Klickovic et al: Inevitable conflict in Bosanska Krupa

A Prosecution witness claims that, while he was a policeman “in 1991 and in early 1992”, he found out that there was a plan to divide Bosanska Krupa and “establish a Serbian state,” which was prepared by the Serbian Democratic Party, SDS.

“The report on the economic justification of the division of Bosanska Krupa indicated why the Bosnian Serbs wanted to establish their own municipality. I also had a chance to see the map, showing the divided area, and I laughed as the division line split the bridge into two halves and ran behind Gojko’s house,” said Jadranko Saran, a pre-war deputy commander of police forces in Bosanska Krupa.

Saran testified at the trial of Gojko Klickovic, Jovan Ostojic and Mladen Drljaca, who are charged by the State Prosecution with crimes against the non-Serb population in Bosanska Krupa area committed in 1992. The indictment alleges that Klickovic was commander of the Crisis Committee of the Serbian municipality of Bosanska Krupa.

“Klickovic had an authority. Serbian people respected him and listened to him. I remember that many civilians were mobilised in 1991. They were sent to battlefields in Croatia and, I think, they were ready to act in Bosanska Krupa as well. Those were illegal forces, controlled by Klickovic and Vjestica, as well as the SDS,” Saran said.

Data suggests that the State Prosecution is conducting an investigation against Miroslav Vjestica, former senior SDS official, concerning his participation in crimes committed in Bosanska Krupa area.

Saran claims that, in 1992, Serbian civilians were armed in Perna village, to which “the Yugoslav National Army and the SDS transported weapons by helicopters.” He further said that military exercises were conducted in Radic village and “Bosniaks were not allowed to participate.”

“On the eve of the attack on Bosanska Krupa on April 21, 1992, I went to Arapusa village, together with Gojko Klickovic and witness A2. Gojko asked all Bosniak inhabitants to hand over their weapons and he called for an arrest of all those who had shot at two members of the Serb police, which was illegal,” Saran said.

During the course of cross-examination the witness said that, besides Vjestica, “Klickovic, Mladen Drljaca, a person named Mirko Oralj and a few members of the SDS” were responsible for the deportation of Bosniaks from Arapusa.

“I am saying this on the basis of operational data and records made by the Public Safety Station in Bosanska Krupa,” the witness said.

Defence attorney Dusko Tomic said that this witness did not mention the indictee in his statement given to the ICTY investigators. Saran responded by saying that he was “not asked” about him.

The trial is due to continue on Tuesday, May 21.