Witnesses Describe Establishment of Rapatnica Detention Camp

Ibracevic, Smajlovic and Covic have been charged with the torture and abuse of Serb civilians in the Rapatnica detention facility in 1992. Ibracevic was formerly the chief of military security with the Territorial Defense Headquarters in Srebrenik, while Smajlovic and Covic were members of the military police.

Fahrudin Ibric, a state prosecution witness and former wartime secretary in Srebrenik, testified at today’s hearing. Ibric told the trial chamber that a local community building in Rapatnica was turned into a military detention facility with the approval of the Secretariat for National Defense, on the basis of a request made by the Territorial Defense Headquarters in the spring of 1992.

“Soldiers who violated disciplinary procedures and deserters who failed to respond to calls for mobilization were held there,” Ibric said.

Ibric said he heard rumours that a man named Stokan, the former president of the Serbian Democratic Party in the area, was held in Rapatnica as well. Ibric said Stokan was exchanged later on, and said he couldn’t remember any other detainees.

Ibric said the Rapatnica detention unit was never on the agenda of wartime presidency meetings in Srebrenik.

Ibric said Ekrem Ibracevic was a member of the security section of the Territorial Defense Headquarters, while Faruk Smajlovic and Sejdalija Covic were military police officers.

State prosecution witness and former police officer Nihad Omerovic also testified at today’s hearing. Omerovic said he knew that the military police had a prison in Rapatnica, which held people who violated military procedures and deserters. He said he also heard that Serbs from the villages of Potpec and Jasenica were held there.

“When medical workers were killed, some negotiations on handing over weapons were conducted. I heard that Potpec wanted to do it, but Jasenica didn’t. According to rumours, Stokan was a radical person, a Chetnik duke with bandoleers, a dangerous man. One could reach an agreement with the people from Potpec, but not with him,” Omerovic said.

Omerovic said that according to his findings the Serb prisoners in Rapatnica were eventually exchanged.

The trial will continue on September 15.