Gasal et al: Examination of Cikotic Postponed

“Bearing in mind the questions you will be asked to answer, we have made a decision to appoint a legal advisor to assist you, because this is the only way to protect your interests. We have used the legal possibility, because you are not educated in legal issues,” Trial Chamber Chairman Davorin Jukic said.

Cikotic said he was not aware of any criminal proceedings against him in relation to wartime events in Bugojno. However, he appointed attorney Fahrudin Ibrisimovic, who was present in court, as his legal representative, but he asked the Court to postpone the examination so that the two of them could prepare for further examination.

Cikotic, the current Minister of Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina, was invited to testify for the Defence of Enes Handzic, who is charged, by the State Prosecution, together with Nisvet Gasal, Musajb Kukavica and Senad Dautovic, with crimes committed against Croats who were detained in various buildings in Bugojno during 1993 and 1994.

The indictment alleges that Gasal, as Manager, and Kukavica, as Commander of Guards, were responsible for the functioning of ‘Iskra’ stadium detention camp, in which about 300 civilians were held in inhumane conditions. Handzic, former Assistant Chief for Security with the 307th Motorized Brigade of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Dautovic, former Chief of the Public Safety Station in Bugojno, are charged with planning and participating in the capture of civilians in Bugojno.

During direct examination Cikotic said that prisoners-of-war were occasionally used as “workforce” in Bugojno, adding that the Commander of Donja Brigade asked for them to be used for labour in Gornji Vakuf, where they were taken as per a permission issued by the Corps Commander.

“Enver Zeljovic asked for my permission to send some prisoners to do some work. I asked the then Corps Commander Enver Hadzihasanovic to issue a permission, as I was subordinate to him. He allowed the taking of prisoners to other locations to perform labour,” Cikotic said. He was performing the function of Commander of the West Operational Group, based in Bugojno, at the time.

The Hague Tribunal sentenced Enver Hadzihasanovic, Commander of the Third Corps with the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, to three and a half years in prison for “failing to prevent cruel behaviour in the Musical School in Zenica in 1993”.

Cikotic was presented with a Prosecution document which, as he said, “contained an order” to send 50 prisoners, members of the Croatian Defence Council, HVO, to the Command in Gornji Vakuf.

During examination Cikotic said he had received a report indicating that there were about 600 or 700 prisoners-of-war, who were held at several locations, such as schools, factories, banks and so on and who were “practically guarded by the units which had captured them”.

“I do not remember the details. I know that in the autumn of 1993 those prisoners were transferred to ‘Iskra’ stadium and their number was reduced as some of them had been released. I do not remember who was in charge of the stadium. I never visited it,” Cikotic said, adding that he found out one year later that the wartime Presidency of Bugojno municipality had made the decision to establish a prison at “Iskra” stadium.

The examination of Cikotic is due to continue on April 29.