UNITED NATIONS International Tribunal for the Case No. IT-02-60-T Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of Date: 17 January 2005 International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Former Yugoslavia since 1991 Original: English IN TRIAL CHAMBER I, SECTION A Before: Judge Liu Daqun, Presiding Judge Volodymyr Vassylenko Judge Carmen Maria Argibay Registrar: Mr. Hans Holthuis Judgement of: 17 January 2005 PROSECUTOR v. VIDOJE BLAGOJEVI] DRAGAN JOKI] JUDGEMENT The Office of the Prosecutor: Mr. Peter McCloskey Mr. Stefan Waespi Ms. Antoinette Issa Mr. Milbert Shin Mr. Salvador Viada Counsel for the Accused: Mr. Michael Karnavas and Ms. Suzana Tomanovi} for Vidoje Blagojevi} Mr. Miodrag Stojanovi} and Mr. Branko Lukić for Dragan Joki} Case No.: IT-02-60-T 17 January 2005 CONTENTS I. INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................................................1 A. VIDOJE BLAGOJEVIĆ ....................................................................................................................1 1. The Accused.............................................................................................................................1 2. Overview of the Case against Vidoje Blagojević ....................................................................2 B. DRAGAN JOKIĆ.............................................................................................................................4 1. The Accused.............................................................................................................................4 2. Overview of the Case against Dragan Jokić ............................................................................4 II. PRELIMINARY FACTUAL FINDINGS ..................................................................................7 A. GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS REGARDING THE EVALUATION OF EVIDENCE ..................................7 B. MILITARY AND CIVILIAN STRUCTURES RELEVANT TO THIS CASE ..............................................12 1. Armed Forces of the Republika Srpska .................................................................................12 (a) Structure of the Main Staff of the VRS.................................................................................. 13 (b) Structure of the Drina Corps .................................................................................................. 14 (c) Structure of the Bratunac Brigade.......................................................................................... 15 (i) Brigade command............................................................................................................. 16 a. Security and Intelligence ................................................................................................. 17 b. Rear Services (Logistics)................................................................................................. 18 c. Morale, Legal and Religious Affairs ............................................................................... 19 (ii) Infantry Battalions ............................................................................................................ 19 (iii) Military Police of the Bratunac Brigade........................................................................... 23 (d) Structure of the Zvornik Brigade ........................................................................................... 23 (i) Command Structure and Units.......................................................................................... 23 (ii) Structure of the Engineering Company ............................................................................ 25 (e) The MUP................................................................................................................................27 (i) Regular Police Force......................................................................................................... 27 (ii) Special Police Brigade...................................................................................................... 28 (iii) Re-subordination to the VRS in July 1995....................................................................... 28 2. Civilian Structures in Bratunac..............................................................................................31 (a) Municipal Authorities ............................................................................................................ 31 (b) Department of Defence .......................................................................................................... 31 (c) Civilian Protection.................................................................................................................. 32 C. FACTUAL BACKGROUND RELEVANT TO THIS CASE....................................................................35 1. 1991-1994 ..............................................................................................................................35 2. Plans to “Defeat” the Srebrenica Enclave..............................................................................38 3. Events in and around Srebrenica from January to July 1995.................................................39 4. Srebrenica in July 1995..........................................................................................................43 (a) 2 July – 6 July 1995 ............................................................................................................... 44 (b) 6 to 11 July 1995.................................................................................................................... 45 (c) Srebrenica Following the Take-over ...................................................................................... 49 5. Conclusions and Findings related to the Role of the Bratunac Brigade ................................50 D. THE BOSNIAN MUSLIMS FOLLOWING THE FALL OF SREBRENICA ...............................................51 1. Potočari ..................................................................................................................................51 (a) Civilians Flee from Srebrenica to Potočari ............................................................................ 51 (b) Conditions in Potočari............................................................................................................ 53 (c) Negotiations related to the Refugees in Potočari ................................................................... 55 (d) Atmosphere in Potočari and Intimidation by VRS forces...................................................... 60 (e) Separations of Men from Women, Children and Elderly....................................................... 63 (f) The Transport of the Civilian Population out of Potočari ...................................................... 68 (g) Killings in Potočari ................................................................................................................ 73 (h) Potočari: 16-17 July ............................................................................................................... 75 (i) Conclusions and Findings related to the Role of the Bratunac Brigade ................................. 76 2. The Column ...........................................................................................................................80 (a) 10-16 July 1995...................................................................................................................... 80 (i) Searching the Terrain........................................................................................................ 80 (ii) Specific Incidents related to the Men Detained 12-15 July.............................................. 88 a. Killings along the Konjević Polje-Nova Kasaba road..................................................... 88 b. Sandići meadow .............................................................................................................. 88 c. The Warehouse at the Konjević Polje Intersection ......................................................... 90 d. Interrogation at Konjević Polje Checkpoint.................................................................... 92 e. Nova Kasaba.................................................................................................................... 93 f. Detention near the Kravica supermarket.......................................................................... 95 (b) Detention and killings after 17 July ....................................................................................... 95 (i) 18-19 July 1995 – Capture and Execution in the area of Baljkovica near Nezuk............ 95 (c) Conclusions and Findings related to the Role of the Bratunac Brigade................................. 96 E. DETENTION AND KILLINGS IN BRATUNAC TOWN ........................................................................98 1. General situation in Bratunac town........................................................................................98 2. Detention in buses in Bratunac town .....................................................................................99 3. Detention and killings in and around the Vuk Karad`ić School on 12 and 13 July 1995 ...100 4. Transport of prisoners from Bratunac to the Zvornik area - 13 to 15 July ..........................106 5. Conclusions and Findings related to the Role of the Bratunac Brigade ..............................107