ZAGREB, Sept 20 (Hina) - The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) on Friday night issued the content of the indictment against former Croatian Armed Forces chief-of-staff, Staff General Janko Bobetko, by
which he is indicted on five counts for crimes against humanity and the violation of the rights and customs of war during the Medak Pocket military operation, not only on individual, but also superior responsibility.
ZAGREB, Sept 20 (Hina) - The International Criminal Tribunal for
the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) on Friday night issued the content of
the indictment against former Croatian Armed Forces chief-of-
staff, Staff General Janko Bobetko, by which he is indicted on five
counts for crimes against humanity and the violation of the rights
and customs of war during the Medak Pocket military operation, not
only on individual, but also superior responsibility. #L#
The tribunal believes that Bobetko not only failed to prevent or
punish the acts of crime during the operation which took place from
September 9 through 17, 1993, but had himself acted, planned,
instigated or ordered persecutions, killing, abuse and looting or
the destruction of property of the local civilian population.
According to the prosecutors and item 1 of the indictment, General
"Janko Bobetko, acting individually and/or in concert with others,
planned, instigated, ordered, committed or otherwise aided and
abetted in the planning, preparation or execution of persecutions
of Serb civilians of the Medak Pocket on racial, political or
religious grounds".
The criminal act of persecution was committed, in line with
paragraph 34 of the indictment, "through the unlawful killing of at
least 100 Serb civilians and captured and/or wounded soldiers...,
cruel and inhumane treatment of Serb civilians and captured and/or
wounded soldiers..., terrorising the predominantly Serb civilian
population..., the destruction of personal property belonging to
Serb civilians..., the systematic plunder of Serb civilian
property during and after the military operation in the Medak
Pocket," with every of the acts being additionally explained in the
indictment with concrete examples.
These accusations have been placed on Bobetko's individual
responsibility. The next paragraph of the indictment states he is
also charged with superior responsibility.
"Alternatively, Janko Bobetko knew, or had reason to know, that
Croatian forces under his command, direction and/or control, or
subordinated to him, were committing the acts described in
paragraph 34 above, or had done so. Janko Bobetko failed to take
necessary and reasonable measures to prevent the commission of such
acts or punish the perpetrators".
The tribunal also indicted Bobetko if individual and superior
responsibility in looting Serb civilians and the destruction of
their property.
Only on counts 2 and 3 of the indictment, relating to killing, the
tribunal has indicted Bobetko under superior command only.
Two counts of the indictment relate to killing because one relates
to a crime against humanity and the other to the violation of the
rights and customs of war.
"Janko Bobetko knew, or had reason to know, that Croatian forces
under his command, direction and/or control, or subordinated to
him, between 9 September 1993 and about 17 September 1993, were
engaged in the unlawful killing of at least 100 Serb civilians and
captured and/or wounded soldiers from the Medak Pocket, or had done
so. Janko Bobetko failed to take necessary and reasonable measures
to prevent the commission of such acts or punish the
perpetrators".
The indictment also states the essential facts of Bobetko's
biography until his retirement in 1995, and an extensive addition
stating the names and locations of the crimes spoken of in the
indictment.
(hina) lml