Rapatnica Used As Military Detention Unit, Former Territorial Defense Official Says

The state prosecution has charged Ekrem Ibracevic, Faruk Smajlovic and Sejdalija Covic with unlawful detention, inhumane treatment, torture and other crimes committed in Rapatnica and Luke from June to the end of August 1992.

According to the charges, Ibracevic was the chief of military security with the municipal headquarters of the Territorial Defense in Srebrenik, Smajlovic was the commander of the military police squad at the Territorial Defense headquarters, while Covic was a military policeman.

Ivo Veselcic, the former assistant chief for intelligence affairs with the municipal headquarters of the Territorial Defense in Srebrenik, testified at today’s hearing. Veselcic said he was involved in gathering, analyzing and processing data from the opposing side of the conflict from April 1992 to July 1993.

“Those activities referred to the villages of Podpec, Tinje, Spionica and Jasenica…In late April we received information that a delivery of small arms and anti-aircraft weapons, as well as cannons, terrain vehicles, mine-throwers, etcetera, had begun in that village,” Veselcic said. He said he informed the Territorial Defense’s leadership at the municipal headquarters about the delivery.

Veselcic said the municipality then initiated negotiations to maintain peace in the area.

“However, the weapons were used on June 19, 1992, when fire was opened at two ambulances on the road towards Tinja. The drivers got killed. I think a medical nurse survived…After that two roads were cut, so parts of the municipality of Srebrenik, namely Gradacac and Brcko, were cut off. About 80,000 people lived in those areas. A command to free those roads arrived that day,” Veselcic said.

He said the operation to free the roads lasted four or five days and that several kilometers of road were regained. Veselcic said a part of the Serb population then withdrew in the direction of Tinja, Jasenica and Smoluca, while the remaining residents surrendered voluntarily to Territorial Defense forces.

“I didn’t process data on that part of the population following the withdrawal…the military police knows about it,” Veselcic said. During cross-examination Veselcic said he knew there were casualties during the operation, but didn’t know the exact number.

Responding to questions from the defense on a detention unit in Rapatnica in Srebrenik, Veselcic said he only knew it was a military detention unit.

“Data related to the number of detainees was not discussed at meetings held at the headquarters of the Territorial Defense,” Veselcic said.

“I remember Ibracevic arriving at the municipal headquarters. I know he was associated with military police and security bodies…I had known Faruk personally from before the war. He often drove me during April and May 1992. Covic was a member of military police, but I don’t know which section he belonged to,” Veselcic said.

The defense is expected to examine two witnesses at the next hearing, scheduled for January 19.