. Well, I'm not really in position to say that, but I believe that
19 based on the individuals who actually did this job that it was done
20 according to the rules of service.
21 Q. Now, sir, let's take a look at the next note --
22 MR. BAKRAC: [Interpretation] or rather, I apologise,
23 Your Honours, could I please tender this document into evidence.
24 MR. HOFFMANN: Assuming that this document also comes from
25 Mr. Mijovic directly, I have no objection.
Page 4300
1 MR. BAKRAC: [Interpretation] Yes, Your Honour.
2 JUDGE ORIE: Madam Registrar.
3 THE REGISTRAR: This will be Exhibit D35, Your Honour.
4 JUDGE ORIE: D35 is admitted into evidence.
5 Please proceed.
6 MR. BAKRAC: [Interpretation]
7 Q. Witness, if I understood you correctly when my learned colleague
8 Jordash asked you about this unit, the anti-terrorist operations unit,
9 that you said that some of its members were quartered at the
10 Beli Manastir SUP and that actually this unit introduced law and order in
11 your area. Did I understand you correctly?
12 A. Yes.
13 Q. All right. Now, please take a look at 65 ter 2D00093. This
14 record is --
15 MR. HOFFMANN: I am sorry, Your Honour, and I'm a bit late in
16 rising on my feet on the last question, but I think it's at least not
17 clear from the record, the witness has testified about the JATD at two
18 different times, in 1992 and 1995, and I think the quoted question from
19 Mr. Jordash was about the earlier time-period. And I think for the
20 record that should be clarified.
21 JUDGE PARKER: Mr. Bakrac, do you agree with the observation by
22 Mr. Hoffmann?
23 MR. BAKRAC: [Interpretation] Yes, Your Honour, I agree with
24 Mr. Hoffmann, and perhaps he was a bit hasty. All I was trying to show
25 now is the date and the rooms.
Page 4301
1 Q. Yes, here on this record we can see that on the
2 29th of July, 1995, the premises housing the anti-terrorist operations
3 unit had been billeted and examined, and the equipment and furniture that
4 had been left behind were taken over. The premises were examined and the
5 furniture taken over by Budimir Zecevic on behalf of the JATD; on behalf
6 of the DB, Jovan Ralic, you said you know him; and on behalf of the SUP,
7 Zoran Cuca.
8 Now, were these dormitories number 1, room number 3, and number
9 5, room number 6, and then on the next page we see room number 7 and room
10 number 8, were all these rooms the ones that you said were being used by
11 the unit and by this unit in 1992?
12 A. Well, believe me, I really don't know which rooms these are. I
13 never saw these rooms, I never went up there. I think this was in the
14 attic. I don't know how many rooms there are there are.
15 Q. But you will agree with me that these are the same rooms, the
16 same premises that you said the unit used in 1992?
17 A. Well, it is possible that that's the case.
18 Q. And you will agree with me that on the 29th of July in 1995 this
19 unit was still and that that is when they handed over these units --
20 these rooms back?
21 A. Well, I assume that's how it is, but I can't really tell at this
22 point in time.
23 MR. BAKRAC: [Interpretation] Your Honours, I would like to tender
24 this document into evidence.
25 MR. HOFFMANN: No objection, again assuming that this is also
Page 4302
1 part of the Mijovic documents.
2 JUDGE ORIE: You received them from Mr. Mijovic, Mr. Bakrac?
3 MR. BAKRAC: [Interpretation] Yes.
4 JUDGE ORIE: Madam Registrar.
5 THE REGISTRAR: This will be Exhibit D36, Your Honour.
6 JUDGE ORIE: And is admitted into evidence.
7 MR. BAKRAC: [Interpretation]
8 Q. Sir, would you now take a look at the next document, please.
9 That's the 65 ter document 2D00088. Before it comes up on the screen, I
10 will tell you what it is about because we are running short on time.
11 This is the control -- the control in the implementation of the order to
12 ban all liquor sales pursuant to a decision by an inspector --
13 THE INTERPRETER: Interpreter's request: Could the counsel
14 please repeat the name of the inspector.
