Memic et al: Disciplined Commander Zuka

Witness Munir Alibabic said that Halilovic’s conversation’s were intercepted as per a decision made by the wartime Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, adding that, on the basis of those conversations, it could be seen that Alispago, known as Zuka, had “a disciplined relation with Halilovic”.

“It was a relation between a subordinate and his superior. Zuka was a disciplined commander, who executed orders,” the witness said.

Alibabic said that he knew that indictee Alispago commanded the Special Purposes Squad with the Main Headquarters of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina until the end of October 1993. The witness said that he did not find out about the crime in Trusina in April 1993 on the basis of Halilovic’s intercepted conversations.

“I do not remember having heard such information,” the witness said, adding that he heard about the Trusina crime only two or three years after the war.

Alibabic testified at the trial of Mensur Memic, Dzevad Salcin, Senad Hakalovic, Nedzad Hodzic, Nihad Bojadzic and Alispago, who are charged with the murder of 18 civilians and four members of the Croatian Defence Council, HVO in Trusina village on April 16, 1993.

According to the charges, Memic, Salcin and Hodzic, former members of “Zulfikar” Special Squad of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, ABiH, and Hakalovic, former member of the “Neretvica” 45th Brigade of ABiH, participated in the murder of civilians and prisoners of war.

The indictment alleges that Bojadzic, the then Deputy Commander of “Zulfikar” Squad, commanded the attack on Trusina. Alispago is charged with having failed to punish his subordinates, who participated in the murders.

Under a second instance verdict pronounced by The Hague Tribunal, Halilovic was acquitted of the charges that he committed crimes in Grabovica and Uzdol villages in Herzegovina. The Defence of indictees Hakalovic and Bojadzic said, at this hearing, that the interception of Halilovic’s conversations was “totally illegal”.

The Trial Chamber rendered a decision that the Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina would examine Rasema Handanovic, who was suspected of crimes in Trusina, on March 30, while the Defence teams would do the same on April 16 this year. As stated at one of the previous hearings, Handanovic, former member of “Zulfikar” Squad, reached a guilt admission agreement with the Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Alibabic is due to continue testifying on Monday, March 19 this year.A.J.