Karajic: Trustworthy soldier

Sead Jusic, former member of the command staff in the 505th motorised brigade of the 5th Corp Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, ABiH, and Suljo Karajic’s first Defence witness stated that it is known to him that the accused had ”his platoon, around ten men”, that was incorporated into the ”Military police platoon in the 505 brigade”

”Karajic knew Commander Izet Nanic, and Karajic proved himself in battle as trustworthy soldier. Since we had platoon of the military police in our brigade already, his unit was just added as the second platoon”, clarified Jusic

Karajic is held responsible, as commander of the second platoon of the Military police in 505 knighted motorised brigade during 1994 and 1995, for participating in numerous crimes on prisoners of war and civilians from the area of the Autonomous region of West Bosnia (NOAPZB).

Jusic described in detail, the combat activities of 505th brigade during the war period and clarified that ”it was a spinal force” of the 5th Corp in the fights against forces of ”Fikret Abdic and autonomy followers in Velika Kladusa”.

In September of 1993, former member of Bosnian Presidency Fikret Abdic formed, against the Constitution of the Republic of BiH, the Autonomous region of West Bosnia and the Peoples’ Defence. Abdic was convicted in Croatia on 15 years imprisonment for participating in the crimes committed in the West Bosnia area.

The witness stated in the courtroom that he saw indictee Karajic in January 1995 at the forward command post and that the indictee looked like ”a skinny man with the stiff arm in a bad physical state”.

”Before that I’ve heard many stories about him. In August 1994, I’ve heard that certain Suljo Karajic is in the custody because of some incident where one person suffered, surname Kolac I presume but I do not know how that ended,” stated Jusic.

During the cross-examination, Jusic confirmed that after the victory over the forces of the PDARWB, soldiers of the 505th brigade captured a huge number of persons but he stated that he ”did not have any knowledge about breaches of the Geneva Conventions.”

Mirsad Selmanovic, second defence witness, stated that during the autumn 1993 he was appointed as chief of staff in 5th Corp ABiH and that he heard about the name of Suljo Karajic in 1994 when he was informed that this person is ”accused for the murder of a prisoner”

Selmanovic added that the conflict between the 5th Corps of the ABiH and Peoples’ Defence started in September 1993 after ”Fikret Abdic’s assembly in Velika Kladusa elected the authorities of teh Autonomous government”.

”Fikret Abdic’s act for me is act of treason. We fought together one year to preserve the internationally recognized BiH after which he left and start shooting at us,” stated Selmanovic.

The continuation of the trial is set for January 15, 2009.