Arkans men
and Scorpions under
state security umbrella
SENSE News Agency Bosnian Institute, 31 August,
2009
SENSE report on testimony at a current ICTY
trial revealing the extent of Serbian intelligence involvement in the
war in B-H
Former reserve officer in the Serbian MUP Milomir
Kovacevic claims he saw 'Arkan's men' and 'Scorpions' in 1991 in Eastern
Slavonia and in 1995 in the Bosnian Krajina. Kovacevic heard from
several sources that they operated under the command of the Serbian
State Security Service. The witness also saw the accused Stanisic and
Simatovic in 'Arkan's men' headquarters in Erdut and in Serbia when arms
and personnel were sent to the front lines.
The trial of former chief of Serbian State Security
Service (DB) Jovica Stanisic and Franko Simatovic continued with the
examination-in-chief of former Serbian MUP reserve officer Milomir
Kovacevic, who took the stand as a new prosecution witness. Kovacevic
was a driver; in 1991, he was transferred to Eastern Slavonia. His war
career ended in 1995 in Western Bosnia-Herzegovina. Kovacevic has
recently given evidence at the trial of the former chief of the VJ
General Staff Momcilo Perisic. Today, the statements Kovacevic gave to
the OTP investigators in 2003 and 2009 were tendered into evidence.
During his stay in Western Slavonia and Baranja in
1991 and 1992 the witness had several close encounters with members of
the Serb Volunteer Guard (SDG) led by Zeljko Raznatovic Arkan, and with
the 'Scorpions' unit. Kovacevic contends that both formations were
controlled by the Serbian State Security Service, headed at that time by
Jovica Stanisic. Franko Simatovic was Stanisic's deputy. In September or
October 1991, the witness attended a meeting where Raznatovic showed a
blue ID card issued by the Serbian State Security Service and claimed
that the Serbian government and the intelligence service were behind
him. The 'Scorpions' were at that time guarding the oil fields in
Djeletovci, the witness said, adding that a Serbian intelligence officer
in the field told him that they operated there DB control.
In 1995 Kovacevic was in Western Bosnia-Herzegovina,
where he saw Arkan and his unit. According to the witness, an officer
then showed him a letter in which the Republika Srpska authorities asked
Serbia's interior and defense ministries to support the Serb Volunteer
Guard in combat operations.
The witness met with the OTP representatives at a
proofing session on 25 August 2009 in which he described some situations
in the 90's when he saw the two accused. In 1991, the witness claims he
saw Stanisic and Simatovic once in Erdut [in occupied Croatia], where
the Serbian MUP had its training center; Arkan's Guard and the
Territorial Defense under the command of Radovan Stojcic Badza had their
headquarters there too. The witness also saw the accused in Serbia when
weapons and other logistical supplies were loaded for delivery to the
Serb armies in Bosnia and Croatia. In 1994 or 1995 the witness saw
Stanisic in the Danube harbor in Belgrade; a convoy with arms, oil and
other goods took off for Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina from there.
Simatovic was present on two occasions in the Bubanj Potok barracks near
Belgrade in the period from 1991 to 1994 when volunteers were
transported to frontlines across the Drina River, the witness said.
There will be a one week break at the trial of the
former State Security Service chiefs. Simatovic should appoint new
counsel as his lawyer has passed away recently.
Milomir Kovacevic's evidence has not been completed
and he will return to The Hague later for his cross-examination.
Report from ICTY by Sense News Agency ( (c)2009
SENSE), The Hague, 27 August 2009 |
