Gasal et al: Fish Implementing a Plan

“The Bugojno story was a planned event. This diary was kept by a professor. It contains all the answers. Here we have an operational plan and wartime map. He noted the dates and people down. This is the key to all of our dilemmas,” Prosecutor Slavica Terzic said.

Terzic referred to a diary kept by President of the wartime Presidency of Bugojno, adding that all of the tasks, which were agreed upon at Presidency sessions and registered in the diary, were executed in the field.

“Indictee Senad Dautovic attended the sessions, came up with tasks and solutions. The first and second indictees declared themselves as small fish. Third indictee Dautovic was a big fish. He was member of the Presidency, Commander of the joint Command, Chief of Police and then also Security Officer with the Western Operational Group,” Terzic said.

The Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina charges Dautovic, Nisvet Gasal and Musajb Kukavica with inhumane treatment, unlawful detention, forced labour and torture. According to the charges, Gasal was Manager of the “Iskra” stadium detention camp and Kukavica was commander of security.

Terzic said that, following the breakout of the conflict between the Croatian Defence Council, HVO and Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina in July 1993, HVO members decided to surrender to Dautovic.

“He was a man with authority. He obtruded himself and people trusted him as their fellow-citizen and soldier. He invited them to surrender, saying that they would not miss one single hair on their heads. And, indeed, they did not miss their hair, but many stayed silent, they died,” Terzic said.

The Prosecutor said that, from July 1993 to April 1994 Croat prisoners were held in “casemates” and “torture houses” while being deprived of food, water and basic hygienic conditions. She reminded the Court of the testimonies related to torture, forced labour performed by prisoners and their disappearances.

Terzic said that the Red Cross registered nearly 300 prisoners at “Iskra” stadium, but Gasal did not do it in his capacity as Manager.

“He did not ask himself why those people were held there knowing that no orders for their detention existed. They would take people out to the grassland. While some of them were passing by guards, the guards would practice their military skills on them. The Manager did not register that,” the Prosecutor said.

Terzic said that Kukavica selected people who were taken to trenches, he was present when they were lined up, he made lists of people who would go for a bath, when “the Manager remembered that they should do it and it only happened twice during the course of eight months”.

“Third indictee Dautovic played his role given to him by the director. The Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina considers that he should get an A for that. The small fish completed the Bugojno story with the help from big fish. The plan contained in the diary was fully implemented,” Terzic said.

The Defence teams are due to begin presenting their closing statements on Wednesday, September 21.