Zivkovic and Tadic: Guarding of Hunters’ House

“I heard that they were at that location. Guarding was their war or military task. They drove in all-terrain vehicles that belonged to the Territorial Defence. (…) I heard that people were killed up there. I do not know what date it was. I heard that they were killed by Veljo Tadic,” witness Dusan Pavicevic said.

Pavicevic told the Court that he was Assistant Commander with the Territorial Defence in Cajnice in 1992, adding that his task was to keep records of recruitment of new personnel and manning of reserve forces.

“The Territorial Defence could engage police forces to help it out. Police could be engaged by the Territorial Defence in the first place, and then also by the Army, but I do not know where the police forces were used. Requests were sent by the Crisis Committee,” Pavicevic said.

Pavicevic mentioned that indictee Zivkovic was member of the Crisis Committee of Cajnice municipality.

The Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina charges Zivkovic and Dusko Tadic with the persecution of Bosniaks from Cajnice area and murder of 11 civilians at Mostina on May 19, 1992.

The indictment alleges that Zivkovic was Chief of the Public Safety Station in Cajnice and member of the Crisis Committee of Cajnice municipality and Tadic was a member of “Plavi orlovi” (“Blue Eagles”) paramilitary unit.

Pavicevic said that the Territorial Defence Unit in Cajnice was formed in late April or beginning of May, adding that it consisted of five companies and one interventions company called the “Plavi orlovi”.

He confirmed that Milun Kornjaca, whom the Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina charges with crimes in Cajnice, was Commander of the “Plavi orlovi” Unit. The witness said that Dr. Dusko Kornjaca was President of Cajnice municipality and President of the Crisis Committee in Cajnice.

When asked by the Trial Chamber if the Crisis Committee commanded the “Plavi orlovi” Unit, the witness said: “That’s how it should have been”.

The trial is due to continue on June 25.