Gotovina et al Judgement Volume I - ICTY

39263Split MD were demobilized, and that between 15 August and 11 September 1995,11,072 members of the Split MD were demobilized.3.1.2 Ante Gotovina's powers as a commander101. According to the Indictment, Ante Gotovina possessed effective control over the72nd VP Battalion and a part of the 73rd VP Battalion, and was responsible formaintaining order among, and disciplining and supervising the conduct of, hissubordinate personnel. 256 The Trial Chamber will examine in turn the legal frameworkin respect of command and control over the VP, VP-related events in the days beforeOperation Storm, orders issued to VP units within the Split MD, and Gotovina’s powersand obligations vis-à-vis crimes and disciplinary infractions committed by units underhis command.102. The Trial Chamber will first examine the legal framework in respect ofcommand and control of the VP. On 6 January 1992, Minister of Defence Gojko Šušaksigned off temporary instructions for the work of the VP, which Mate Laušić, chief ofthe VP administration from 5 March 1992 until 30 December 2002, 257 and a colleaguehad put together from the rules of procedure of the civilian police and those of themilitary police of the JNA. 258 The temporary instructions were replaced in 1994 by themore detailed and precise Rules Governing the Organizational Work of the VP. 259Under these rules, the VP administration was responsible for organizing and training thestaff, supervising their work, and dealing with personnel matters within theadministration, including determining selection criteria for recruitment on all levels. 260103. According to Article 2 of the VP Rules, the units of the VP were speciallytrained and equipped HV units of all branches of the Armed Forces established as VPbattalions and companies. 261 According to Article 5 of the VP Rules, members of theVP wore the official HV uniform with a white belt and a VP shield. Boško Džolić,256 Indictment, para. 4, Annex A.257 P2159 (Mate Laušić, witness statement, 11 August 2004), p. 1, paras 1, 37-38, 48, 60.258 P2159 (Mate Laušić, witness statement, 11 August 2004), para. 19; Mate Laušić, T. 15220, 15229-15230.259 P2159 (Mate Laušić, witness statement, 11 August 2004), para. 27; Mate Laušić, T. 15208, 15220,15229.260 P2159 (Mate Laušić, witness statement, 11 August 2004), para. 28; Mate Laušić, T. 15208-15209.261 P880 (VP Rules, February 1994), Article 2.52Case No.: IT-06-90-T 15 April 2011 `