Witness Describes Digging Trenches for Bosnian Serb Army in Sarajevo

The cantonal prosecution of Sarajevo has charged Papic, the former commander of a battalion with the First Sarajevska Brigade of the Bosnian Serb Army, with the inhumane treatment and mistreatment of civilians from 1992 to 1994. He allegedly forced civilians to perform hard labour and exposed them to life threatening situations in Sarajevo.

Cantonal prosecution witness Nadir Cajic said he was living with his parents in the Grbavica neighbourhood of Sarajevo when civil police came to pick him up. He was then assigned to a work squad.

According to Cajic, the Bosnian Serb Army took command of the work squads. His squad was led by Zeljko Mitrovic Gilmar, who was previously sentenced to two years in prison for crimes in Sarajevo.

Cajic said he used to see Veljko Papic at the time, but he said he wasn’t a member of the defendant’s work squad.

Cajic said he used to dig trenches and graves in which soldiers and civilians of all religious groups were buried.

“I went to the frontlines to dig trenches. While I was there, nobody got killed,” Cajic said.

Cajic said his father Ibrahim, who died last year, was also a member of a work squad. He said he didn’t know who the commander of his unit was or whether he was abused.

The trial will continue on February 29.