Planted Man

While talks and negotiations are taking place on whether Radovan Karadzic is volunteering for the Hague, in Bijelo Polje, a trial is taking place of Nebojsa Ranisavljevic (34), a volunteer from Despotovac in the Bosnian war.  The trial is taking place in Bijelo Polje itself, a town in northern Montenegro, in which the mentioned Radovan Karadzic received the prestigious poet's award "Risto Ratkovic", exactly at the time when civilian atrocities took place in a train at Strpac.  Why is his trial being held in Bijelo Polje?  The Higher Court in Bijelo Polje proclaimed itself as responsible for Ranisavljevic's case, but federal officials, even after the regional court from Ranisavljevic's place of birth was flabbergasted, still decided to uphold that proclamation.  The President of the Court, Vukasin Golubovic, a man who otherwise rarely enters the courtroom, decided to take up the trial proceedings himself.

The building of the Higher Court, and especially the courtroom were of an all too standard size to fit all those interested in this trial.  With a rigorous selection of those who entered the courtroom, beside officials concerned in the case, twenty journalists were allowed entry, along with only one family member of injured families, as well as representatives of the Hague Committee...  As there were many more people who wanted to be on the spot (especially family members of those who were held hostage), security personnel excelled in performing their duties.

The "ascetic" courtroom, with only the Montenegrin coat of arms on the wall.  A dignified atmosphere.  At the head of the semi-circular table - the President of the Court.  Opposite him - the accused Ranisavljevic with four prison guards (the accused was shipped in from the Police Prison in Bijelo Polje; earlier he was in Spuz).  On the left - the defense, on the right - the prosecution.  In the first row the proxies of the injured families.  Handcuffs are taken off the accused while he gives his statement.  Ranisavljevic comes out walking steadily, appears calm in a suit without a tie, shaved.  He answers questions.

"I understand the accusation", he refutes the confession which he gave during the investigation, states that he did it under police coercion, that he even left Visegrad before the crime; to the question he answers that he was otherwise well-treated in prison.  One woman, from a family of the hostages, loses consciousness, is being doused with water.  A comment, spoken in an undertone, is heard after the statement of the accused - "This guy has been planted, you can see what kind he is, small-boned, and even his face is childish."

A family of those who disappeared from the train in Strpac testifies.  Sefkija Kajevic, brother of the hostage Nijaz, mentions an audio tape of three witnesses who are abroad and are willing to testify in front of the Hague Tribunal.  Ranisavljevic is not heard on the tape, and is not even mentioned anywhere.  Witnesses, the defense, the accusation...  The trial, already into its third day (on Wednesday, May 6, when this text is being finished), is taking up the entire workday.  Seven hours a day.  The impression of independent observers is that all this is a mere smoke-screen, that Ranisavljevic, if he did participate in the hostage taking, was merely an incidental character.  Lawyer Velija Muric, from Rozaj, who represents the ten or so injured families, maintains that the trial is conducted professionally, expresses the conviction that the accused will be sentenced, which is what should happen to all those who committed atrocities on the territory of former SFRY.