Former Hadzici Crisis Committee Member Describes Detention of Serbs in Silos

Maric testified at the trial of Mustafa Djelilovic, Fadil Covic, Mirsad Sabic, Nezir Kazic, Becir Hujic, Halid Covic, Serif Mesanovic and Nermin Kalember. The defendants have been charged with war crimes in Hadzici. The indictment alleges they were members of military and police authorities, as well as managers and guards of detention camps.

They have been charged with the unlawful detention, inhumane treatment, physical abuse, mental abuse and forced labour of detainees in the Hadzici municipality.

Zovko Maric, a journalist and former member of the Hadzici crisis committee, testified at today’s hearing in Djelilovic’s defense. Djelilovic was formerly the president of the wartime presidency of the municipality of Hadzici. Maric said many families from Hadzici requested that the exchange of Serb prisoners be postponed until they found out the fate of their family members in Serb-controlled territory. Maric said many families in Hadzici protested against the exchange of Serb prisoners in Hadzici. A video recording of the families expressing their dissatisfaction was played in the courtroom.

Maric said Serbs who owned illegal weapons were detained in the Silos detention facility. He said a trial was organized for them in a school building in Tarcin. Maric said he and his TV crew recorded the trial.

“No members of local authorities tried to prevent the trial,” Maric said.

Maric said Silos would have been dismantled had a big exchange in Kobiljaca been successful. He said the exchange didn’t happen, because the Serb side didn’t abide by their side of the agreement. He said Djelilovic had nothing to do with prisoner exchanges.

Responding to questions from prosecutor Zorica Djurdjevic, Maric said a decision was made to discontinue the exchange process. He said the decision was made following protests by family members, but was not fully respected.

Maric said Jujic, the manager of the Silos detention facility, allowed the families of detainees to bring them food and other items.

“Many disagreed with such behaviour,” Maric said. Maric said Hujic requested the improvement of living conditions in Silos.

Maric will continue testifying on October 29.