Mladic Witness Claims Bosnian Army Staged Markale Market Attack

Mladic, the wartime commander of the Bosnian Serb Army, has been charged with terrorizing civilians in Sarajevo through a sustained campaign of shelling and sniper attacks. According to the indictment, Bosnian Serb positions were responsible for the mortar that exploded in the Markale Market on February 5, 1994, killing 66 civilians and wounding 140 more.

A protected witness known as GRM-116 testified in Mladic’s defense on Tuesday. He said he was a member of the Biseri special unit from 1992 to 1994, and provided security for the Bosnian presidency building.

He said he overheard what Bosnian president Alija Izetbegovic and others said during official meetings, and claimed that Izetbegovic was heavily influenced by Islamic community leader Mustafa Ceric.

GRM-116 said Izetbegovic’s main goal during the war was to ensure Western intervention on behalf of the country’s Bosniaks “by creating mass suffering in Sarajevo and Srebrenica.” GRM-116 said Ceric quickly convinced Izetbegovic that this was the best course of action and that “[Bosniak] losses must be suffered.”

GRM-116 said the Markale Market attack was Ceric’s idea, and was carried out by Bosnian Army generals Sefer Halilovic and Mustafa Hajrulahovic (also known as “the Italian”).

“Both of these generals carried out a plan to place the firing system in line with the Spicasta Stijena, near the village of Mrkovici, where Serbs had artillery positions, so our mortar would be only one fired. Alija and Ceric accepted this and Sefer turned towards the Italian and said, ‘The Italian will do this,’” GRM-116 said, adding that he was present when Izetbegovic approved of this plan.

At another meeting with Izetbegovic, GRM-116 said Halilovic reported that the first attempt to attack the Markale Market failed because the mortar hit the roof of the market.

GRM-116 said the second attack had to wait until the UNPROFOR crew in the area was active, because the Bosnian Army had an agreement with them not to count Bosnian Army mortars.

“Alija told them to try again. They went and soon we heard what happened with Markale,” GRM-116 said.

GRM-116 said Izetbegovic and Ceric also met with Bosnian Army general Naser Oric, who was in charge of Bosniak forces in Srebrenica. GRM-116 said Oric was told to attack Serb positions in order to provoke a response and encourage international intervention.

“I heard them say Naser did well,” GRM-116 said.

GRM-116 will be cross examined on Wednesday. Mladic is also on trial for genocide in Srebrenica and other municipalities, the persecution of Bosniaks and Croats across the country, and taking UN peacekeepers hostage.