Former Bosniak Guard Claims He Didn’t Beat Musala Prisoners

Former Bosnian Army soldiers Ramo Zilic and Esad Gakic have been charged with the inhumane treatment of Croat and Serb civilians who were detained at the Musala school building in Konjic.

“I don’t know Dragan Kuljanin [an injured party] at all. I wasn’t even present when he was beaten up, because I was released from by duties as a guard on September 25, 1994. I never even touched Zdravko Knezevic [another injured party]. I never even entered the room he was detained in. I didn’t know him at all until I saw him in this courtroom,” Zilic said.

Zilic said he wasn’t at the Musala school building when the detainees were beaten.

“I went to Mount Bjelasnica with my brother in order to take our parents to Konjic. This happened in late July or early August. I was away for five to seven days. When I returned to Musala, Rasim Krza [the duty officer at the Musala school building] informed me that Mirke [commander Mithat Mirkic] had come and taken the detainees from Trusina away for questioning and probably beat them up,” Zilic said.

He said he heard that Krza filed a report on the beating and gave it to to the prison manager – Zimic’s brother, Edhem Zilic.

Zimic said that he had no privileges despite the fact that his brother was the prison manager.

Edhem Zilic, who testified for the defense, confirmed that he went to Mount Bjelasnica with his brother, Ramo Zilic, to pick their parents up. Edhem Zilic said detainees were beaten at the Musala school building during their absence.

“When I returned to Musala, detainee Zeljko Petrovic told me that Zoran Muftic and the men from Trusina had been beaten up. I asked Rasim Krza, the duty officer, to write a report about that event. This was not the first time I undertook measures related to the torture of prisoners,” Edhem Zilic said.

He said Mithat Mirkic, also known as Mirke, and his men were mentioned as the persons who abused the prisoners.

“He was a commander and had his own unit. I told all of this to Hague investigators as well,” Edhem Zilic said.

The prosecution asked Edhem Zilic to explain why certain witnesses had said they were treated the worst during his term as manager.

“All the bad things that happened to me were caused by Serbs, but they did not say such things about me. Croats did nothing to me, so why would I take revenge on them? I took care of their meals and their safety. They could receive visitors freely. I do not see how that can be called mistreatment, but everyone can say whatever they want.”

The trial will continue on April 14.