Video footage shown at trial of Croatian generals

The trial of Rahim Ademi and Mirko Norac continued yesterday. The court was shown video footage recorded during the Medak Pocket siege between September 9 and 15, namely between the Croatian army’s (HV) first operations following an early morning artillery attack on the Pocket, until the HV’s retreat from the occupied territory and the UN forces’ arrival. Video footage shown at trial of Croatian generals No Serb civilians or soldiers can be seen on the tape, all the villages are deserted, and on the footage recorded just after the HV's arrival, it can be clearly seen that most of the houses are still standing with only minor damage. However, on the footage from 14 and 15 September, that is, several days after the army’s arrival and during the Croatian forces’ retreat from the territory, most of the houses are destroyed and burnt out, and there is no cattle to be seen in the villages. Prior to the footage showing the HV entering the villages in the Medak Pocket, preparations for an operation by the HV’s Ninth Motorized Brigade are shown, which, according to the indictment, was led at the time by Norac, who features in one scene. During yesterday’s proceedings, part of the documentation collected during the investigation was read out, and the same will happen today. In the first trial delegated to the Croatian justice system by the Hague Tribunal, the generals are charged with command responsibility for crimes against civilians and prisoners of war during the liberation of territory in Lika known as the Medak Pocket. According to the prosecution, many Serb villages were burnt to the ground, numerous murders were committed, and local Serbian inhabitants were persecuted during the September 1993 operation.

Video footage shown at trial of Croatian generals

No Serb civilians or soldiers can be seen on the tape, all the villages are deserted, and on the footage recorded just after the HV's arrival, it can be clearly seen that most of the houses are still standing with only minor damage.

However, on the footage from 14 and 15 September, that is, several days after the army’s arrival and during the Croatian forces’ retreat from the territory, most of the houses are destroyed and burnt out, and there is no cattle to be seen in the villages.

Prior to the footage showing the HV entering the villages in the Medak Pocket, preparations for an operation by the HV’s Ninth Motorized Brigade are shown, which, according to the indictment, was led at the time by Norac, who features in one scene.

During yesterday’s proceedings, part of the documentation collected during the investigation was read out, and the same will happen today.

In the first trial delegated to the Croatian justice system by the Hague Tribunal, the generals are charged with command responsibility for crimes against civilians and prisoners of war during the liberation of territory in Lika known as the Medak Pocket.

According to the prosecution, many Serb villages were burnt to the ground, numerous murders were committed, and local Serbian inhabitants were persecuted during the September 1993 operation.