30 May 2013 - ICTY

49624
July 1991, Franko Simatović signed a report noting that a part of the special unit from Glina
had returned. 2575 The Trial Chamber will further consider this operation, below.
Plitviće, August 1991
1399. The Trial Chamber has received evidence from Witness JF-031, as well as through
three autobiographies taken from a series of Serbian MUP DB documents (in evidence as
exhibits P3178, P3179, and P3195), and from the video of the Kula ceremony (in evidence as
exhibit P61) in relation to the Plitviće operation in August 1991. 2576
1400. The Trial Chamber first turns to the testimony of Witness JF-031. Witness JF-031, a
Serb from Knin municipality, 2577 testified that around 25 August 1991, Simatović took a unit
from Golubić, including the witness and approximately 24 or 25 other trainers, to a place
called Plitviće. 2578 There, the Knin TO had tried but failed to retake a location which the
witness in his statement described as a group of hotels occupied by Croat police and during
his testimony agreed was a Croat police station. 2579 The JNA was also present, acting as a
buffer zone. 2580 The unit, commanded by Žika Crnogorac, succeeded in taking back the site in
around 20 minutes. 2581 Some ten Croats surrendered, and were handed over to the control of
the JNA when the witness’s unit pulled out. 2582 Two members of the SAO Krajina TO were
wounded during the hostilities. 2583 The witness testified that the planning of the operation,
which took place in the two to three minutes before the attack began, involved Simatović,
Žika Crnogorac, and a person called Raja. 2584 The witness testified that his unit spent around
an hour or two at Plitviće in all, from its arrival, through the planning and execution of the
attack, to the subsequent handover to the JNA. 2585
2575 The reports are in evidence as exhibits P1186 and P2577.
2576 The Trial Chamber has received some evidence regarding a prior attack on Plitviće in March 1991. In light
of the early date of this attack, the Trial Chamber will not further consider it.
2577 P998 (Witness JF-031, witness statement, 1 June 2001), pp. 1-2.
2578 P998 (Witness JF-031, witness statement, 1 June 2001), p. 5; P1000 (Witness JF-031, Slobodan Milošević
transcript, 14-15 April 2003), pp. 19188; Witness JF-031, T. 7445.
2579 P998 (Witness JF-031, witness statement, 1 June 2001), p. 5; Witness JF-031, T. 7446.
2580 P1000 (Witness JF-031, Slobodan Milošević transcript, 14-15 April 2003), p. 19188; Witness JF-031, T.
7446.
2581 P998 (Witness JF-031, witness statement, 1 June 2001), p. 5; Witness JF-031, T. 7447; P1001 (List of
persons present at Fruška Gora), p. 1.
2582 P998 (Witness JF-031, witness statement, 1 June 2001), p. 5; Witness JF-031, T. 7446-7447.
2583 Witness JF-031, T. 7447-7448.
2584 P998 (Witness JF-031, witness statement, 1 June 2001), p. 5; P1000 (Witness JF-031, Slobodan Milošević
transcript, 14-15 April 2003), pp. 19188-19189; Witness JF-031, T. 7449-7450.
2585 P998 (Witness JF-031, witness statement, 1 June 2001), p. 5; P1000 (Witness JF-031, Slobodan Milošević
transcript, 14-15 April 2003), p. 19189; Witness JF-031, T. 7447.
Case No. IT-03-69-T 494
30 May 2013