Armed Population Was Dangerous

Testifying at the trial for crimes in the Hadzici area, a State Prosecution witness says that international organisations indicated that prisoners in “Silos” were treated in a good manner.

Esad Muhibic, former Assistant Commander for Security with the 9th Mountain Brigade of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, ABiH, told the Court that international organisations visited detained Serbs in “Silos” during the war. He said that he had never heard that the detainees were mistreated.

“The Red Cross informed me that the detainees were treated in a good manner, but something should be done to improve the accommodation conditions,” said Muhibic, who testified in the presence of attorney Vlado Adamovic as his legal advisor.

The witness said that, during his term as Assistant Commander from the end of 1993 to the beginning of 1995 detainees were not taken to front lines, but he heard that “some tragedies” had happened on the frontlines before.

The Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina charges crimes committed in “Silos” detention camp, “Krupa” military barracks and “9. maj” school building upon Mustafa Djelilovic, Fadil Covic, Mirsad Sabic, Nezir Kazic, Becir Hujic, Halid Covic, Serif Mesanovic and Nermin Kalember.  
 
According to the charges, Hujic was Manager and Deputy Manager of the “Silos” detention camp, just like Halid Covic. Mesanovic was one of the deputy managers in “Silos” and Manager of a detention camp in “Krupa” military barracks, Kalember was a guard in “Silos”, while Kazic was Commander of the 9th Mountain Brigade. The others were members of the civil, military and police authorities.  

Muhibic said that he found out that Becir Hujic, Halid Covic and Serif Mesanovic, who were “professionals” in their fields of expertise, were appointed managers and deputy managers of “Silos”.

The witness said that, at the beginning of the war he was Commander of the Regional Headquarters of the Territorial Defence in Tarcin. He said that the Serb population was armed in 1992 and that a decision was made to confiscate the weapons, because the armed population represented the biggest danger.  

Muhamed Merdjanovic, former member of the Security Service with the 9th Mountain Brigade, testified at this hearing as well. His examination was interrupted on November 28, so a legal advisor could be appointed to assist him.

The witness was presented with requests for engagement of detainees to perform works in 1993, which contained his signatures and initials. Merdjanovic said that this was due to the fact that he was in charge of archiving documents.

“I could not render decisions concerning the work engagement of detainees,” he said.

The Defence of indictee Kazic presented the Trial Chamber with an order for work engagement of detainees from January 1993, which Nezir Kazic signed as per “an order by a higher command”.   

The trial is due to continue on December 26.