Dronjak: Beatings in Detention

At the trial for crimes committed in the Drvar area, a Prosecution witness says he was detained in Kamenica detention camp for nine months and he was once beaten up by “manager Ratko Dronjak”.

Fikret Dolic, former member of the Fifth Corps with the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, said that when he was captured in June 1994, members of the Republika Srpska Army, VRS, wounded him on his leg, so he was first transferred to a hospital in Bosanski Petrovac and then to Kamenica detention camp a few days later.

Dolic testified that detention camp Manager Ratko Dronjak, whom he recognised in the courtroom, beat him up in the detention camp.

“He came once and gave me two deciliters of brandy. I drank the brandy at once. He then beat me until blood spilled from my body. He practiced some karate moves on me.

“I wiped the blood that was pouring out of my nose and mouth, but I could not wipe it all as there was so much blood. (…) He hit me with his fists, beat me and slapped me,” Dolic recalled.

The State Prosecution charges Ratko Dronjak, former Commander and Manager of prisoners in the Slavko Rodic school building and Kamenica detention camp in Drvar, with having tortured, killed, beaten up, mistreated, humiliated and committed other inhumane acts against civilians and prisoners of war from 1992 to 1995.

Dolic said that upon his arrival to Kamenica he was first “beaten up by guards” and then taken to an isolation cell, where he spent four months and 20 days. He claims to have been beaten up three times a day.

“Guard shift commanders Saula and Basic used to beat me. Guards whose names I do not know also beat me up. They would take me out and beat me. They hit me on all parts of my body with their legs, butts, fists, sticks and all kinds of things.

“I begged Saula to kill me because I could no longer stand the beating. He put a band over my mouth and handcuffed me. He then stood on the handcuffs, while others beat me. When they finished, they took me to the isolation cell. They were surprised when they saw I was still alive in the morning,” the witness said.

Dragan Rodic, also known as Saula, former guard and guard shift commander in detention camps in the Drvar area, was originally charged under the same indictment as Dronjak, but, after having admitted guilt in October this year, he was sentenced to eight years in prison.

Dolic said that about 70 other prisoners were held in Kamenica detention camp, adding they were beaten up and mistreated daily and some died due to injuries caused by the beating.

The witness said he stayed in Kamenica detention camp until March 1995, when he was exchanged.

The next hearing is due to take place on November 18 this year.

D.Dz.