A Recording of Serb Prisoners on Mount Igman

Being a reporter with the Bosnia and Herzegovina Television, witness Edin Subasic visited battlefields of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, ABiH, during the war and made footage, which was then broadcast in the “Rat-art” (“War-Art”) TV show.

The witness said that, in March he decided to go to Mount Igman, along with a cameraman, where the Command of the Operational Group of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina was situated. He said that he did not know that Serb prisoners were there as well. 

“We had some problems with our camcorder, so guards told me to go to Zulfikar Alispago, Commander of ‘Zulfikar’ Unit, and borrow his camcorder, so I did that,” the witness said.

Subasic said that, when they left the Command building, he noticed about ten people, who were dressed in “different military and civil uniforms”, cutting fire woods.

“I asked the guards who they were. They told me that those were captured members of the Serb Army. I decided to make the footage because a recording from Keraterm detention camp, which was broadcasted on TV stations, was of topical interest at that time, so I wanted to compare those two stories,” the witness explained. 

According to the State Prosecution’s charges, Nedzad Hodzic and Dzevad Salcin, former members of “Zulfikar” Special Purposes Squad of the Main Command Headquarters with the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, ABiH, tortured, beat and sexually abused prisoners, cut parts of their bodies, intimidated them and participated in other inhumane acts committed on Mount Igman.

Witness Subasic said that five or six prisoners agreed to be interviewed by him.

“The prisoners were in a normal condition. Zulfikar had given them uniforms, because theirs had been torn,” the witness said.

A recording, depicting the prisoners saying that the conditions were correct and guards saying that Zulfikar ordered them to guard the prisoners and that they were not allowed to beat or mistreat them, was played in the courtroom.

One of the prisoners, who appeared in the footage, said that “everything is OK, except that Dragan Vukovic, known as Vojvoda, got into trouble earlier”. 

One of the counts charges Hodzic with having cut a part of Dragan ‘Vojvoda’ Vukovic’s ear.

Kerim Celik told the Trial Chamber to pay attention to the recording on which no damage could be seen on Vukovic’s ear.

Trial Chamber member Darko Samardzic then asked the witness again when he went to Mount Igman. When the witness repeated that it happened in March, the judge established that the Defence attorney insisted on the recording, although, according to the charges, Hodzic cut Vukovic’s ear in May.

The trial is due to continue on December 12.