Kondic et al: Search of Kljuc Villages

Bedrudin Brkic and Salko Krantic, who appeared as Prosecution witnesses at the trial for crimes committed in Kljuc, spoke about the participation of “Serb soldiers” in mistreating civilians in the Humici region, adding that they saw Marko Adamovic in late May or early June 1992.

“Allegedly the Army came to search Krantic village. When they lined us up, they separated women and children from men. While we were standing there, more soldiers came. I saw Marko Adamovic among them. He introduced himself, telling us that he was the Unit Commander and we should not be afraid,” Krantic said.

This witness told the Court that a few soldiers beat up Ajiz Krantic, in Adamovic’s presence, on June 1, 1992.

Marko Adamovic, Vinko Kondic and Bosko Lukic are charged with participation in crimes committed in the Kljuc area in the course of 1991 and 1992. The indictment alleges that Adamovic was Commander of the Town Defence Staff.

“He was dressed in a military green uniform. He had some rank. He carried a military bag and a revolver. Some refugees, who came from Prhovo, told me his name. They said that he had been in their village as well,” Krantic said.

The indictment alleges that “Serb soldiers” killed several people in Prhovo village on June 1, 1992, while the remains of 15 of them were found in “Ciganska dolina” mass grave.

“I remember that we went to the village about ten days after the attack, as we wanted to bury the dead. As we came about one kilometer away from the village, we could sense the smell. I shall never forget what I saw there. At just one place I saw 18 dead people, mostly women and children, but there were some men as well,” Krantic said.

He said the Army came to the village a short time later, adding that they buried the bodies of those who had been killed in a joint grave.

Krantic left Kljuc on September 10, 1992, after having “waived my property in favour of Republika Srpska”.

The second Prosecution witness, Bedrudin Brkic, saw Adamovic in the vicinity of Jodanovici village on May 30, 1992.

“I knew him as he had been my teacher a long time ago. In my village, Besic, he told a soldier not to rob my house. A young man was hiding behind it at the time,” Brkic said.

This witness alleged that, in the course of 1993 and 1994 he performed some labour, such as “digging trenches or being used as a human shield”, adding that he left Kljuc in early 1995.

Adamovic objected to Brkic’s statement, claiming that he was not telling the truth. He also objected to Krantic’s statement, saying that it was not true that he had been in Krantic village on June 1, 1992.

The trial is due to continue on Monday, June 8.