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Djuro Sutalo, former member of the First Battalion with the “Knez Domagoj” Brigade of the Croatian Defence Council, HVO, said that the Stolac town was not under the responsibility of the Fourth Battalion commanded by Veselko Raguz in 1992 and 1993, but it was under the responsibility of civilian authorities.
“The zone of responsibility of the Fourth Battalion ranged from Osanici to Komanja Hill, which is also located in Stolac municipality. However, the Stolac town itself was not under the responsibility of military forces,” Sutalo explained.
As he said, the Fourth Battalion was composed of 60 percent of Bosniaks, while Croats, who made 40 percent of the unit, could not disarm the Muslim soldiers.
“The number of Croat members of the Fourth Battalion was not sufficient for keeping the military lines, let along disarming Muslims,” the witness said.
Raguz, former member of the Fourth Battalion with “Knez Domagoj” Brigade of HVO, is charged with having ordered and participated in the arrest and detention of civilians from Stolac and Capljina during the summer of 1993.
He is on trial together with Ivo Raguz, former member of that same Brigade, who is charged with having participated in the abuse of detainees.
During the cross-examination witness Sutalo said that he has information that some Bosniak soldiers were taken to collection centres, like Kostana hospital, Dretelj and Gabela, where they gave statements, but the Army had nothing to do with it.
“They were deserters, those soldiers, who were taken for examinations. We handed them over to military police. I do not have information what happened to them afterwards. They were no longer under the responsibility of the Army,” Sutalo said.
The Defence of Veselko Raguz is due to continue presenting evidence on October 23.
