Ratko Mladić admitted war crime in Croatia on camera: 'You know I did it'

This article, originally published in 2021, is being republished following the death of Ratko Mladić, offering a reminder of war cameraman Petar Malbaša's account of meeting Mladić in Hrvace, Croatia, in 1991. Malbaša, a veteran cameraman who documented key events of the Croatian War of Independence, described Mladić as "arrogant, full of himself." The encounter took place on September 26, 1991, amidst the first prisoner exchange and negotiations between Sinj authorities and the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA).

Malbaša provided crucial context, noting Mladić's significant power at the time, backed by the JNA and supporting Chetnik forces, while Croatian defenders were largely unarmed and under artillery fire. He detailed Mladić's military movements leading up to the encounter, including the occupation of Vrlika and Kijevo, and the strategic capture of the Peruća dam. From his vantage point in Hrvace, Mladić's forces were shelling and rocketing Sinj and the surrounding Cetina region.

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You know that I did it.

The negotiations occurred in a shop in Hrvace, with Malbaša present as a cameraman alongside Croatian officials. Mladić arrived late with his own cameraman and a Belgrade journalist. Malbaša recounted a near-fatal incident on the road to the meeting, where Ante Kotromanović, later Croatia's Minister of Defense, attacked Mladić's convoy with a rocket-propelled grenade, narrowly missing the commander.

Malbaša's testimony is characterized by its detailed recall of events, people, and dates. He described the tense atmosphere during the negotiations, the presence of military personnel, and the stark contrast between the civilian attire of the Croatian delegation and the uniforms of Mladić's entourage. The account offers a firsthand perspective on a critical moment during the war, highlighting the volatile situation and Mladić's commanding presence.

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Arrogant, full of himself...