Vasic Ordered to Establish Public Safety Station in Srebrenica, Witness Says

The state prosecution has charged Dragomir Vasic, Miodrag Josipovic, Branimir Tesic, Danilo Zoljic and Radomir Pantic with committing genocide in Srebrenica, which included the forcible resettlement of the civilian population, as well as the capture and execution of men and boys.

Karadzic was indicted before the Hague Tribunal for committing genocide in Srebrenica and other crimes in Bosnia and Herzegovina. His verdict is expected to be handed down in March  2016.

According to the charges, Josipovic was the chief of the public safety station, while Tesic was the deputy commander of the police station in Bratunac. Vasic was the commander of the police headquarters in Zvornik as well as the chief of the public safety center (CJB) in Zvornik. Zoljic was the commander of CJB special units, while Pantic was the commander of the First Company of the special police units.

A protected witness known as ST-178 testified at today’s hearing. ST-187, who was previously examined by the prosecution on February 2, said an order to establish a public safety station in Srebrenica was referred to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Republika Srpska. The Ministry of Internal Affairs then conveyed the information to the public safety center in Zvornik, led by Dragomir Vasic.

ST-l78 said Dragomir Vasic went to Bratunac on July 12, 1995 and returned to Zvornik on July 15, 1995. He said Vasic’s task was to establish a public safety station in Srebrenica.

“Everything was done in accordance with the law,” ST-l78 said.

ST-178 said the special police units consisted of the most competent and respectable policemen, while the First Company consisted of policemen with the best physical and mental capabilities, who were requested to perform the most complex tasks.

ST-178 confirmed that while performing combat tasks, the special police units were subordinated to the special police brigade.

ST-178 repeated that the First Company participated in guarding the road connecting Zvornik, Konjevic Polje, Milici, Vlasenica and Pale.

According to ST-178, traffic police wouldn’t have been able to prevent the road from being cut off. He said if the First Company were to participate, it would have been a typical example of a combat task.

He said police units were subordinated to the military in the zone of combat activities.

The trial will continue on February 16.