The Serbian Ex-intelligence chief Jovica Stanisic, nicknamed “Frosty”, and his Deputy Franko Simatovic come to The Hague again for war crimes before the court. Up to 30. May you need to appear in The Hague.
Jovica Stanisic (left) and Franko Simatovic, in may 2013, before the Hague Tribunal
On 1. April 1992, attacked members of the paramilitary unit “Serbian volunteer guard”, and “Tigrovi” (tigers), the small ostbosnische city of Bijeljina near the Serbian border. Their leader, Zeljko Raznatovic, known under the name of “Arkan”. Well armed and trained, with the active logistical support of the then Yugoslav army, took over the irregulars to be very fast control of the city. Days of horror followed for the Muslim civilians in the city: murders, rapes, and looting were on the agenda.
Founded and armed the murderous force that raged a short time later also in other places of Bosnia along the border with Serbia and was soon the dreaded para-military units of Serbs in the Bosnia war, from two gentlemen in a suit, had in Belgrade, their offices, and now for the second Time this court has been funded. In the first trial, both were acquitted.
Milosevic’s ‘right Hand’
Jovica Stanisic, nicknamed “Frosty”, was at that time, Serbia’s head of the secret service, Franko Simatovic and his Deputy. They were directly subordinate to the former ruler, Slobodan Milosevic; Stanisic was considered to be one of the closest associates of Milosevic during the war years. In Belgrade, it was an open secret: he was regarded as omnipotent, without his Knowledge nothing happened in the country. Everything Important, he discussed with Milosevic directly, without correspondence, without witnesses, in a soundproof room.
In the inner management circle: Jovica Stanisic (m.), Slobodan Milosevic (l) and his son Marko (R)
That’s why he was considered one of the main accused in front of the UN Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague, than he was in June 2003 on a voluntary basis. Previously, it was reported that against him and his Deputy, a charge of command responsibility in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, committed crimes against humanity was prepared. In his home country and in the neighbouring countries, his arrest was a surprise to hardly anyone.
Due to lack of Evidence
The greater was the Surprise, than ten years and over 100 load, the then presiding judge Alphons Orie of the witnesses later, the two defendants acquitted. In the opinion of the court, he said that in spite of the fact that Stanisic and Simatovic organised the Training of the Serbian special forces, financed and directed their assistance only of a General nature and not directly with the war crimes in connection can be brought.
Paid, supported and tolerated by the secret service: Zeljko Raznatovic (“Arkan”)
“There is the possibility that the measures of Stanisic and Simatovic to the creation and maintenance aimed at the Serb control over large parts of Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina is,” said the Dutch judge Orie. It was “not possible to conclude that the accused shared the aim of the alleged joint criminal enterprise to remove the non-Serbian civilian population by force.”
With the line plane home
It was not only to Arkans “Tiger”; both intelligence officers have also co-founded other para-military special units, such as the “Red berets” and the “Scorpions”, funded them in the war zones, given all the freedoms for the Terror against the non-Serbian civilian population. Thus, the Serbian policy was supported by the so-called “ethnic cleansing,” energetic and driven – culminating in the genocide of Srebrenica in July 1995.
The prosecution had demanded for both life-long imprisonment, as they had been for the murders and the Deportation of tens of thousands of Muslims and Croats in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia from 1991 to 1995, responsible. At the behest of the court, but both defendants were released in June 2013 and flying back with the plane to Belgrade.
Everything at the beginning of
The former chief Prosecutor of the Hague Tribunal, the Belgian lawyer Serge Brammertz, did not want to accept the verdict, because “the court has not assessed the presented evidence is sufficient”, and said that it would appeal. His reasoning: Even if there is no immediate evidence of a direct chain of command of the two defendants up to the actual perpetrators, there is no doubt that you would have known what the Serbian para-military actions in Croatia and Bosnia. These are set up be aware, equipped and have been used. Therefore, according to Brammertz, had both condemn in the sense of command responsibility.
In Bijeljina, around 1000 Muslims were killed
The five judges of the court of appeal followed this reasoning and stressed the judgment in December 2015. They ordered a new trial, the 13. June should begin. The two accused, who live as free men in Belgrade, were invited to the 30. To report may in prison in the Hague district of Scheveningen; otherwise, you would be sought with an international arrest warrant.