War in Bosanski Brod Began in March

Testifying at the trial of Zemir Kovacevic, a State Prosecution’s expert witness says that the armed conflict in Bosanski Brod municipality began at the beginning of March 1992 and that a permanent division line was formed at that time already.

Expert witness in military issues – Ramiz Dugalic said that the conflict between Croat-Muslim and Serb forces began on a bridge in Bosanski Brod on March 3, 1992 and that “armed units and permanent division lines” existed as of that date.

Dugalic began presenting his findings on January 22, but the examination was interrupted, because his findings did not contain adequate footnotes about sources of information. He explained that he determined the date, when the conflicts began, on the basis of statements given by witnesses in this case, as well as material evidence, which were made later.

“A lot of material documentation is missing, but I have mentioned some determinants on the basis of which I have drawn my conclusion, which is justified,” Dugalic said.

Responding to a question by Trial Chamber Chairman Davorin Jukic on whether there are military standards on the basis of which one can precisely determine when an armed incident grows into a conflict, expert witness Dugalic answered negatively.

Dugalic presented his findings at the trial of Zemir Kovacevic, former member of the First Bosanski Brod Brigade, which later turned into the 101st Bosanski Brod Brigade of the Croatian Defence Council, HVO. He is charged with having committed crimes against Serb civilians in Sijekovac village on March 26, 1992.

The indictment alleges that Kovacevic participated in an attack on Sijekovac village, where, acting in collaboration with others, he took 15 Serb adults and four children, some of whom were killed, from their houses into a yard.

Expert witness Dugalic said that the First Bosanski Brod Brigade was formed on March 3, 1992 and that it changed its name into the 101st Bosanski Brod Brigade of HVO later on.

When asked by Kovacevic’s Defence attorney Bajro Avdic to name the documents, which confirmed his allegation, the expert witness said that his conclusion was based on witnesses’ statements and material evidence related to appointment of managerial staff of the First Bosanski Brod Brigade dated March 31, 1992.

“It is clear that the First Bosanski Brod Brigade turned into the 101st Bosanski Brod Brigade and then the 101st Bosanski Brod Brigade of HVO. We do not have clear documents about its establishment, but we know that establishing a brigade is an ongoing process, which evidently began on March 3. We must understand the way in which Posavina fell and the massive flight to Croatia, so we have very few authentic pieces of evidence,” the expert witness explained.

Following the examination of expert witness Dugalic, both the Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Defence said that they did not have any more planned witnesses, but a few more pieces of material evidence were still supposed to be included in the case file.

The trial is due to continue on February 19, when the material evidence will be presented and the Trial Chamber will say whether it will present evidence by virtue of the office.