No Knowledge of Petkovci Dam Executions
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The witness, Borisav Jovic said that in July 1995 he worked as a driver of the medical corps with the Sixth Battalion of the Zvornik Brigade of the Army of Republika Srpska, but that he learnt about the Petkovci dam murders only later, because, he said, he was on leave during those days.
“Between July 11 and 14, 1995, I had four days of leave. On my return to the medical corps, which were located in the Culture Home in Petkovci, I saw a parked bus. There were people inside, but I could not say whether they were civilians or soldiers, because I did not look too closely,” said Jovic.
He said that he later heard that in the bus were prisoners brought in from the Petkovci primary school, but he never knew where they were taken.
“Later I heard that Stanisic gave out the order that the bus with prisoners return to Zvornik. What happened to them after that, I don’t know. I assume they were killed or exchanged,” said the witness and explained that on that day he did not see neither Stanisic, nor anyone from the command of the Sixth Battalion of the Zvornik Brigade in the medical corps.
Jovic testified at the trial of Ostoja Stanisic and Marko Milosevic, who were charged with taking part in crimes committed at the Petkovci dam, where in July 1995 around 1,000 imprisoned Bosniak men and boys from Srebrenica were executed.
According to the indictment, Stanisic was commander of the Sixth Battalion, and Milosevic his deputy.
Another witness, Momcilo Delic, former company commander in the Sixth Battalion of the Zvornik Brigade, said that he was at this position between 1994 and April 1995, when he was wounded.
“The war was over for me in April 1995. I was being treated since then, and in June I learnt my child was sick. After that, I was not interested in war or anything else any more,” explained Delic.
He confirmed that he learnt about the Petkovci dam murders only later, mostly from the media, but that he never heard anyone from the Sixth Battalion ordering or participating in the murders.
“The only thing I can say about Stanisa Ostojic is that he was a fair commander,” said Delic.
The trial will resume on October 30.
