Witnesses at Stanarevic Trial Describe Detention of Bosniaks in Bihac

The state prosecution has charged Stanarevic, a former military policeman with the 15th Bihacka Brigade of the Bosnian Serb Army, with participating in the murder of 11 prisoners from a facility in Ripac, in the Bihac area. The killings allegedly took place between June 24 and the first half of July 1992 at the Bezdan Pit.

According to the indictment, Stanarevic and other members of the Bosnian Serb Army drove the prisoners to the pit. The prosecution alleges that Stanarevic participated in the execution of the prisoners and dumped the bodies into the pit.

Nenad Rodic, a former police officer from Ripac, testified at today’s hearing. Rodic said he guarded between 150 to 160 Bosniaks who were detained at the police station for about ten days in 1992.

“Military policemen used to come in intervals and take those people away,” Rodic said. He said he was told they were going to be exchanged.

Rodic said two members of the military security service came to examine the prisoners.

Responding to a question from the state prosecution, Rodic said he knew some members of the military police. He said they were younger than him. He said he knew Zeljko Stanarevic as well. He said he heard that the young members of the military police used to collect the prisoners.

Rodic was presented with a statement he gave last year, in which he said he heard that Stanarevic had come to the police station. Rodic said a colleague of his told him he’d seen him on a truck when the prisoners were taken away.

Bego Demirovic said he was 18 years old when he was detained in an improvised police station in Ripac for 17 days prior to being exchanged.

“When we left, about 70 people stayed. We left, they stayed behind. Some were found in the Bezdan Pit. They were killed,” Demirovic said.

Edin Delic, a former radio reporter from Bihac, also testified at today’s hearing. Delic said he listened to the Korenica radio station during the war. He said the radio station broadcast in Pljesevica. He said the station broadcast programs aimed at intimidating the local population that lived in the territory of the former Bihac district.

The trial will continue on October 5.