OSIJEK, April 1 (Hina) - The trial of the "Sodolovci group"continued on Thursday before the Osijek County Court with new witness testimonies. The "Sodolovci group" consists of five men from the former Serb-occupied Croatian region of
eastern Slavonia, charged with war crimes committed against civilians. Pero Klickovic, Zeljko Keskenovic, Marinko Stankovic, Vujo Halavanja and Goran Vusurovic are charged with participation in cannon attacks on civilian populations between July 1991 and May 1992. Witness Mihajlo Todorovic said that a "territorial defence" unit was formed in Sodolovci, and local residents were in charge of organising sentry duties. "Lists for the sentry duty and schedules were made by the defendant Keskenovic, and other defendants also participated in the those duties", the witness said. From August 1991 onwards, the local community was headed by Keskenovic, who helped the "territorial defence", toge
OSIJEK, April 1 (Hina) - The trial of the "Sodolovci group"
continued on Thursday before the Osijek County Court with new
witness testimonies.
The "Sodolovci group" consists of five men from the former Serb-
occupied Croatian region of eastern Slavonia, charged with war
crimes committed against civilians. Pero Klickovic, Zeljko
Keskenovic, Marinko Stankovic, Vujo Halavanja and Goran Vusurovic
are charged with participation in cannon attacks on civilian
populations between July 1991 and May 1992.
Witness Mihajlo Todorovic said that a "territorial defence" unit
was formed in Sodolovci, and local residents were in charge of
organising sentry duties. "Lists for the sentry duty and schedules
were made by the defendant Keskenovic, and other defendants also
participated in the those duties", the witness said.
From August 1991 onwards, the local community was headed by
Keskenovic, who helped the "territorial defence", together with
Klickovic, in organising life in the village and providing
supplies.
According to Todorovic, tanks and cannons in the village were
handled by the members of the Former Yugoslav People's Army (JNA)
and there were no Sodolovci residents among them. The defendants
did not participate in decision-making on the use of heavy weaponry
or the selection of targets, the witness said.
Witness Slavica Kojcinovic reiterated in her testimony that the
defendants did participate in sentry duties, with Keskenovic and
Klickovic being in charge of food distribution. Kojcinovic claimed
she had seen no tanks, cannons or mortars in the village. She said
she learned that Croats from Sodolovci had been expelled in
February 1992, but did not know who had expelled them.
Witness Milorad Trkulja said Keskenovic and Klickovic were in
charge of distributing food, which had been provided by the JNA,
while other defendants participated in sentry duties.
The witness said he did not know whether they had any other duties.
Upon the withdrawal of the JNA in late August or early September
1991, there were "only military authorities" in the village, in
which the Sodolovci residents did not participate, he said.
The trial continues next week.
(hina) rml