15 MR. BAKRAC: [Interpretation]
16 Q. Can we just take a look at the first paragraph. The name of the
17 inspector is Ljubomir Nikolic. Here it would appear that he is informing
18 the commander of the ATD of the MUP RDB, in other words, it's an organ of
19 the Republic of the Serbian Krajina, Colonel Vasilije Mijovic, pursuant
20 to his order dated the 8th of July, 1995, whereby there should be an
21 order stopping the distribution of all hard liquor, wine, and beer.
22 A. That's possible.
23 Q. Did you know at the time that there was such an order in force?
24 A. I believe I vaguely recall. I can't tell exactly about the
25 dates, but I think there was an order banning the distribution of all
Page 4303
1 hard liquor.
2 Q. Would you agree with me that this is one of the ways to introduce
3 law and order in this area or any other area during war, in war time
4 conditions?
5 A. That's possible, but some people would also give it another name.
6 Prohibition.
7 Q. Very well.
8 MR. BAKRAC: [Interpretation] And now could this document be
9 admitted into evidence. I suppose that Mr. Hoffmann will stand up, but
10 let me tell him in advance to pre-empt what he is going to say that I
11 received this document as well from Mr. Mijovic.
12 MR. HOFFMANN: I had one clarification again, and I may be a bit
13 late. In your question, Mr. Bakrac referred to indeed what it says on
14 the document, the ATD of the RDB MUP. He interpreted that as being an
15 organ of the Republic of the Serbian Krajina. I honestly think that is
16 not the correct statement. The RDB is a reference, as far as I know, of
17 the Republic of Serbia. Would that --
18 JUDGE ORIE: Mr. Bakrac, I see RDB in this document, state
19 security department.
20 MR. BAKRAC: [Interpretation] No, Your Honours. I said that the
21 Republic of Serbian Krajina, the ministry of commerce and tourism, sent
22 to the commander of the ATD of MUP. It doesn't say either Serbia or
23 Krajina. But it is logical that in Beli Manastir the minister of
24 commerce and tourism when he sent something like that to the commander of
25 the ATD RDB of the MUP that it applies to the MUP of his own region, of
Page 4304
1 his own state, not of a different state.
2 JUDGE ORIE: That's --
3 MR. BAKRAC: [Interpretation] And we also have evidence that in
4 the Republic of Serbian Krajina there was an anti-terrorist unit.
5 JUDGE ORIE: That's interpretation of the evidence. We are
6 talking about admission at this moment, no objections, Mr. -- apart from
7 how to interpret it.
8 MR. HOFFMANN: Yes, I just wanted to make that note, otherwise no
9 objection.
10 JUDGE ORIE: Yes. That note has been made.
11 Madam Registrar.
12 THE REGISTRAR: This will be Exhibit D37, Your Honour.
13 JUDGE ORIE: D37 is admitted into evidence. Now, I noticed that
14 on the document it says ATD RDB and then MUP A. Is "MUP A" anything
15 different from MUP?
16 MR. HOFFMANN: I think that's just a matter of grammar.
17 MR. BAKRAC: [Interpretation] This is one of the cases that we
18 have in our language, so MUP in -- it's the degenerative.
19 JUDGE ORIE: No problem, please proceed.
20 MR. BAKRAC: [Interpretation] Your Honours, I'm trying to squeeze
21 in everything in the next 10 or 15 minutes in order to finish with this
22 witness.
23 Q. Witness, could you please look at the following exhibit I'm going
24 to show you. It's 65 ter 2D00084. Since we don't have much time, while
25 we are waiting for the document to appear, it's a newspaper article that
Page 4305
1 I received from Mr. Mijovic. It appeared in "Expres Politika" newspaper,
2 and I will make sure to receive the original from "Expres Politika"
3 because the document that I have does not feature the date. Are you
4 familiar with the name Jesla Tinac [phoen] who appears to be a
5 journalist?
6 A. No.
7 MR. BAKRAC: [Interpretation] Your Honours, this document is
8 another one that I received from Mr. Mijovic. It appeared in
9 "Politika Expres," and I'm going to ask the witness whether he knows that
10 in the house of Dusko Salajic a lot of weapons had been found, that some
11 very dangerous poisons had been found.
