Bosnian Croat Commander Indicted for Mostar Abuses

Jelic, the wartime Croatian Defence Council military police commander in Mostar, was charged on Wednesday with taking part in crimes against humanity in the town from May 1993 to March 1994.

The prosecution alleged that Jelic “had control of all the forces in the city of Mostar”.

It said that the crimes against Bosniaks for which he was responsible included ethnic cleansing, illegal detention in camps, the abuse and torture of victims and using prisoners as forced labour.

“Some of the Bosniak prisoners were also forced to dress as Bosnian Croat fighters and throw flammable objects at Bosnian Army facilities, which put them in danger,” added the prosecution.

The indictment said that Bosniaks were taken to the frontlines to work, with Jelic’s approval, and that at least 50 of them died and 188 were wounded. Another 40 men were tortured, it said.

“Jelic also agreed that some Bosniaks be taken and used to load and transport the stolen property of Bosniaks and Croats from Mostar,” the prosecution added.

Because Jelic is in Croatia and unavailable for prosecution, an international warrant will be issue for him and Sarajevo will ask Zagreb to deport Jelic or prosecute him for war crimes.