By Kenneth F. Hunt
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe
BELGRADE, Serbia – A war crimes tribunal in Serbia convicted and sentenced two Serbs for perpetrating war crimes during the conflict for independence in Croatia between 1991 and 1995.
On Monday March 15, Pano Bulat and Rade Vranesevic were found guilty by the War Crimes Council of the Belgrade High Court for murdering six civilians in March 1992 during the conflict.
Mr. Bulat and Mr Vranesevic were tried in Serbia because they were both Serbian residents. However, the prosecution proceeded pursuant to an agreement between Serbia and Croatia to cooperate on prosecuting the war criminals.
The six civilians were between the ages of 63 and 81; five were female and one was male. All the victims were killed in Banatski Kovacevac, a town in eastern Croatia. They were given twelve and fifteen year sentences, respectively, for their roles in perpetrating these war crimes
The Court found that the victims were killed with an automatic rifle by Mr. Vranesevic and a pistol by Mr. Bulat. The victims bodies were later burned. In sentencing the men, the Court emphasized that the victims were not part of any police or military group.
Mr. Bulat and Mr. Vranesevic were both members of Republika Srpska Krajina, a self-proclaimed army in territory held by rebel Serbs. Republika Srpska Krajina, and other militant groups, were opposing Croatia’s 1991 declared independence from the former Republic of Yugoslavia.
Bruno Vekaric, the Serbian Deputy War Crimes Prosecutor, praised the result as a victory for justice. Mr. Vekaric also highlighted the cooperation between Serbia and Croatia as a success, and said he looked forward to 28 other war crimes prosecutions in which the countries are currently working together.
According to the AP, Serbia continues to cooperate in war crimes prosecutions against its citizens and residents in an effort to seek admission to the European Union.
For more information, please see:
ASSOCIATED PRESS – 2 convicted in Serbia for Croatia war crimes – 16 March 2010
B92 – Conviction for war crimes in Croatia – 15 March 2010
JAVNO – Two Serbs jailed for Croatia war crimes – 15 March 2010
