Jajce Indictment Confirmed
28 November 2007 The Court of BiH has confirmed an indictment concerning the shooting of 23 civilians on the territory of Jajce in 1992.
On Wednesday, November 28, the Court of BiH confirmed the indictment against Mirko (son of Spiro) Pekez, Mirko (son of Mile) Pekez and Milorad Savic, which charges them with having participated in the shooting of civilians committed on the territory of Jajce in September 1992.
The indictment alleges that on September 10, 1992, the three former members of the Republika Srpska Army (VRS) and reserve police forces "participated in the arrest and shooting of civilians from the villages of Ljoljici and Cerkazovic in Jajce municipality". The crimes were committed after one VRS soldier had been killed and buried.
The indictment alleges that, "after making a joint agreed plan", the three men, who had "automatic and semi-automatic guns", forced men, women and children to leave their houses in Ljojici and Cerkazovici. The indictment alleges that, prior to this event, the civilians had limited freedom of movement and had their names checked on a daily basis.
The civilians from both villages were taken to Tisovac place, where they were ordered to stand on the edge of a cliff. This is where they were shot. In total, 23 persons were murdered, while four were severely wounded. There were men, women and children among the killed civilians.
The indictment alleges that Mirko (son of Spiro) Pekez and Milorad Savic were members of the reserve police forces with the Public Safety Centre in Jajce, while Mirko (son of Mile) Pekez was a member of the VRS. The Prosecution of BiH charges the three men with having committed war crime against civilians.
The factual description in the indictment alleges that "an armed conflict between VRS on one side and the Army of BiH and the Croatian Defence Council (HVO) on the other side" was conducted on the territory of Jajce municipality at the time the criminal offences were committed. It is further indicated that the conflict in Jajce commenced in spring of 1992.
According to the indictment, the following persons participated in the shooting of the civilians, together with the three indictees - Jovo Jandric, Simo Savic, Milorad Savic, Zoran Maric, Slobodan Pekez, Ilija Pekez, Milorad Savic and Blagoja Jovetic.
Acting on an arrest warrant issued by the Prosecution of BiH, the State Investigation and Protection Agency arrested the three indictees on October 30, 2007. The three men have been held in custody since then.
Under existing legislation, the indictees are due to attend a plea hearing within the next 15 days.
Justice Report is a
specialist reporting agency focusing on war crimes trials taking place before
local courts; development of the local legal system; and efforts to come to
terms with the past.
Read more
State Department: Judiciary Under Political Pressure
In its report on the state of human rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2009, the US State Department mentions progress that has been made, as well as political pressure that has been put on the judiciary in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Read more
Balkan Investigative Reporting Network
The opinions expressed in Balkan Insight are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network
Komentari:
Nema komentara.