Former Sanski Most Police Commander Describes Detention of Bosniaks at Vrucinic Trial

Mirko Vrucinic, the former chief of the public safety station and a member of the crisis committee in Sanski Most, has been charged with participating in a joint criminal enterprise with the aim of persecuting the non-Serb population from April to December 1992.

Vrucinic has been charged with the persecution of Bosniak and Croat civilians in the area, which included acts of murder, forcible resettlement, unlawful detention and enforced disappearances.

Milan Ivanic, the former commander of the public safety station in Sanski Most, testified at today’s hearing. Ivanic said the police force in the municipality of Sanski Most was ethnically divided into Serb and Bosniak components in April 1992. He said the conflict in Sanski Most began a month later.

“The army attacked individual villages or neighbourhoods with the aim of disarming the areas where Muslims were the majority. There was shelling and infantry operations. It was all solved by the end of 1992…Considering the fact that the army was predominant, individuals soon began surrendering,” Ivanic said.

When the Serbian Democratic Party took over Sansk Most, Ivanic said, detention centers for Bosniaks were opened at the Podgrmec stadium, the town’s sports hall, the Betonirka plant and the Krings factories.

“Most of these reception camps were guarded by reserve police forces in collaboration with the army and other armed formations. However, each center had its own manager, who was responsible for its security,” Ivanic said.

Ivanic said he heard rumours that detainees were mistreated in some of the detention centers, but didn’t report them to anyone.

Ivanic said a small group of people was brought to the detention unit of the public safety station. He said he found out they were “high officials of the Party for Democratic Action.” He said he didn’t know what they were accused of, and said he believed the crisis committee of Sanski Most was responsible for their arrest.

Ivanic said Vrucinic was the head of the public safety station in Sanski Most, and said he was informed about all important security issues.

“I was convinced, but maybe it was just my impression, I don’t know, but I had a feeling he didn’t have confidence in the police,” Ivanic said. He said Vrucinic created the Interventions Squad of the military police in 1992, which was subordinated directly to him.

The trial will continue on October 2, when Ivanic will be cross-examined.