Gotovina et al Judgement Volume I - ICTY

39258and the 73rd VP Battalions were subordinated to Ivan Jurić. 300 This order was to takeeffect at midnight on 3 August 1995. 301112. On 3 August 1995, during a meeting at the MoD, Laušić stated that HV unitcommanders had been warned that they would be personally responsible for thediscipline of their subordinates. 302 He also explained that he authorized officers of theVP administration to remove commanders of VP units “on the spot” in case of “anyirregularities” in their work. Finally, he stated that the sequence of processing of POWsshould be first intelligence service, then SIS and SZUP, and lastly Crime VP, and hestressed that the VP must conform to the Geneva Convention on the treatment ofPOWs. 303 During the same meeting, Biškić presented the tasks of the VP, which at thestart of combat operations were setting up check-points on the roads, and carrying outsearch and mopping-up operations in the liberated areas. 304 Following advances by theHV, the tasks of the VP were policing and patrolling activities, deployment in Knin andGlina, as well as cooperation with the MUP in populated areas until the establishment ofcivilian authorities. After the termination of combat activities, the VP was responsiblefor the security of protected persons and facilities, setting up “firm” check-points,marking the boundaries between combat zones and areas under the control of civilianauthorities, as well as regrouping in accordance with the movements and deploymentsof the Armed Forces of Croatia. 305 Assistant Minister of the Interior Joško Morićannounced that the MUP would secure entries and exists to towns. 306113. According to an order of 3 August 1995 by Laušić, a meeting was held betweenthe representatives of the MUP and the VP on that day at which the tactics and conductof the VP and the civilian police at the start of the offensive operations and the newlyliberated areas were discussed. 307 Laušić ordered among others the 72nd and 73rd VPBattalions to: immediately establish contacts with the MUP; follow the advance of theHV in the liberated territory, and with “joint patrols” ensure law and order, traffic forthe needs of the HV, and the isolation and evacuation of civilians for their security;300 P2171/D267 (Order by Major General Mate Laušić re preparations of the VP, 2 August 1995), paras10-12.301 P2159 (Mate Laušić, witness statement, 11 August 2004), para. 166.302 D45 (Minutes of meeting held at the MoD, 4 August 1995), pp. 4-5.303 D45 (Minutes of meeting held at the MoD, 4 August 1995), p. 6.304 D45 (Minutes of meeting held at the MoD, 4 August 1995), pp. 4-5.305 D45 (Minutes of meeting held at the MoD, 4 August 1995), p. 5.306 D45 (Minutes of meeting held at the MoD, 4 August 1995), pp. 3, 7.307 D269 (Order by Major General Mate Laušić concerning the cooperation between the MUP and the VP,3 August 1995), p. 1.57Case No.: IT-06-90-T 15 April 2011 `