Mladic Witness Claims Srebrenica Victims Also Killed in “Mutual Combat and Suicide”

Mladic, the former commander of the Bosnian Serb Army, has been charged with orchestrating and ordering the Srebrenica genocide, in which approximately 7000 Bosniaks from Srebrenica were killed. The indictments states that a convoy of approximately 15,000 men left the Srebrenica area on July 12, 1995, following the Bosnian Army breakthrough. The men, of whom only one third were armed, were ambushed and killed by Bosnian Serb Army.

Defense expert Dusan Pavlovic testified at today’s hearing, citing statements given by surviving members of the 28th Division of the Bosnian Army immediately after the breakthrough, which lasted from July 12-17, 1995. He concluded that 2000-3000 soldiers and civilians were killed in various battles during that time period.

According to testimonies given by survivors, Pavlovic said Bosniak soldiers and civilians weren’t only killed by Bosnian Serb Army attacks but also in mutual conflict and suicides.

Pavlovic said that according to these statements, “throughout the breakthrough, the 28th Division of the Bosnian Army was under the artillery and infantry fire of the Bosnian Serb Army.” He said they had “losses all the way.”

Pavlovic said the testimony of survivors indicated that the first Bosnian Serb Army ambush took place in the Buljim area on July 12, 1995, and left approximately 1000 soldiers and civilians dead.

“This was the beginning of the battle, on the field where the column of the 28th Division entered the Bosnian Serb Army’s area,” Pavlovic said.

He said, again according to witness statements, that the 28th Division’s column incurred the heaviest losses during combat in the Kamenica area on July 12 and 13, 1995. Pavlovic said approximately 1000-2000 men were killed in the Kamenica area.

Pavlovic announced that there were a few statements which he didn’t believe to be true, but said it was up to the court to determine their authenticity.

Pavlovic was asked whether the number of victims he specified only referred to losses incurred by the 28th Division or executions as well.

“My conclusion is that the vast majority of the bodies that were found indicated deaths incurred during battles, mutual combat, unfortunately there were suicides and they were shooting at each other,” Pavlovic said.

Mladic’s defense then presented a Bosnian Army document which demonstrated that thousands of Bosniaks were killed in the 28th Division. The document was issued by the security branch of the Second Corps of the Bosnian Army and referred to war crimes against Bosniaks. It specified that between 2000-3000 Bosniaks were killed from Buljim to Konjevic Polje.

Defense attorney Branko Lukic asked Mladic whether any prisoners of war were executed in this area.

“I didn’t come across any document which indicated there were executions. I can’t exclude that either, but I have no such knowledge,” Pavlovic said.

Mladic has also been charged with the persecution of Bosniaks and Croats across Bosnia and Herzegovina, terrorizing the citizens of Sarajevo and taking UN peacekeepers hostage. The trial continues on Tuesday, December 15.