Witnesses at Radisic Trial Describe Forced Labour on Frontlines

A state prosecution witness testifying at the Pero Radisic trial said the defendant used to take him to locations where he was forced to perform physical labour, but wasn’t physically harmed by him in any way.

Radisic, a former commander of the work squad of the Teslicka Brigade of the Bosnian Serb Army, has been charged with participating in the physical and mental abuse of Bosniak civilians from 1992 to 1995. He allegedly forced several civilians to perform forced labour, which led to the death of six civilians and the injury of a number of civilians at the frontlines.

State prosecution witness Faludin Sadikovic testified at today’s hearing.

“I can’t say anything bad about him. He never even insulted me or hit me. However, I heard that he didn’t treat others well,” Sadikovic said.

Sadikovic was asked what he had heard about Radisic.

“I heard he was known for saying ‘I am Pero Radisic Django. God forgives, but Django does not,’” Sadikovic said.

He said Radisic never came to his house to take him to work sites. They departed from the Partizan stadium.

The defense said that Sadikovic hadn’t mentioned in an earlier statement that Radisic used to accompany him to the work locations.

“He didn’t take me all the time. I don’t know if it happened two or three times but it did happen,” Sadikovic said.

He described the work he performed as difficult, and said others were mistreated and beaten while working.
Hamid Botic, the second state prosecution witness to testify at today’s hearing, said he used to perform forced labour during the war. He said Radisic never escorted him to those locations. He said he met Radisic once at the Partizan stadium.

“We greeted each other. He asked me to go to his place and do some work, but since my son was supposed to go to Kamenica, I wanted to go with him,” Botic said. He said no one abused him while working and that he only felt afraid because of combat in the vicinity of the work sites.  

Botic was asked whether people were afraid of Radisic.

“I wasn’t in Pero’s squad, but women told me that their husbands would hide and didn’t dare come out when he came. You know what it’s like to go the frontline with a pick,” he said.

He said he didn’t know how the defendant behaved when he visited the village, but they greeted each other when they met.

The next hearing is scheduled for July 3.