Bundalo et al: Police under military command

Protected Prosecution witness, who testified at the trial of Ratko Bundalo, Nedjo Zeljaja and Djordjislav Askraba, said during cross-examination, that the police was under the military command, which was headed by the first indictee and witness Rade Pavlovic, as of the end of April 1992.

Bundalo addressed the Trial Chamber saying that the witness told “nothing but lies”.

The Prosecution of BiH charges the three men with murder, rape, detention, torture, forcible disappearance and pillaging of property of Bosniaks in the Kalinovik area in 1992 and 1993.

The indictment alleges that, in the mentioned period, Bundalo was commander of the Kalinovik Tactical Group, Zeljaja was commander of the Public Safety Centre in Kalinovik and Askraba was supervisor of the “Barutni magacin” detention camp, in which Bosniak men were imprisoned.

At the last hearing held on April 14 the Prosecution directly examined this witness, who claimed he was a former member of the Public Safety Centre in Kalinovik.

“The police guarded Miladin Radojevic School building, in which the detainees were held,” witness A said. 

The identity of this witness was partially disclosed by indictee Askraba, who did not have any questions for him but he called him by his name and greeted him. The Trial Chamber did not react. 

After the Defence of indictee Ratko Bundalo insisted on it, witness A revealed the names of the persons, who allegedly participated in the shooting of Bosniaks on mount Rogoj in the vicinity of Kalinovik. He said he got those names from a friend, “who is no longer alive.” 

“Marinko Bjelica, Blasko Badnjar and Mico Simic shot the Bosniaks on mount Rogoj,” the witness said, adding that Bundalo had ordered them to do it, but he did not see any written order.  

The Prosecution said that no criminal procedure was opened against the mentioned persons.  

The witness also said that Pero Elez’ units used to come to Kalinovik several times. Their members came to the rooms in which the detainees were held. He said he met Elez, who told him that he had got weapons from Rade Pavlovic. 

Pero Elez was commander of Miljevina Battalion from Foca. It is considered that he was killed in the course of the war.

The trial is due to continue on April 23, when another protected witness will be examined.