Former commander of the joint MUP forces of Republika Srpska that participated in the VRS-run Srebrenica operation in July 1995 pleaded not guilty on all six counts of the indictment charging him with complicity in genocide, crimes against humanity and violations of laws and customs of war

Ljubomir Borovcanin, general of the Republika Srpska police and commander of the joint MUP forces that participated in the VRS Srebrenica operation in July 1995, pleaded not guilty today for all the crimes he has been indicted of. He has been charged in six counts with complicity in genocide, extermination, murder, persecution on political, racial and religious grounds and forcible transfer of population. When asked by Judge Jean-Claude Antonetti “are you or are you not guilty of the offences you have been charged with”, Ljubomir Borovcanin replied "not guilty" six times.

General Borovcanin has been charged with the participation in a joint criminal enterprise, with the objective of making it impossible for the Bosniak population to continue to live in the Srebrenica enclave, as alleged by the prosecutor. This was achieved by the deportation of about 30,000 women and children and the execution of 7,000 men. The indictment alleges that on 12 July Borovcanin personally oversaw the forcible transfer of women and children from Potocari and the separation of men who were later executed. The next day, according to the indictment, Borovcanin was present at the warehouse in Kravica where more than 1,000 Bosniaks were killed. He then went to a meadow near Sandici to personally supervise the execution of the men who had surrendered or been captured. The prosecution claims that the forces under his command participated during the next few days in mass executions in Orahovac, at the school and Petkovci dam, at the Branjevo farm, the Pilice Culture Hall and in Kozluk.

Prosecutor Peter McCloskey said after Borovcanin entered his plea that he was drafting the motion for the joinder of all "Srebrenica indictments", in order to try the eight accused already in the UN Detention Unit together. In addition to Ljubomir Borovcanin, persons accused of the crimes in Srebrenica are Vinko Pandurevic, Vujadin Popovic, Ljubomir Beara, Drago Nikolic, Milorad Trbic, Radivoje Miletic and Milan Gvero; one accused, Zdravko Tolimir, is still at large.

Sharing