Klickovic et al: Living in hell

A Prosecution witness speaks about life in Bosanska Krupa in April and May 1992.

From April 21, 1992, when the war began in Bosanska Krupa, until May 25, 1992 Prosecution witness Abdulkadir Curt was in hiding at various locations, prior to leaving Krupa together with a previously organized convoy.

“When the shooting from all positions started, we were terrified as we could not even imagine that something like that could happen to us. As long as I live I will remember the events that took place in Krupa over the next month, as it was a living hell for me,”  Curt said.

The Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina charges Gojko Klickovic, Jovan Ostojic and Mladen Drljaca with crimes committed in Bosanska Krupa in 1991 and 1992.

Among other things the indictment alleges that, on May 24, 1992 Muslim civilians were forcibly deported from the Zaluge area and Krupa town to Bihac, as per “a written order issued by Gojko Klickovic”.

Curt and his neighbours hid in the court building and registrar’s office in Krupa for more than a month, prior to seeking shelters in various houses, “which were often visited by soldiers and policemen”.

“On one occasion I recognized my former students among the soldiers who found us in the house where we were trying to hide. This incident happened on April 25 or 26. After their departure, I had to report to Jasenica, where I was held for one day, along with about 20 other people. Then they released me and a few other people,” Curt said.

The witness told the Court that while hiding in a basement he saw other houses in Krupa being set on fire, adding that he also saw several dead bodies in the streets.

“You can imagine how it was for us, as we had to live among corpses, while listening to frequent shooting, seeing houses set on fire and innocent people being taken away. My neighbour Suljo Redzic was slaughtered in his house. Other people told me that Smajo Cehajic was strangled and Sead Velagic was killed,” Curt said, adding that he did not see indictee Klickovic in Krupa.

Witnesses Esad Arnautovic and Mehmed Kaljkovic, whose statements were read by the Prosecution, as the two men had died in the meantime, also described life in Krupa in April and May 1992.

In his statement, given in 1992, Arnautovic alleged that members of “the Serb police” searched their houses, adding that the police escorted them when they left Krupa on May 24, 1992.

In his statement, given in 1994, Kaljkovic said that he and other refugees left Krupa on May 31, 1992, adding that Curt was among them. 

In order to “save time” the Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina presented a proposal on the possible separation of indictee Jovan Ostojic’s case and the Klickovic et al case. The Defence did not respond to this proposal at this hearing.

The trial is due to continue on Wednesday, March 4.