Mladic as an “Active” Participant in Operations

On the basis of VRS documents, Theunens made a report on the role Mladic, the then Commander of that Army, played during the Bosnian war from 1992 to 1995, saying that Mladic was “a very active” commander, who was “very much involved” in operations in the field.

“In case he was dissatisfied with how his orders were carried out, Mladic intervened immediately. Instead of sitting in the VRS’ Main Headquarters, Mladic moved through the areas, where combats were conducted… thus actively leading the combat activities,” Theunens said.

According to the witness’ testimony, the VRS Commander was “very well informed”, considering the fact that, as per his own orders, he used to receive daily combat reports from his corps. The witness said that Mladic also personally obtained information about the current happenings through numerous field visits to his units.

As said by Theunens, until the end of the Bosnian war the VRS focused its activities on achieving the six strategic goals adopted by the Republika Srpska Assembly on May 12, 1992. The witness said that those goals included the separation of Serbs from Bosniaks and Croats; division of Sarajevo; elimination of River Drina as the border between Serbs; making a corridor connecting Serb territories with Serbia; establishment of the western border on River Neretva and access to the Adriatic coast.

Theunens said that the VRS Main Headquarters made strategic decisions according to instructions received from the Supreme Command led by Republika Srpska President Radovan Karadzic, who is on trial at The Hague for genocide and other crimes.

Mladic, former Commander of the Republika Srpska Army, VRS, is charged with genocide committed in Srebrenica in 1995, persecution of Bosniaks and Croats throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina, which reached the scale of genocide in seven municipalities, terror against civilians in Sarajevo and taking UNPROFOR members hostage.

At this hearing presiding judge Alphons Orie announced that the beginning of presentation of evidence by Mladic’s Defence might be scheduled for May 13 next year.

Mladic’s Defence attorney Branko Lukic previously requested the Tribunal to allow the Defence to have six months from the completion of the Prosecution’s evidence presentation, which is expected to happen in mid-December, for preparing the defence.

Theunens is due to continue testifying at Mladic’s trial on Thursday, December 5.