30 May 2013 - ICTY

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1672. The Trial Chamber will first address the establishment of a camp in Skelani. The Trial
Chamber considers that Miroslav Deronjić’s evidence with regard to the establishment of the
Skelani camp is corroborated by documentary evidence. 3319 Based on the foregoing, the Trial
Chamber finds that in June 1992, Franko Simatović met with local municipal leaders in
Bajina Bašta and discussed the establishment of training camps, including in Skelani. At these
camps, Serbian MUP instructors would train and command local Serb recruits. Simatović
stated that these troops would be in a separate, special command structure under his
command. The troops would cooperate with the VRS and lower-level commanders would not
have authority over the units. Simatović added that the establishment of training camps had
been agreed to at the highest level of political, military, and state circles of the Bosnian-Serb
Republic and Serbia. Following this meeting, Unit members Nikola Pupovac and Predrag
Spasojević 3320 established a camp in Skelani.
1673. The Stanišić Defence submits that Nikola Pupovac was not clearly linked to the
Serbian DB between March 1992 and August 1993 and argues instead that he may have been
acting on behalf of Captain Dragan while in Skelani. 3321 The Stanišić Defence further submits
that Predrag Spasojević was operating in Skelani in a personal capacity. 3322 In this respect, the
Trial Chamber notes that VRS reports from July and August 1992 3323 describe Nikola
Pupovac as Captain Dragan’s pupil and as belonging to Captain Dragan’s group. However,
there is no evidence establishing that Nikola Pupovac and Predrag Spasojević ceased to be
members of the Unit in early or mid-1992. Instead, Miroslav Deronjić’s evidence clearly
establishes that Spasojević introduced himself as a Serbian DB official with Serbian DB ID.
The remainder of the evidence reviewed above does not indicate that Captain Dragan was
present at, or otherwise involved in, the Skelani camp in 1992. Finally, the June 1992 meeting
clearly establishes that the Skelani camp was established pursuant to Simatović’s instructions.
This is further supported by documents referring to the unit in Skelani as belonging to the
3319 Ždravko Tolimir’s report on paramilitary formations in evidence as P383, the 15 May 1993 report on the
establishment of Red Berets in Skelani in evidence as P399, Vakić’s interview in evidence as P1053, and the 3
August 1992 report concerning the operations by “Red Berets” in the ranks of the Army of the Serbian Republic
in evidence as P2104.
3320 For the Trial Chamber’s findings on Nikola Pupovac and Predrag Spasojević being members of the Unit, see
chapter 6.3.2 and 6.3.3 in relation to the Ležimir camp, respectively.
3321 Stanišić Defence Final Trial Brief, 17 December 2012, paras 884-887.
3322 Stanišić Defence Final Trial Brief, 17 December 2012, paras 891-897.
3323 Ždravko Tolimir’s report on paramilitary formations in evidence as P383 and the 3 August 1992 report
concerning the operations by “Red Berets” in the ranks of the Army of the Serbian Republic in evidence as
P2104.
Case No. IT-03-69-T 591
30 May 2013