Bosnia Charges Croat Ex-Fighter Over Dretelj Camp
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The Bosnian state prosecutor filed an indictment on Thursday accusing Ancic of inciting and aiding inhuman treatment, torture, murders, starvation, looting and forced labour at the detention camp from June to August 1993.
The prosecution alleges that Ancic was in charge of the camp at the Dretelj barracks in the municipality of Capljina, and as a high-ranking official responsible for overseeing guards, military police, and Croatian Defence Council (HVO) fighters, failed to prevent crimes or punish the perpetrators.
“He was supervising and had complete control over conditions in the Dretelj concentration camp, over the lives and bodies of around 2,000 Bosniak civilians, men, including boys younger than 16 and men over 60,” the prosecution said.
Civilians were arrested in Stolac, Capljina, Prozor, Neum, Ljubuski, Mostar and other places, and imprisoned in Dretelj, the indictment alleges.
It says that Ancic held the prisoners for several days without food or water, and as a result one prisoner died.
“He is charged with the physical and psychological abuse of prisoners, which resulted in the deaths of at least seven prisoners who died of beatings, woundings, and lack of adequate medical care,” the prosecution’s statement said.
Ancic is a citizen of Croatia, where he currently lives. The Bosnian prosecutor’s office said it did not know whether an arrest warrant has been issued.
Bosnia and Croatia signed a protocol on cooperation in war crimes cases last year, but it is still not known whether this case will be sent to Croatia to be tried.
