Witness Says Detained Serbs in Stupari Had Freedom of Movement

A defense witness in the trial of eight former Territorial Defense members said the Serb population detained in teachers’ buildings in Stupari used to freely visit his cafe.

Svjedok Nijaz Musić je rekao da je poznavao srpsko stanovništvo koje je u ljeto 1992. godine iz sigurnosnih razloga stiglo u Stupare, nakon čega su smješteni u učiteljske zgrade.

Kako je kazao, dolazili su u njegov objekat da popiju kafu, rakiju, igraju šah i slično.

“Što se tiče posjeta, one nisu bile svakodnevne, ali ulazili su u sedmici po tri puta. Nisu svi”, rekao je Musić, koji je svjedočio na poziv optuženog Safeta Mujčinovića, tadašnjeg komandira policijske stanice u Stuparima.

Nijaz Music said he knew Serbs who came to Stupari for security reasons in the summer of 1992. He said they were accommodated in the teachers’ buildings in the town.

He said they used to come to his cafe to drink coffee and brandy and to play chess.

“As far as their visits are concerned, they didn’t come every day, but they would come three times a week. Not all of them,” Music said.

Music testified in defense of Safet Mujcinovic, the former police commander in Stupari and one of the eight defendants on trial for war crimes in the Kladanj area.

Mujcinovic, Selman Busnov, Nusret Muhic, Zijad Hamzic, Ramiz Halilovic, Nedzad Hodzic, Osman Gogic and Kahro Vejzovic, all former members of civil and military police and the Territorial Defense, having been accused of war crimes in the Kladanj area.

According to the charges, Serb civilians from Stupari and surrounding villages were unlawfully detained by the defendants in teachers’ buildings until July 1993. The defendants have been charged with the unlawful detention, assault and inhumane treatment of Serb civilians.

According to Music’s testimony, police were deployed around the teachers’ buildings in order to prevent break-ins and attacks on the civilians.

Music said he did not notice any visible injuries on the Serbs he used to see.

Mujaga Mesanovic, who also testified in Mujcinovic’s defense, said the Serbs accommodated in the teachers’ buildings enjoyed freedom of movement.

“They could do whatever they wanted,” said Mesanovic, who performed municipal works at the time.

Mesanovic said the Serb civilians came to Stupari seeking security and left the town in July 1993.

The trial will continue on May 22.