12 Q. Are you familiar with that?
13 A. Yes, I know if you went to anybody's house in Baranja at the time
14 you would have found some weapons there. I did not hear about the
15 poison, though.
16 Q. Sir, do you have any reason to doubt - and I'm going to read to
17 you just the beginning of this text - the special anti-terrorist and
18 sabotage unit of the MUP of the RSK headed by Colonel Vasilije Mijovic
19 brought peace and order to Baranja, and the citizens of Baranja can now
20 breathe a sigh of relief.
21 Do you have any reason to doubt what is written in the text?
22 A. I believe that if that text had appeared a year or two before
23 then it would have been more accurate and that would have been a more
24 accurate description of the unit at the time. It may be my subjective
25 assessment of the situation, but I don't think that the description fits
Page 4306
1 the time when it was published.
2 Q. Do you have any doubt -- any reason to doubt that the unit in
3 question is the ATD of the Republic of Serbian Krajina?
4 A. I'm not talking about the unit as such. I am talking about some
5 of the people who belonged to that unit and whom I had an opportunity to
6 meet.
7 Q. In other words, you are speaking about some individuals?
8 A. Yes, individuals. Yes, about some individuals, yes.
9 Q. Do you know that individuals who violated the rules of the unit
10 were placed under arrest? Are you aware of that?
11 A. Yes, I heard that some were arrested, but there were also others
12 who were not.
13 Q. In general terms we can say that the description of the unit is
14 accurate but that there were some exceptions and among those exceptions
15 some were arrested and some were not; would that be true?
16 A. No, I wouldn't agree with that. They also ill-treated civilian
17 population. They did.
18 Q. Individuals, you mean?
19 A. Individuals. I never saw the whole unit beating somebody up.
20 Q. When it comes to the ill-treatment of the local population, did
21 you have in mind local Serbs?
22 A. Both Serbs and non-Serbs.
23 Q. Sir --
24 MR. BAKRAC: [Interpretation] Could we please move into private
25 session, Your Honours, for the next few questions.
Page 4307
1 JUDGE ORIE: We of move into private session.
2 [Private session]
3 (redacted)
4 (redacted)
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6 (redacted)
7 (redacted)
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Page 4308
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17 (redacted)
18 (redacted)
19 (redacted)
20 (redacted)
21 (redacted)
22 (redacted)
23 [Open session]
24 THE REGISTRAR: We are in open session, Your Honour.
25 JUDGE ORIE: Thank you, Madam Registrar.
Page 4309
1 MR. BAKRAC: [Interpretation]
2 Q. Witness, will you allow for the possibility that in 1995, after
3 the Operations Flash and Storm, there was an increased engagement of
4 Serbian agents in view of the large number of refugees and the danger
5 that threatened the territory of Serbia?
6 A. That should have been the case, of course. And I believe that
7 indeed that was the case. It was an exceptionally critical moment and an
8 exceptionally complex situation in a very small area.
9 Q. Can we then say that the state security services of Sombor
10 stepped up its activity in that period in your territory?
11 A. I can't give you my assessment of that.
12 Q. In 1995, did you ever see a formal legal document, a piece of
13 paper, by which the state security service of Beli Manastir fell under
14 the jurisdiction under the state security service of Sombor?
15 A. No, never.
16 Q. Thank you very much, Witness.
17 MR. BAKRAC: [Interpretation] Your Honours, I've tried to
18 eliminate some of the questions. I've tried to finish as soon as
19 possible to leave some room to my learned friend Mr. Hoffmann. I have a
20 lot -- many other questions, but I prioritised them. And let me just
21 consult with my client briefly.
22 MR. HOFFMANN: Just a procedural matter, I think the --
23 JUDGE ORIE: One second, Mr. Bakrac is just ...
24 MR. BAKRAC: [Interpretation] Your Honours, under one I did not
25 tender into evidence the article which is 65 ter 2D00084, and I'm doing
Page 4310
1 it now. I'm correcting my mistake. I believe that Mr. Hoffmann is
2 nodding that he will not have any objections to the admission of this
3 document.
