Bundalo et al: Departure From Kalinovik
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“I was present in Rogoj when it was occupied by the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 30, 1992. On August 2 we occupied Rogoj, but they took it away from us one day later. The situation was chaotic in Kalinovik at the time. People were running away. Some went by car, while others joined organized groups,” Przulj said.
The Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina charges Askraba, Ratko Bundalo and Nedjo Zeljaja with crimes against humanity committed in the Kalinovik area during 1992 and 1993. The indictment alleges that Askraba, who was directly subordinate to Bundalo, managed “Barutni magacin” (“Gunpowder Depot”) detention camp, where Bosniak men were held, from July 7 to August 5, 1992.
The indictment alleges that, on August 3, 1992 some civilians were taken from “Barutni magacin”. Those civilians were allegedly found dead in the Rogoj area on the same day. It is alleged that they were tied in pairs by police handcuffs.
The witness said he was “engaged with a Kalinovik military unit” at the time when the fighting was taking place at Rogoj. He said soldiers from Miljevina, commanded by Pero Elez, fought together with his unit.
Pero Elez was Commander of the Miljevina Battalion from Foca. He is believed to have been killed during the war.
“After the fall of Rogoj, I wanted to take my wife and children to Montenegro. They did not let me do it. Later on my supervisor, Djoko, told me to drive 30 or 40 refugees to Montenegro. Other buses had left before. In Morine village I saw those buses, because they had stopped due to some shooting,” the witness said.
He told the Court he “did not talk to Askraba in Morine”, but he saw Askraba’s wife and children getting on Lalovic’s bus. The Defence of the third indictee will invite Radomir Lalovic to appear as its witness at the next hearing.
At this hearing Bundalo’s Defence presented three military letters sent to the Herzegovina Corps in August 1992. They were signed by Svetozar Parezanin, the then Chief of Headquarters, and not by Bundalo.
The indictment alleges that Ratko Bundalo was Commander of the Tactical Group in Kalinovik.
The trial is due to continue on October 7.
