Trial Begins for Jovo Kevac Accused of Crimes in Biljani near Ključ

(Patria) - The trial of Jovo Kevac, accused of crimes in Biljani near Ključ in July 1992, began with the reading of the indictment and the opening statements of the State Prosecutor's Office and the defense.

Kevac is accused that, as commander of the Second Battalion of the 17th Light Infantry Brigade, i.e., the Sanički Battalion, he ordered, organized, and planned the implementation of a "cleansing" operation in the villages of Gornji and Donji Biljani. According to the indictment, he held a meeting for this purpose on July 9 at the battalion command, and the operation began in the early morning hours of July 10, 1992.

Approximately 250 Bosniak civilian men were taken from their homes, as stated, by armed members of the Republika Srpska armed forces subordinate to Kevac. These civilians, it is further stated, were unarmed, did not directly participate in hostilities, nor offered resistance, and were taken to the schoolyard of the elementary school in Donji Biljani and subsequently illegally detained in the school premises and in a nearby house. The facilities were guarded by active and reserve police officers of the Ključ Public Security Station subordinate to the accused.

According to the indictment read by prosecutor Olivera Đurić, Kevac is charged with having actual and effective control over members of the battalion, the Reconnaissance Platoon, and the Military Police Platoon of the 17th Brigade, as well as members of the Station Department of the SJB Ključ in Sanica and the Maneuver Department – Intervention Platoon of the SJB Ključ, who on July 10, 1992, carried out the "cleansing" operation and after the confinement in the school and house entered those facilities, from where they took civilians out in groups on several occasions to the area around the school and killed them by firing firearms.

Kevac was, according to the indictment, at that time in the immediate vicinity of the place where the murders were taking place, in the yard and at the entrance to the school in Donji Biljani when the civilians were being taken out.

He is accused that, although he knew that his subordinates were preparing to commit murders, he failed to take necessary and reasonable measures to prevent this.

The bodies of the victims remained in the area around the school, and after the operation ended – the same day in the evening hours – they were mostly collected and taken away from Donji Biljani, after which they were exhumed from the mass graves "Lanište 1" and "Crvena zemlja", as well as individual graves. The youngest victim was Amila Džaferagić, born in 1992.

The indictment states that the widespread and systematic attack by the Army of Republika Srpska, police, and paramilitary formations in the Ključ area began on May 27, 1992 – with an artillery attack on Pudin Han, Velagići, Ramići, Krasulje, Kamičak, and other areas predominantly inhabited by Bosniak population.

In her opening statement, prosecutor Đurić stated that the Prosecutor's Office is fully confident that during the proceedings it will prove Kevac's guilt by hearing over 200 witnesses – some of whose statements will be read – experts, as well as by submitting extensive material documentation, which will, among other things, prove the existence of a widespread and systematic attack in the area of Biljani and Ključ.

Through witnesses, as Đurić said, they will prove that the residents of Biljani were detained, killed, and expelled, and they will speak about the taking of fathers and brothers from their homes.

"Witnesses will confirm how they were taken to the school and how they were taken out and killed around the school," she said, adding that they will also confirm where the remains of the victims were exhumed.

The Prosecutor's Office stated that it will prove that the accused was the commander of the Sanički Battalion and the operational commander of the "cleansing" operation, who ordered, organized, and planned this operation, and that he was present in the immediate vicinity but did not prevent the murders of civilians.

"We will prove that the actions on the part of the accused are based solely on a discriminatory basis," Đurić said.

Kevac's defense stated that they do not know why the attack of May 27, 1992, is in the indictment, but they will prove how it occurred.

Lawyer Simo Tošić said that they will prove that the accused was not formally the commander, and that the term "cleansing" is an inappropriate term.

"We will prove that it was not a 'cleansing' but the apprehension of military-able men," Tošić said, adding that this was done with the aim of preventing something like the way the attack on May 27, 1992, occurred.

Tošić stated that the question arises as to why none of the company and platoon commanders are also charged for this crime, and added that he regrets that it happened and that many people lost their lives, but that it is not moral for only his client to be charged for it.

The first witnesses will be heard on April 28, reports BIRN BiH.