Raguz et al: The Head of the Witness Bent Down

Hamzo Suta, who was accompanied by about ten other men from Oplecici village, Capljina municipality, went through the woods towards Mostar and the territories controlled by the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 12, 1993.

Testifying for the Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Suta said that, on their way to Mostar, they were captured by a group of armed men dressed in camouflage uniforms in the vicinity of Masline. The men took them to Kostana hospital.

“As I was getting onto the truck, somebody hit me on my back so hard that I feel dizzy even when thinking about it today,” the witness said, adding that they were kept in Kostana hospital for a couple of hours before being transported to Dretelj, where he “saw many people being beaten up”, as he said.

“They did not beat me very much. I kept my head bent down all the time. I did not look at anybody…This might have saved me. However, they used to beat other people up. I saw all sorts of things…But, I do not know who those soldiers were. I did not know any of them. I had never seen them before. I have never even inquired who arrested me,” Suta explained.

The Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina charges Veselko Raguz, former Commander of the Fourth Battalion with the “Knez Domagoj” Brigade of the Croatian Defence Council, HVO, and Ivo Raguz, former member of that Brigade, with having participated in crimes against civilians in Stolac and Capljina in July and August 1993.

It is alleged that Veselko Raguz ordered, assisted or participated in the unlawful arrests and detention of civilians and resettlement of Bosniak women and children, while Ivo Raguz is charged with the physical abuse of civilians.

During the cross-examination witness Suta said that, when he was arrested on July 12, 1993, he was not a member of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina and that he did not have any weapons with him.

“I do not know whether any of the people, who were captured in the woods with me, were members of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina. I don’t think they were, but I am not sure. I am not sure whether they had weapons either. I did not have it. I did not see that others had it. I do not know,” the witness said, adding that he had never seen indictee Veselko Raguz before.

As the hearing continued, the Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina presented several pieces of material evidence, most of which were related to decisions and orders issued by the First Battalion of the “Knez Domagoj” Brigade of the HVO.

The Defence of indictee Veselko Raguz objected to the relevance of these pieces of evidence, saying that they were not important for this case, because they did not relate to the responsibility of the Fourth Battalion of the HVO Brigade, whose commander, according to the State Prosecution’s indictment, was Veselko Raguz.

The trial is due to continue on September 11.
D.E.