Battalion Had ‘No Authority’ Over Detention Camps

Witness Andjelko Milanovic said the camps were not controlled by the Fourth Battalion with the “Knez Domagoj Brigade” of the Croatian Defence Council, which was commanded by indictee Veselko Raguz.
 
The witness explained that he was assistant commander of that battalion from July 1992 to July 1993.
 
According to the witness’ testimony, the Fourth Battalion’s task was to “defend and protect manpower and positions” from the Republika Srpska Army, VRS. It aimed to push its positions forward, but largely did not succeed in doing so.
 
The witness said that Kostana hospital in Stolac municipality and Dretelj detention camp in Capljina municipality were not in the zone of responsibility of the Fourth Battalion.
 
“I do not know in whose zone those detention camps were. Veselko Raguz and I could not know what was happening in them,” Milanovic said.
 
The Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina charges Veselko Raguz and Ivo Raguz, a member of the batallion, with having participated in crimes against civilians in Stolac and Capljina in July and August 1993.
 
The indictment alleges that Veselko Raguz ordered, assisted or participated in the unlawful arrest and detention of civilians and the resettlement of Bosniak women and children, while Ivo Raguz is charged with having physically abused civilians.
 
Witness Slavko Boskovic, who was a driver for indictee Veselko Raguz, said that a commando group of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, ABiH, intruded the Dubrave plateau in Stolac on July 13, 1993.
 
The witness said that Veselko Raguz subsequently issued an order for complete combat readiness.
 
“Some soldiers went to Osanici position, while others, including Veselko and me, went to Komanja Brdo,” the witness said.
 
Boskovic told the Court that he was with the indictee on the following day as well, specifying that they were in Osanici in the morning before returning to Komanja Brdo. The witness said that the indictee could not have been in Kostana hospital, where men were detained, at the time of the crimes.
 
Witness Ivica Radic said that he was a member of the Fifth Battalion of the Croatian Defence Council, HVO. He said that on July 13, 1993 he heard shooting in Dubrave followed by noise from one of the houses.
 
“The house was owned by Omer Tuco. Some unknown soldiers were looking for him. I told them that I would take care of that. They left after that. When Tuco appeared, I took him to the civil police and handed him over to Marijan Prce because I thought that he was safer there,” the witness said, adding that he did not know what happened to Tuco after that.
 
The trial is due to continue on May 15.