Military Expert Describes Strategic Importance of Hadzici at Trial of Eight Former Bosnian Army Soldiers

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

They have been charged with the unlawful detention, inhumane treatment, physical abuse and mental suffering of detainees. They’ve also been charged with taking detainees to other locations to perform forced labour.

Hazim Sadic, a military expert, testified at today’s hearing at the request of Mustafa Djelilovic’s defense. Sadic presented findings on wartime events in Hadzici, with a focus on Pazaric and Tarcin.

“The municipality of Hadzici and the area of the Igman plateau had a strategic position for the security of the city of Sarajevo and Bosnia and Herzegovina…Had this area been lost, Sarajevo would have been put under a total blockade. Entering or departing the city would have been impossible,” Sadic said.

Sadic also described the arming and disarming of Serbs in Hadzici, as well as the large quantity of weapons confiscated from them.

The defense asked Sadic whether military isolation and arrests of Serbs in the area were justified. Sadic it was a commander’s responsibility to control all factors that could endanger the area’s security.

Sadic described the breakdown of the Yugoslav National Army (JNA), the wars in Slovenia and Croatia, and the impact these conflicts had on Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Bosnian war.

Sadic said JNA military leaders were directly involved in all wartime events that took place within the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“The top leaders of the JNA were directly involved in the establishment of the Bosnian Serb Army (VRS)…JNA units formed the skeleton of the VRS,” Sadic said.

Sadic described military buildings and resources in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“The biggest depots, the biggest weapons and military equipment reserves were located within the territory of the municipality of Hadzici…The Krupska Rijeka warehouse was one of the biggest JNA warehouses,” Sadic said.

The trial will continue on December 17. The prosecution and the other defense teams will examine Sadic at the next hearing.