Andrun: Witnesses deny deputy warden claim

Two former members of the Croat defence council (HVO) and former camp inmates of Gabela detention camp have testified about the events that took place in that facility and their acquaintanceship with the indictee, Nikola Andrun.

Both defence witnesses are Bosniaks who were members of HVO until summer of 1993, when the conflict between Bosnian Croats and Bosniaks started.

Witness SafetPeco was a member of HVO until July 1, 1993. The following day, he was arrested and taken to Gabela camp, where he was held for 40 days.

The prosecution has charged Andrun that, as former deputy warden of Gabela camp, he is responsible for the torture and murders of camp inmates.

According to the witnesses, the situation in Gabela camp was bad because around 500 inmates were held in one storage shed. They received one meal per day. Peco added that the battles between HVO and Army of BiH reflected on “the situation in the camp”.

This witness stated that “some” took inmates out and beat them, but that he did not know who exactly did that and stressed that everyone in the camp knew who “the boss” is.

“It was obvious that Bosko Previsic was camp warden,” Peco said and added that he did not see Andrun in the camp and that he did not know him during the time he spent there.

“Later I heard that Andrun was there, but not that he beat anyone but instead that he helped people,” Peco said.

During cross-examination the witness was asked how he knew that Andrun was a guard in the detention camp, and whether anybody had asked the indictee for a favour. Peco said that after leaving the camp he found out from his sister that Andrun was a guard. He also said that he asked on multiple occasions to take food to his brother who was in the camp, and that the indictee allowed him to do so.

Another defence witness, Osman Turajlic, was arrested on April 14, 1993,after which he was taken to Dretelj camp for questioning and then to Gabela, where he stayed until October 19 of the same year.

This witness also spoke of the situation in Gabela camp, and told how some inmates were taken away by persons unknown.

“We could not see who was calling or taking the inmates out because everyone would look down when the door would open. We were also afraid of being taken,” the witness said.

Turajlic saw Andrun “walking in front of the camp”, although he does not know exactly what position the indictee was in or whether he tortured anyone.

The second witness also confirmed that Bosko Previsic was camp warden at Gabela. Both defence witnesses stated that they knew Andrun from before the war.

The main hearing will be continued on November 7.