Participation of Police Units in Srebrenica

Milan Stojcinovic, former Assistant Chief of the Training Centre of MUP of RS on Mount Jahorina, told the Court that more than 200 deserters from Serbia came to the Centre during 1995 and that they were supposed to pass an infantry training.

“They brought them by buses. This represented a big problem for us, because all of a sudden we had to feed 200 more people. Those people did not even have descent clothes or shoes. We lined them up and gave them uniforms… They were divided into two companies, each of one consisting of four squads. We trained them to perform infantry and police tasks. Just when they began looking like real soldiers, an order arrived, telling them to go to Srebrenica,” Stojcinovic said.

The witness said that he did not go to Srebrenica and that it was not known to him what the deserters were doing while they were in the field.

“We did not communicate with them, while they were in the field. The only thing I know is that the deserters looked terrified upon return. I suppose they got scared of the war,” Stojcinovic said.

The State Prosecution charges Goran Saric, former Commander of the Special Brigade of Republika Srpska Army, with genocide in Srebrenica in July 1995.

According to the charges, Saric commanded police forces, which participated in the search, disarming and occupying positions held by members of the United Nations, UN troops, as well as forced resettlement of women, children and the elderly and separation of men and boys, who were executed later on.

Stojcinovic said that he had known Goran Saric since their secondary school days, adding that he was “a chaste boy”, but he did not see him during July 1995.

The witness said that Saric was Commander of the Special Brigade of Republika Srpska police, whose seat was in Janja.

The trial of Saric is due to continue on January 28, when the Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina will invite three witnesses.