Witnesses Describe Attack on Civilian Convoy in Gorazde
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Muhamed Sisic, Emir Drakovac, Aziz Susa and Tarik Sisic are on trial for participating in an attack on a convoy in the village of Kukavice on August 28, 1992. At least 20 Serbs were killed and several more were wounded in the attack.
According to the charges, at the time Muhamed Sisic was the commander of the Commando Squad of the Kukavicka Company of the Bosnian Army, while the other defendants were members of that unit.
Drakovac has also been charged with murders and torture, involving the mutilation of a civilian and a prisoner of war with an axe in the Foca area in late 1992.
Goran Heleta, a former military policeman with the Bosnian Serb Army, told the court he received an order to safeguard a convoy of civilians at Jabucko Sedlo on August 27, 1992. Heleta monitored civilians getting into their vehicles.
“I am convinced there was some decision, considering that we were ordered to safeguard it…Many people, civilians, women and the elderly, gathered, but we were forced to let some able-bodied men join them as well, so they could drive the vehicles,” Heleta said.
Heleta said he saw a bus, several trucks and cars at the location where the convoy was formed. The driver of the bus, who was at the front of the convoy, was told to drive to Rogatica via Varosiste.
“I don’t know why the convoy took the road via Kukavice…I assume they took a wrong turn,” Heleta said. He said following the departure of the convoy, he heard rumours that the convoy was attacked and some civilians had been killed and wounded.
According to Heleta, a couple of hours later another convoy was formed. It was escorted by military personnel and traveled via Varosiste. A third convoy, which transported withdrawing soldiers, was formed afterwards. It was attacked in the village of Gnjili.
The second witness to testify at today’s hearing, Goran Djurdjevic, also said he monitored civilians getting on buses and other vehicles in the convoy at Jabuka. He was there as a member of military police, in order to prevent the departure of able-bodied men. He said the convoy vehicles weren’t marked in any way.
The trial will continue on July 7.
