No information about genocide

Speaking at a status conference,Milorad Trbic, former assistant commander for security with the Zvornik Brigade of the Republika Srpska Army, who is charged with genocide committed in Srebrenica, said he has never received any piece of information about genocide committed in this town, adding that he “cannot give a legal qualification” of the crime. 

At the previous hearing, held on November 3, 2008, Milan Trbojevic, Trbic’s Defence attorney, objected to the introduction of additional pieces of evidence by the Prosecution, which prove that genocide was committed in Srebrenica in July 1995, claiming that “genocide was undoubtedly committed in Srebrenica”, but the proposed witnesses do not have any information about Trbic.

Answering Trial Chamber Chairman Davorin Jukic’s questions at the same hearing, indictee Trbic said that he agrees with his Defence attorney.

However, at the hearing held today he explained that he agreed with him only in terms of “objection to examination of new witnesses”, adding that he “does not know anything” about genocide.

Trbic is charged with genocide and participation in forcible resettlement and execution of Bosniaks from Srebrenica in July 1995.

The Court asked Defence attorney Trbojevic to provide an explanation. He said that the Defence simply wanted to object to the introduction of evidence pertaining to “the crime in general”, as there was “no information concerning Trbic’s role.

“Trbic was a low ranking officer, who did not know anything about the events taking place in the area controlled by the Zvornik Brigade, let alone the Bratunac Brigade or special police forces. We simply wanted to say that there was no need to invite victims, who experienced torture and suffering, to come here and experience them again, since they do not have any pieces of information directly related to Trbic,” Trbojevic explained.

At this hearing the Prosecution presented its plan for introducing additional pieces of evidence. However,since translation into local language had not been finalized, the Defence and Court were not able to respond to the proposal.

The next status conference is scheduled for November 17, 2008, when the Court will render a decision concerning the introduction of additional pieces of evidence by the Prosecution.