Neskovic and Ilic: Denying an Attack against Civilians

The documents presented by Ilic’s Defence attorney Milos Peric at the trial for Srebrenica crimes included, among others, an order to conduct military actions issued by the VRS Drina Corps at the beginning of July 1995.

“The VRS attack was not targeted against the civilian population, but the armed forces in Srebrenica,” Peric explained.

Besides that, the Defence presented a few pieces of evidence with which it tried to prove that armed forces of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina continued to exist in Srebrenica following its demilitarisation in 1993.

The Defence attorney said that, by presenting a notification sent by the then civilian authorities of Srebrenica to the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina and ABiH Commander, the Defence denied the thesis that the local population was pressured or forced to leave Srebrenica. He said that the document indicated that the local authorities in Srebrenica decided that the population should leave the town.

“All combat activities were aimed against armed military formations, which were moving towards Tuzla. The operation was undertaken for the sake of the local resident’s safety,” the Defence attorney said.

Ilic and Dragan Neskovic are charged with having participated in the search of Bosniak houses in Budak village, near Potocari on July 12 and 13, 1995 with the aim of finding and escorting people to the UN Base in Potocari.

The indictment alleges that Neskovic and Ilic were members of the Jahorina Training Centre with the Special Police Brigade of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Republika Srpska, MUP of RS.

They are charged with having participated, on July 13 and 14, 1995, in the capture of Bosniak men, who were then taken in groups to the Agricultural Co-operative in Kravica, near Bratunac, where they were killed.

According to the charges, Ilic shot from an automatic gun at the prisoners, who had been executed, while Neskovic ordered two members of that Unit to kill two captured men. They allegedly carried out the order. Ilic is also charged with having killed a prisoner in Jelah village on July 17, 1995.

Peric presented a few documents, explaining that the documents indicated that Ilic’s brother began his military service on July 14, 1995.

Several witnesses, who testified at previous hearings, spoke about the beginning of military service of the indictee’s brother. They explained that a farewell party, which indictee Ilic attended, was organized on July 12, 13 and 14, 1995.

The Defence of the indictees completed the presentation of evidence by presenting these pieces of material evidence. Prosecutor Erik Larson announced that he would invite a few new witnesses.

The trial is due to continue on Wednesday, May 16.
A.J.