4 MR. HOFFMANN: That's correct. And that was my point why I was
5 on the feet.
6 JUDGE ORIE: Yes.
7 Madam Registrar.
8 THE REGISTRAR: This would be Exhibit D38, Your Honour.
9 JUDGE ORIE: D38 is admitted into evidence.
10 MR. BAKRAC: [Interpretation] And just one more question for the
11 witness, Your Honours.
12 Q. Witness, do you know that towards the end of January 1992 and the
13 beginning of February 1992 one large terrorist group from Baranja crossed
14 the Dunav at Apatin, and they consisted of 15 Croats dressed in JNA
15 uniforms, and the intention was to blow up the bridge between Bezdin and
16 Baranja?
17 A. Yes, I'm familiar with that event.
18 Q. Do you know that some of the members of the group were arrested
19 and tried?
20 A. Yes, I know that. The group's name was Macin [phoen].
21 Q. And when it comes to this event, would you say that this
22 information about the arrest of terrorists from Croatia who had intended
23 to blow up the bridge would that be a good justification for stepping up
24 security and engagements of the SDB of Serbian Sombor?
25 A. In view of the fact that this happened in the territory of the
Page 4311
1 Republic of Serbia, it's only logical. But I believe that you mentioned
2 that a complete group was arrested. As far as I know, only some of the
3 members were arrested and the others fled.
4 Q. Yes. They fled to Hungary. You are saying in the territory of
5 Serbia, but they had arrived from Baranja; right?
6 A. Yes. Baranja has a very specific terrain, Kopacki Rit, that
7 we've already mentioned. In some seasons it is impossible to control or
8 keep under control the whole of the terrain because the Danube floods a
9 lot of the area. They took an opportunity of such an occasion and used a
10 vehicle that could pass through the swampy grounds. They had adjusted
11 it; they had painted it; they had marked it with the JNA insignia; and
12 that's how they could cross over to the territory of Serbia unnoticed.
13 Q. Therefore, you will agree with me that for that reason Baranja
14 was a very interesting area in terms of security, it was very interesting
15 to the state security services of Serbia in light of the security of its
16 own border.
17 A. [No verbal response].
18 MR. BAKRAC: Thank you very much, Witness, for your patience and
19 for your answers.
20 Your Honours, I have no further questions for this witness.
21 JUDGE ORIE: Thank you, Mr. Bakrac.
22 Mr. Hoffmann, how much time would you need?
23 MR. HOFFMANN: I have just two or three questions I think.
24 JUDGE ORIE: Two or three questions.
25 MR. HOFFMANN: And maybe one question even for the Defence which
Page 4312
1 relates to Exhibit D33. I would not bother the witness with it if
2 potentially there could be agreement because the translation is not
3 complete of this first Exhibit that was used today about, A, the stamp on
4 the document has not been translated, and also the person that signed the
5 document is not translated. I don't know if the Defence as the tendering
6 party has any information about that, otherwise I will not bother the
7 witness with that.
8 JUDGE ORIE: If it is a matter of translation, if it appears on
9 the original, then seems that I wouldn't expect major problems.
10 MR. BAKRAC: [Interpretation] Your Honours, I don't see the
11 translation at this moment. I would propose to submit the interpretation
12 of the stamp, or maybe the interpreters can help us with the
13 interpretation of what is depicted in the stamp. It's very clear. I can
14 submit a revised version, or maybe we can ask the interpreters in the
15 booths. I leave it in your hands, Your Honours.
16 JUDGE ORIE: Usually, unless there is a necessity to do so, we
17 will not ask the interpreters to act as translators in court. But if
18 it's just a matter of parts not being translated, then I think we can
19 settle that. And I don't know whether the witness could add anything to
20 a missing portion of the translation.
21 MR. HOFFMANN: I may have just one question on this document to
22 the witness.
