Rade Vujovic, defence witness of Franko Simatovic

Former chief of operational technology department in the Serbian State Security Service, Rade Vujovic, claims that at the time when the service was run by the two accused, Jovica Stanisic and Franko Simatovic, it was independent from the ruling parties and had nothing to do with politics in general. When he was cross-examined by Stanisic’s defense counsel Jordash, Vujovic said that all the employees were prohibited from engaging in political activities.

As Vujovic said, Stanisic reprimanded him because Vujovic’s brother worked in a company managed by a prominent member of the Yugoslav Left, a political party led by the wife of the then Serbian president Slobodan Milosevic. The service chief calmed down when Vujovic explained that he had nothing to do with the Yugoslav Left party despite his brother’s contacts, the witness recounted. Vujovic contends that at collegium meetings Stanisic always ‘explicitly told’ everyone not to have any contacts with any political parties for whatever reason.

Vujovic resigned in 1998, when Stanisic was replaced. When the witness was cross-examined by prosecutor Friedman, he said his closeness with Stanisic was not the reason for his resignation. Vujovic resigned because the new leadership openly tried to use the Service for political ends. At the first collegium meeting, the new chief Rade Markovic demanded the staff to give their ‘full loyalty to the president, the state and the party’, Vujovic explained. The witness said that those who attended the meeting had been used to working in what he claimed was a service unaffected by politics. They were ‘appalled’. He decided to quit.

The prosecution contested the witness’s claims in the examination-in chief that the Serbian State Security Service ran audio surveillance centers in Croatia and BH. That was their only purpose, the witness said, and the Red Berets, the Service’s special unit, provided security at those locations. The prosecution put it to the witness that the intelligence gathered at those centers may have been important for the implementation of the goals set by the Serbs in Krajina and Bosnia to seize the areas they considered their own through war. Vujovic, who didn’t know much about the Service’s involvement outside Serbia and rarely visited intelligence centers, replied that he didn’t know who used the data gathered by the Serbian intelligence officers through surveillance activities. Vujovic admitted that he rarely visited the two locations and spent just a couple of hours in Pajzos on two occasions during the war.

Judge Orie’s Trial Chamber today denied an earlier motion filed by the defense to provide adequate psychiatric care to Jovica Stanisic or to release him in order to receive treatment outside of the Detention Unit and the Tribunal. Having considered the medical records, the Trial Chamber concluded that the accused had received adequate care in detention. There was therefore no reason to release Stanisic or change the current regime in any way. Medical reports note that several psychiatrists have treated Stanisic, including Dr Petrovic who has had monthly sessions with Stanisic. The reports show that Stanisic’s problems with depression ‘have improved to an extent’ and his current condition was ‘relatively stable’.

The trial of the former Serbian State Security Service chiefs for the crimes committed by the police and paramilitaries against non-Serbs in Croatia and BH continues tomorrow with the evidence of a new witness called by Simatovic’s defense.

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