Local Justice – Doboj: Human Shields Killed

Miroslav Deronjic said that he was detained in Rabic detention camp in 1992, adding that indictee Nihad Hamzic, known as Fric, was a guard, but he did not mistreat him.

“People were abused the most when members of the Croatian Army came. We had to stand up, stand still and salute them by repeating the Ustasha salutation: For homeland – ready. They would order detainees to strip naked,” the witness said.

Witness Deronjic said that members of Military Police of the Osijek Brigade with the Croatian Army once took him to Tomasovo Hill, along with a few other detainees.

“They did not tell us why they were taking us to the hill. I became suspicious, because we did not have shovels when we departed. Combat was already underway, when we arrived. We crawled. Some men got up. I and another detainee were wounded, while eight detainees were killed. I think we were used as human shields,” said the witness, who was transported to a hospital in Prnjavor after having been wounded.

The indictment charges Hamzic, former Commander of Guards and guard in Rabic and Polje detention camps in the Derventa area and Tulek detention camp in Bosanski Brod municipality, with having physically and mentally abused detained civilians.

Witness Cvijo Anicic, who testified for the Prosecution, said that detainees, who were held in Polje detention camp, where he used to see the indictee, were divided into two groups – those from Cardak, who were much more severely mistreated, and the others, who were treated in a different manner.

“I think that the Commander of Polje was Sime Dalmatinac, who told us that we were in the most notorious Ustasha detention camp in Posavina and that work, order and discipline was expected from us,” Anicic said.

Witness Anicic said that he was detained in Tulek detention camp for a certain period of time, adding that he used to see indictee Hamzic in that camp as well. He said that detainees were mentally and physically abused in that detention camp.

“The indictee gave an order to take one of the detainees out. Later on two guards carried him back, because he was beaten up.

On the following day Fric asked him: ‘Would you like some more?’ After the man answered affirmatively, he was taken out again. When he came back he was standing on his feet, but he held his hand on his stomach. On the following day the indictee asked him the same question. When he gave an affirmative answer again, he just waved his hand and said that he was crazy,” Anicic said.

Witness Mile Jovicic was examined at this hearing. He said that he was 18 years old when he was detained in Polje and Tulek, where he used to see the indictee.

“While I was in Polje, he took me out and questioned me, but he did not mistreat me. I was present when the indictee and two other guards took four prisoners to another room for an examination. Patkovic was among them. When he came back, he had scars made by cigarettes on his lips and ears. He had been beaten up too,” Jovicic said.

Witness Zoran Bogdanovic said that he was detained in Polje and Tulek detention camps and that he did not see indictee Hamzic in those camps.

The trial is due to continue on October 31.