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No Information about Mistreatment

8. March 2013.00:00
Testifying at the trial for crimes in Jablanica, a State Prosecution witness says that indictee Nihad Bojadzic used to come to “The Battle of Neretva” museum after Croat captives had been brought there in the summer of 1993.

This post is also available in: Bosnian

Witness Zenaid Buric, former member of the 44th Brigade with the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, ABiH, said that he guarded the Museum in afternoon shifts after the prisoners had been brought from Doljani village, near Jablanica.

The witness said that Bojadzic, former Deputy Commander of the “Zulfikar” Squad of ABiH, came with a few other uniformed men.

“He communicated with some people in front of the museum. He then entered the museum. I do not know what he did after that. I think he stayed for about ten minutes,” the witness said, adding that he saw Bojadzic twice during his shift.

Bojadzic is charged with having beaten up, sexually abused and raped Croat prisoners who were held in “The Battle of Neretva” Museum.

Witness Buric said that he did not hear about the mistreatment of prisoners in the Museum. He explained that captured members of the Croatian Defence Council, HVO, were held in the Museum basement, which was locked.

He told the Court that military police of the 44th Brigade was in charge of guarding the inside of the Museum and that they had the keys to the basement.

During the cross-examination Defence attorney Vasvija Vidovic said that prisoners from Doljani were brought on July 28, 1993 and asked the witness whether he was absolutely sure that he saw Bojadzic on that occasion. Buric responded by saying that he was “90 percent sure”.

Responding to her questions, the witness said that he briefly entered the Museum hall, where he saw Bojadzic talking to soldiers. He then tried to separate Croat from Bosniak civilians, who had already been present in the Museum, adding that this happened in the early evening hours.

He said Azem Ibrovic came to the Museum about two hours after Bojadzic had arrived.

Buric said that he used to see the indictee in the Museum, when he brought “his guys” to the detention unit, adding that he knew that men named Popara and Deba were detained in it.

The witness said that he heard about the rape in Jablanica a few years ago.

The trial is due to continue on March 21.

Amer Jahić


This post is also available in: Bosnian