Neskovic et al: Shouting and Moaning in Warehouse

Haso Hasanovic, who was 16 years old in 1995, said that he and his father joined a large group of civilians who walked “through the woods in order to get to Tuzla” on July 11, 1995, “after the Serb forces occupied the Srebrenica enclave”, adding that “Serb soldiers” captured him on that day.

“They took me to Kravica Agricultural Cooperative, where I saw many prisoners standing in front of the hangar. Some people were inside the warehouse, but I could not see them. I heard them moaning. They carried out executions in front of the building. They would take a couple of people from the warehouse, line them up and shoot them. I recognised my friend Nermin. A soldier shot him in his legs. Two other soldiers then took him away. I have not seen him since,” Hasanovic said.

The State Prosecution charges Dragan Neskovic, Zoran Ilic and Dragan Crnogorac, former members of the Jahorina Training Centre with the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Republika Srpska, MUP RS, with having participated in the capture and murder of more than 1,000 Bosniak men in Kravica Agricultural Cooperative, Bratunac municipality in July 1995.

Hasanovic told the Court that he managed to run away from Kravica through the woods, after a Serb soldier ordered him to fetch some water. However, he said that he was captured again in the vicinity of Burnice village after having wandered through the woods for several days.

“Some other captives were there as well. They took us to a location in the vicinity of Pervani village, where I saw some corpses. They told us to lie down and they started shooting above us. They discussed with each other whether to kill us or not. Someone asked if there were any children among us. I raised my hand and they took me away by bus,” Hasanovic said, adding that he was held in Bratunac and Zvornik for a few days before being transferred to Tuzla.

At this hearing the Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina examined witness Zoran Eric, who worked in a military bakery in Bratunac in July 1995. Eric told the Court that he was ordered to go to Kravica Agricultural Cooperative on July 11, 1995 in order to “help them feed pigs and cows”.

“Upon my arrival I saw people in camouflage uniforms in front of the Cooperative. They checked my identification documents and took me to the gate. I saw about ten civilians, who had previously surrendered, and two buses. They escorted me to a barn and told me not to go out,” Eric recalled.

Eric said that on the night of July 13 to 14, 1995 he heard “shouting” in front of the hangar, which was followed by shooting that lasted the whole night.

“When the shooting stopped, we heard shouting, moaning and cries for help… On the following morning soldiers invited survivors, via megaphones, to come out as an ambulance had arrived. I heard them shoot the men who had come out of the warehouse. Some time later blue helmets came. They ordered me to quickly cover the corpses with hay, so they could not be seen from the road. I carried out their order,” Eric said.

According to Eric’s estimates, he saw between 1,000 and 1,500 killed people in the vicinity of the warehouse.

The next hearing is due to take place on March 22 this year.

D.Dž.