Gotovina et al Judgement Volume I - ICTY

38707Main Staff and communications centre. 4303 Rajčić told Gotovina that 130-millimetreguns and 122-millimetre launchers were not capable of being fired at the SVK MainStaff and the communications centre and hitting only those targets, without causingdamage to the surrounding area. 4304 Gotovina told Rajčić to analyse the possiblecollateral damage of projectiles missing these targets, as the SVK Main staff was ahighly interesting target in combat. 43051184. Rajčić analyzed the possible collateral damage of firing at targets in Knin andconcluded that the harm to citizens and material damage to surrounding buildings wouldbe “to a lesser extent”. 4306 In coming to this conclusion, Rajčić considered the use ofcontact-fuse shells, which cannot pierce concrete buildings, as well as the characteristicsof the targets, their area, their surface area, the surrounding buildings, and the quality ofconstruction. 4307 He also considered the intelligence information that there had beensubstantial emigration of civilians from Knin and that there was a curfew in place inKnin, which affected the expected number of civilians on the streets and in buildings at5 a.m. 4308 According to Rajčić, when using artillery against military objectives in urbanareas, the choice of the time of day was an important consideration in minimizingcollateral damage to civilians, when deciding the weapon, type of fire and amount ofammunition. 4309 According to Rajčić, the selection and targeting within the tactical andoperational deployment of the enemy was preceded by a thorough intelligenceassessment of the terrain, deployment and enemy strength, and weather conditions. 4310Rajčić made the final selection of military objectives by considering both militarynecessity and possible collateral damage and civilian casualties. 4311 The choice ofweapon to be fired at a certain target was determined by range and by which weaponwould cause the least collateral damage while still achieving the military advantage. 43124303 Marko Rajčić, T. 16282-16824.4304 Marko Rajčić, T. 16284.4305 Marko Rajčić, T. 16285.4306 Marko Rajčić, T. 16285.4307 Marko Rajčić, T. 16285-16286.4308 Marko Rajčić, T. 16826.4309 D1425 (Marko Rajčić, witness statement, 13 February 2009), para. 28.4310 P2339 (Reconstruction of artillery activities of the 4th and 7th Guards Brigade from 4 to 9 August1995, by Marko Rajčić, 28 November 2008), p. 20.4311 D1425 (Marko Rajčić, witness statement, 13 February 2009), para. 19.4312 D1425 (Marko Rajčić, witness statement, 13 February 2009), para. 27.608Case No.: IT-06-90-T 15 April 2011 `