Bosniak Commander Charged with Attack on Serb Villagers

The Bosnian state prosecution on Tuesday filed an indictment against Nehru Ganic, charging him with war crimes against Serb victims in the village of Cemerno in the Ilijas municipality near Sarajevo.

Ganic was charged, on the basis of command responsibility as commander of the Territorial Defence force in Breza and superior officer to commanders of Territorial Defence units in Kakanj and Breza, with having known of the attack on Cemerno, aimed at persecuting the local Serb population by committing murders and destroying property.

The prosecution alleges that Ganic, in his capacity as commander, failed to prevent the commission of crimes or to undertake measures to sanction the perpetrators.

Thirty people, both male and female, were killed in the attack on Cemerno on June 10, 1992, some by being mutilated.

Houses and other property were destroyed and the village was pillaged and set on fire during the attack.

Ganic is charged with committing war crimes against civilians and prisoners of war, as well as the violation of the laws and customs of war.

Eleven former Territorial Defence fighters and policemen were also charged in February with committing war crimes in the village of Cemerno.

However their trial has not yet begun because the state prosecution has announced new accusations.