They Said They Killed People

Obren Djorem, former member of reserve police forces in Kalinovik, said that he and his colleagues kept guard around the school building, where Bosniak civilians were detained, in August 1992.
 
According to the witness’ testimony, they faced problems every day, because paramilitary formations used to come in order to examine the civilians.  

The witness said that out of the people, who used to enter the school building, he knew Marinko Bjelica, Zoran Bjelicc and Duke Tripkovic. During his testimony in the courtroom the witness was presented with photographs in which he recognized the indictees during the investigation.
 
Marinko and Zoran Bjelica, as well as Novica Tripkovic, are charged with having come to the “Miladin Radojevic” school building on August 1, 1992 or approximately on that date. The indictees, who were armed with automatic rifles, allegedly separated prisoners Suad Hasanbegovic, Edin Bico, Seid Keso and Hasim Hatic.

The indictment alleges that they beat them up during that night. Prisoner Keso died due to the beating. The following day they deprived the three other prisoners of their lives.
 
“I particularly remember the day when the murder was committed in the school building. Marinko Bjelica and Duke Tripkovic came. They entered the school in order to allegedly conduct an interview with those male civilians. We called the police. They entered the building and had a discussion with them. We handed over to the next shift with delay and left the place,” Djorem said.  

He said that a duty policeman called him the following morning and informed him that something was happening.

“Marinko Bjelica and Duke Tripkovic came soon to check something with a veterinarian from Gacko. They said that they had killed those people. A discussion on why they had done it began,” the witness said.
 
He said that he remembered having heard one gunshot, but he heard that four people were killed.
 
Djorem said that, looking through the open door, he saw blood on the classroom floor and walls, but he did not see the bodies, because he did not enter the classroom.
 
“A military truck brought a few soldiers, who carried the bodies out,” the witness said.
 
During his testimony Trial Chamber Chairwoman Zeljka Marenic ordered court police to remove Novica Tripkovic from the courtroom, because he was making remarks to the witness, telling him that “he participated”.

The trial is due to continue on May 7.