Gotovina et al Judgement Volume I - ICTY

385271496. Alexander Tchernetsky, an UNMO in Croatia from 20 June 1995 untilDecember 1995, 5709 patrolled the Strmica area, and went there at least twice toinvestigate alleged Croatian artillery attacks. 5710 He and his team found craters formedby shell explosions and damaged “residential houses”, buildings, and a school damagedby shrapnel. 5711 At least some shelling had taken place prior to 29-30 July 1995. 5712 Hetestified that around 30 July 1995 and prior to Operation Storm, there were norestrictions on UNMO’s movement in the Strmica area. 5713 The witness did indicate thatthe Golubić area south of Strmica was closed off to UNMO patrols. 5714 The witnesstestified that there were no military positions in Strmica, and that the closest SVKposition was in the area of Golubić, in Knin municipality, to which his team did nothave access. 5715 At the end of July 1995, the witness was on his way to investigate aSerb allegation that the Croats had shelled residential Strmica when the Croats begananother heavy artillery attack on the area where his group was present in Strmica at atime when there was no military hardware and no SVK troop presence there. 5716 Aliaison officer from the 7th Corps of the SVK was present with the witness’s group atthe time of the investigation, to show them where the shelling had taken place. 5717 Thewitness and his group were forced to leave their vehicle and seek shelter in a cellarwhile the barrage continued for about 30 minutes. 5718 The witness testified that althoughhe was unaware of any major troop movements, his patrols would occasionally comeacross some military vehicles or small columns of SVK soldiers that were movingtoward Golubić, in Knin municipality, in the direction of Strmica at the end of July1995. 5719 A letter from SVK Lieutenant-General Mile Mrkšić to UNPROFOR5709 P204 (Alexander Tchernetsky, witness statement, 18 May 2002), pp. 1-2; Alexander Tchernetsky, T.3204, 3221.5710 P204 (Alexander Tchernetsky, witness statement, 18 May 2002), p. 2; Alexander Tchernetsky, T.3178.5711 Alexander Tchernetsky, T. 3178-3179, 3186.5712 Alexander Tchernetsky, T. 3293.5713 Alexander Tchernetsky, T. 3179-3180, 3297.5714 Alexander Tchernetsky, T. 3303.5715 P204 (Alexander Tchernetsky, witness statement, 18 May 2002), p. 2; P205 (Alexander Tchernetsky,witness statement, 6 December 2007), para. 2; Alexander Tchernetsky, T. 3303-3304.5716 P204 (Alexander Tchernetsky, witness statement, 18 May 2002), p. 2; P205 (Alexander Tchernetsky,witness statement, 6 December 2007), para. 2; Alexander Tchernetsky, T. 3180-3187; 3293, 3304, 3307-3308, 3310; P208 (Map of Strmica, marked by Alexander Tchernetsky); P209 (Map of Strmica, withmarkings “R” and “R2” by Alexander Tchernetsky).5717 P204 (Alexander Tchernetsky, witness statement, 18 May 2002), p. 2; Alexander Tchernetsky, T.3296-3298; 3308-3309.5718 P204 (Alexander Tchernetsky, witness statement, 18 May 2002), p. 2; Alexander Tchernetsky, T.3180-3182, 3308-3311; P208 (Map of Strmica, marked by Alexander Tchernetsky).5719 Alexander Tchernetsky, T. 3305.788Case No.: IT-06-90-T 15 April 2011 `