Second Company’s Zone of Responsibility

Witness Stjepan Boskovic, Mayor of Stolac municipality and former member of the Second Company with the Fifth Battalion of the Croatian Defence Council, HVO, said that he knew indictee Veselko Raguz, but he did not see him in Aladinici village on July 13, 1993. Boskovic explained that he was on the frontline on Poplati plateau on that day and that he found out that the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, ABiH, had attacked HVO positions on Dubrave plateau. “Members of our unit did not know that the attack would happen. However, when I found out about it, I voluntarily headed towards Aladinici village, where my family lived. The village was 20 kilometres away from the frontline on which I was,” Boskovic said. The Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina charges Veselko Raguz, former Commander of the Fourth Battalion of the “Knez Domagoj” Brigade with 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. The indictment alleges that Veselko Raguz ordered, assisted or participated in the unlawful arrest and detention of civilians and resettlement of Bosniak women and children, while Ivo Raguz is charged with having physically abused civilians. Witness Dragan Boskovic, former member of the Second Company with the Fifth Battalion of HVO, said that he too was on the frontline on Poplati plateau. He told the Court that Aladinici village was not in the zone of responsibility of the Second Company with the Fifth Battalion of the Croatian Defence Council, HVO, adding that the unit did not undertake actions outside its zone of responsibility. “On July 13, 1993 I did not see Veselko Raguz or any members of the Fourth Battalion in Aladinici where Bosniak and Croat civilians lived,” the witness said. The trial is due to continue on June 12.