THE HAGUE/ZAGREB, June 13 (Hina)- A former chief of the Serbian secret police, Jovica Stanisic, on Friday stated before the Hague Tribunal (ICTY) that he felt not guilty of war crimes committed in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina from
1991 through 1995.
THE HAGUE/ZAGREB, June 13 (Hina)- A former chief of the Serbian
secret police, Jovica Stanisic, on Friday stated before the Hague
Tribunal (ICTY) that he felt not guilty of war crimes committed in
Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina from 1991 through 1995. #L#
Stanisic, one of Slobodan Milosevic's closest associates, was
accused on four counts of crimes against humanity - persecution on
racial, religious and political grounds, murder, deportation and
inhumane behaviour, and on one count of murder as violation of laws
and customs of war.
In his first appearance before Judge O-Gon Kwon, Stanisic (49),
said he was confident he was not guilty.
At Stanisic's first appearance before the tribunal, the
prosecution was represented by chief prosecutor Carla Del Ponte,
which is only done in extremely important trials. His defence
attorneys were Vladan and Slobodan Vukcevic.
Asked about the conditions in jail and hiss health, Stanisic said
that he had submitted all his medical documentation to the ICTY
through his attorney. Prior to his extradition, Stanisic underwent
an operation in Belgrade for colitis and during proceedings today
he was visibly exhausted.
The status conference in the Stanisic and Simatovic case will be
held in about four months, Judge Kwon announced.
The indictment, filed on May 1 this year, charges Stanisic and his
former assistant Franko Simatovic aka Frenki, the chief of
intelligence at Serbia's State Security (SDB) and founder and first
commander of the "Red Berets" special operations units. He was
extradited to The Hague on May 30. In his first appearance before
the court he also pleaded not guilty.
Stanisic and Simatovic are charged for collaborating and assisting
in a joint criminal enterprise with the aim of forcefully and
permanently relocating Croatians and Bosniaks from large areas of
Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina for the purpose of creating a new
state under Serb domination.
The two took part in forming, financing and supplying SDB special
units and directed members and agents of the SDB to take part in
crimes, the indictment says.
They are also accused of securing arms, finances, training,
logistic and other support for special SDB units which were later
involved in crimes in Croatia and Bosnia.
The indictment notes that by May 1991, the SDB had established or
assisted in the formation of secret units with the aim of carrying
out special military operations on the territory of Croatia and
Bosnia.
The units included the "Red Berets, the Tigers - commanded by Zeljko
Raznatovic aka Arkan, Martic's police units, the Serb police in
eastern Slavonia, and units for special operations and anti-
terrorist activities.
The indictment notes individual cases of mass murders committed in
SAO Krajina, the Vukovar hospital, SAO Slavonia, Baranja and
Western Srijem, Bijeljina, Bosanski Samac, Doboj, Mrkonjic Grad,
Sanski Most, and Zvornik.
Simatovic and Stanisic are accused of the murder of 255 civilians
from the Vukovar hospital, the slaughter in Skabrnja, and the
murder of several hundred civilians in Dubica, Cerovljani and Bacin
near Hrvatska Kostajnica, Saborsko, Poljanka, Lipovci and Vukovici
in 1991.
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