Osman Selak, defence witness of Jovica Stanisic

Former commander of the JNA and VRS logistics base in Banja Luka, Osman Selak, completed his evidence today. It is unclear to what extent Selak’s testimony helped the Trial Chamber by shedding light on the role of the Serbian State Security Service in events on the eve of and during the wars in Croatia and BH. In his evidence, Selak described the JNA activities related to the provision of arms, ammunition and other equipment to the VRS and Serbian volunteer units in Banja Luka. Selak didn’t know anything about the involvement of the Serbian State Security Service in those operations.

Selak was called by Jovica Stanisic, former chief of the Serbian State Security Service, who is on trial together with Franko Simatovic for his part in the effort to set up, supply and control the police and paramilitary units that committed crimes against non-Serbs in the wars in Croatia and BH.

In the final part of the cross-examination, prosecutor Harbour showed exhibits that, in her view, proved Jovica Stanisic’s involvement in the preparations of the Western Slavonia Serbs for the war. In two intercepted telephone conversations in December 1991, Stanisic discussed with Radovan Karadzic whether additional troops should be dispatched to that area, advocating a JNA intervention against the Croatian security forces. The witness replied that he didn’t know anything about it. As a military officer, he only dealt with the issues relevant for the unit in which he served.

The witness said he had no information about the involvement of the Serbian State Security Service in ‘supplying’ arms to the Serbs in Western Slavonia. Selak knew that his logistical base supplied arms to the Territorial Defense units in that area. He had no knowledge about any influence Jovica Stanisic may have wielded over the JNA units in Western Slavonia. He could only ‘assume’ that the Serbian secret service was in touch with the security officers in the JNA units in the field.

Franko Simatovic’s defense case will continue on Tuesday. It was interrupted temporarily in order for the court to hear Osman Selak, one of the few remaining witnesses of Stanisic’s defense.

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