Witness at Radisic Trial Describes Forced Labour of Civilians in Teslic

The Bosnian state prosecution has charged Radisic, the former commander of a work squad with the Teslicka Brigade of the Bosnian Serb Army, with participating in the physical and mental abuse of Bosniak civilians in Teslic from 1992-1995.

The indictment alleges that Radisic took a number of persons to locations where they performed forced labour, which led to death of at least six and the injury of several people on the frontline.

State prosecution witness Amir Sadikovic testified at today’s hearing. He said members of the Bosnian Serb Army took him on work duty to the Teslic area. Sadikovic said workers were often beaten while digging trenches and ditches, as well as during other work on the frontline.

“Pero Radisic, also called Django, took me to work duty several times. When I escaped, he came looking for me at my home…He looked for me at my grandparent’s house, and set fire to a blanket in the house. The police forced all of them to go the police station, my grandfather, my mother and my sister Selveta, who was 9 years old at the time,” Sadikovic said. Sadikovic identified Radisic in the courtroom.

He said other soldiers also accompanied them to work sites, and the workers had to report to civilian police in the village of Gornji Rankovici and at the Partizan football stadium in Teslic.

Sadikovic said he was wounded in the left leg during one of his work assignments.

“I think Pero Radisic told me to undress. The snow was up to my knees. I think, but I’m not 100 percent sure that he forced Zulfo Memic and me to hit each other,” Sadikovic said. He said he was also shot at on another occasion, but wasn’t sure whether Radisic shot him.

Prosecutor Milorad Barasin said Sadikovic had said that he was shot by a man named Zoran in 1996, whereas in 2007 he said Pero Radisic was the man who shot him.

Sadikovic was unable to give a precise answer. In response to questions from the defense, Sadikovic said his 1996 statement was probably more accurate.

Amira Salihovic, Sadikovic’s mother, also testified at today’s hearing. She said her sons were on work duty during the war. She said Pero Radisic came to her door one day and took her the police station. She said Radisic didn’t hit her.

“They asked me where my son is. They thought he had escaped…They forced me to clean the toilet at the civilian police station,” Salihovic said. She denied that Radisic had brought her 9 year old daughter to the police station.

Salihovic said she couldn’t identify Radisic in the courtroom. She said her son Amir told her that Radisic forced him and another Bosniak to fight each other.

The trial continues on July 10.