Pelemis and Peric: Indictee Was Likely Present in Pilica

Presenting his findings on an operation of the First Battalion with Zvornik Brigade of the Republika Srpska Army, VRS, witness Richard Butler said that the arrival of prisoners at the school building in Pilica was “a security problem”, adding that Peric, as Assistant Commander for Security, should have been in the school building for that reason.

“Peric should have gone there and checked the situation,” said Butler, who began presenting his findings on April 14, 2011. Butler drafted the report at the request of the State Prosecution.

The Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina charges Peric and Momir Pelemis with having participated in genocide committed in Srebrenica.

The indictment alleges that Pelemis and Peric participated in the murder of about 1,200 Srebrenica residents on Branjevo military farm and about 600 men in the Cultural Centre in Pilica, Zvornik municipality on July 15 and 16, 1995. According to the charges, Pelemis was Deputy Commander of the First Battalion with the VRS Zvornik Brigade and Peric was Assistant Commander for Security.

The indictment further alleges that the Srebrenica residents who were shot in Branjevo had first been detained in the “Kula” school building in Pilica.

Responding to questions posed by the Defence of indictee Pelemis, expert witness Butler said that he could neither confirm nor deny if Pelemis knew that the prisoners would be executed on Branjevo farm.

“I did not come across any pieces of written evidence about it,” Butler said, adding that execution orders were never put in writing.

At this hearing the expert witness repeated his earlier statement that the Srebrenica residents who were held in the school building in Pilica were in the zone of responsibility of the First Battalion with the VRS Zvornik Brigade.

Butler could not answer a question posed by Trial Chamber Chairman Ljubomir Kitic, who wanted to know how many members of the 28th Division with the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina defended Srebrenica.

“The 28th Division was present in Srebrenica and Zepa. It conducted military operations from the protected zone, but I do not know the details about the size of the Division, because they were not important for the context of this report,” Butler said.

The trial is due to continue on June 3.