Witnesses Describe Detention of Lug Residents at Maric Trial

Nikola Maric, a former soldier of the Croatian Defense Council, has been charged with participating in murder, persecution, torture and other inhumane acts from November 1992-October 1993.

According to the indictment, Maric forced men from the village of Lug to go to a secondary school center in Prozor, by threatening to kill their wives and children. This allegedly took place in July 1993. He is accused of deporting the remaining civilians from Lug the same month.

Maric is also charged with taking six persons, including Bajro Pilav, away from the secondary school center in late August or early September 1993. The six persons have been missing since.

At today’s hearing, witness Semsa Becirovic said she used to live in the village of Lug, located south of Prozor in the direction of Jablanica. Becirovic said her husband Ibro was an army conscript until the fall of Prozor to the Croatian Defense Council (HVO) and the Croatian Army in October 1992.

“The HVO had taken away men from the village even before July 17, 1993, when the last group of men, including my husband, was taken away.” Becirovic said. She said Nikola Maric ordered her husband to go to the bus station, where a truck filled with men from a village called Lower Lug were waiting for them.

Becirovic said he knew Maric very well. She said on that day Maric was armed, and was wearing a black uniform and a bandanna on his head.

“Nidzo [Nikola Maric] will also remember that his neighbour Seha Purgic came, stood in front of the truck, and asked, ‘Why are you taking Selim away? Where is my Salko?” Becirovic said.

Becirovic said her husband was taken to the secondary school center in Prozor. She said she visited him once, but hadn’t seen him since. She said her husband was killed while performing forced labour in August 1993.

“I heard that Nidzo took my father, Bajro Pilav, and a few other men away from the secondary school center. I don’t even know the location. So I’m asking him now: Nidzo, where did you take my father?” Becirovic said. Her brother was also killed in Prozor.

Ekrem Becirovic, another witness in the case, said Maric told him and other male residents of Lug to surrender. He said he saw Maric at the bus station, where a truck was waiting for them. The truck then transported them to Prozor.

“The image of Seha Purgic begging him for her son Selim is still vivid in my mind. He was taken out later on and killed while being used as a human shield. She has been a living corpse since,” Becirovic said. He said he didn’t see Maric beat or insult anyone.

Responding to a question by the trial chamber, Becirovic said Maric was not alone and that other soldiers were present as well. Becirovic said he had asked some leaders of the Ramska Brigade about him and they had told him, “Maric does whatever he wants.”

Also testifying at this hearing, Salko Becirovic said he was captured in the village of Lug on July 17, 1993, and was taken to the secondary school center in Prozor. He said he was taken to various locations to perform forced labour.

The trial will continue on April 9.