THE HAGUE/ZAGREB, Nov 3 (Hina) - Vladimir Kovacevic aka Rambo, a former Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) captain charged with attacks on Dubrovnik, did not enter his plea during his initial appearance at the UN war crimes tribunal for the
former Yugoslavia on Monday due to the court's assessment that he was unfit to do so because of his mental condition.
THE HAGUE/ZAGREB, Nov 3 (Hina) - Vladimir Kovacevic aka Rambo, a
former Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) captain charged with attacks on
Dubrovnik, did not enter his plea during his initial appearance at
the UN war crimes tribunal for the former Yugoslavia on Monday due
to the court's assessment that he was unfit to do so because of his
mental condition. #L#
Kovacevic's attorney Borivoje Borovic from Belgrade claims that
his client suffers from post-traumatic stress syndrome and has
strong suicidal urges.
According to the second, amended indictment of October 17, 2003,
Kovacevic is charged on six counts, both under individual and
command responsibility, with breaches of the laws and customs of
war during JNA attacks on Dubrovnik in the autumn and winter of
1991.
He is charged with killings, cruel treatment, attacks on civilians,
wanton destruction, unlawful attacks on civilian buildings and the
destruction of cultural and religious buildings, historical
monuments and works of art in Dubrovnik.
Forty-two civilians were killed and hundreds were wounded in the
shelling of Dubrovnik, the indictment reads.
Hundreds of shells landed on the city during the siege, including
its old part which is under UNESCO protection and where some 70
percent of buildings were hit. At the time of the attack, Kovacevic
was the commander of the 3rd Battalion of the JNA Trebinje Brigade.
Also indicted for the shelling of Dubrovnik is retired JNA general
Pavle Strugar, who in October 2001 surrendered to the Hague
tribunal, and was later provisionally released pending trial. The
two will stand trial together.
A third indictee, Admiral Miodrag Jokic, earlier pleaded guilty to
the indictment. He was granted a provisional release and is
awaiting a verdict. The tribunal dropped charges against Admiral
Milan Zec due to lack of evidence.
(hina) rml sb