23 JUDGE ORIE: Yes, please, have it on the screen then.
24 MR. HOFFMANN: It would be Exhibit D33.
25 JUDGE ORIE: Yes.
Page 4313
1 MR. HOFFMANN: Just to clarify, I'm a bit lost at the moment.
2 Are we still in private session, or are we back in open?
3 JUDGE ORIE: We are at this moment in open session.
4 MR. HOFFMANN: Okay. Thank you very much.
5 Re-examination by Mr. Hoffmann:
6 Q. Sir, if you can briefly just look at that stamp on the document,
7 I would simply ask you if you have seen a similar stamp during your time
8 that you spent in office between 1991 and 1995 at any time?
9 A. No, I did not see anything similar. I did not see a similar
10 stamp.
11 Q. Thank you. Then a quick question: One document was put to you,
12 and there is, I think, no need to bring it up again. It was about the
13 person of Stevan Nadj. My question to you is: Is your own name a common
14 name?
15 A. Yes, it is.
16 Q. And have you ever been officially charged with any involvement
17 with a disappearance of that person?
18 A. No, never.
19 Q. In relation to the newspaper article we saw a few minutes ago
20 which is now Exhibit D38, you have testified in court and in your
21 statement that according to your knowledge Vaso Mijovic was sent to the
22 region by the Serbian state security. Do you -- did you ever hear at the
23 time that Mijovic was formally working for the RSK police or the RSK MUP?
24 A. No, never. He used a Serbian helicopter for example. I don't
25 even know whether any of the units or the state security of Krajina had
Page 4314
1 Gazela helicopters at their disposal.
2 MR. HOFFMANN: Thank you. I have no further questions but just
3 two comments on two exhibits.
4 JUDGE ORIE: Yes, let's first see whether there are any
5 questions.
6 [Trial Chamber confers]
7 Questioned by the Court:
8 (redacted)
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14 [Trial Chamber and Legal Officer confer]
15 JUDGE ORIE: Perhaps I should go into private session.
16 [Private session]
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Page 4315
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Page 4319
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21 [Open session]
22 THE REGISTRAR: We are in open session, Your Honours.
23 JUDGE ORIE: Mr. Jordash.
24 MR. JORDASH: Perhaps I can deal with this in open session. I
25 wanted to put the Court on notice that there is almost certainly going to
Page 4320
1 be an application to adjourn that witness the Prosecution have just
2 referred to whose pseudonym I've just forgotten.
3 THE INTERPRETER: Could counsel kindly speak into the microphone
4 thank you.
5 MR. JORDASH: JF-054. And I think that Your Honour Picard will
6 be aware of this issue because I think it's an issue which has arisen in
7 the Perisic trial and the --
8 THE INTERPRETER: Kindly speak into the microphone, thank you.
9 MR. JORDASH: -- and arguments which we anticipate.
10 JUDGE ORIE: We are not going to -- if there's any -- this
11 witness was -- we turn into private session again for one second. Could
12 we turn into private session.
13 [Private session]
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Page 4321
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5 [Open session]
6 THE REGISTRAR: We are in open session, Your Honours.
7 JUDGE ORIE: Thank you, Madam Registrar.
8 MR. HOFFMANN: I'll be very brief, and I apologise to the
9 interpreters.
10 You rightly noted that there was a discrepancy between the
11 English transcript provided for the video that was played and what was
12 actually recorded on the record here.
13 JUDGE ORIE: So we have to find out what's the appropriate --
14 let's -- if we deal with this matter next week, nothing would be lost,
15 would there? Therefore, both the one who is the wrongdoer and the same
16 time I'm trying to defend all those who have already suffered for 16 and
17 a half minutes now overtime, I apologise. By the way, not only for the
18 interpreters, but there are more persons assisting us; security; it is
19 technicians; it is transcriber. I hope that you have some understanding
20 that if you have got only two days a week, in a case, that sometimes the
21 pressure upon finishing the testimony of a witness is a bit more heavy,
22 but this is not an excuse, just an explanation.
23 We adjourn, and we will resume on Thursday the 22nd of -- no,
24 Wednesday the 21st of April, quarter past 2.00, in Courtroom II.
25 --- Whereupon the hearing adjourned at 7.16 p.m.,
Page 4322
1 to be reconvened on Wednesday, the 21st day of
2 April, 2010, at 2.15 p.m.
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