Conflict in Prijedor Area Caused by Illegal Arms Possession, Says Witness

Rade Vlasenko, Mitar Vlasenko and Drago Koncar, all former members of the Bosnian Serb Army, have been charged with participating in the persecution of the non-Serb civilian population in the Prijedor area from May 24 to mid-August 1992. The indictment alleges the defendants participated in acts of murder and enforced disappearances.

Testifying in defense of Rade Vlasenko, witness Petar Koncar said relations between Bosniaks and Serbs in the Prijedor area were tense at the time.

“It was bad. Quarrels, disputes, cursing Serb mothers,” Koncar said.

Koncar said checkpoints manned by armed Bosniaks were present at the time. He said open conflict with the Yugoslav National Army took place in May 1992.

“Two soldiers were killed at Hambarine and one in Kancari…The conflict began on May 24 or 25, 1992, following an ultimatum requesting a handover of weapons. An ultimatum was made to all illegal formations to hand over their weapons,” Koncar said.

Koncar said the handover didn’t take place. He said gunfire could be heard coming from the direction of Kozarusa and Kozarac, but he didn’t know which side was shooting.

“The local population ended up all over the area. Some went to Trnopolje, while others went to Prijedor,” Koncar said.

Koncar also said that a local watch was organized in his village, Jaruge, in 1991 and 1992.

Responding to questions from the prosecution, he said local village guards weren’t organized in the form of units, and could also be considered paramilitary formations.

Koncar confirmed that he had a gun, just like Rade Vlasenko, who had an automatic rifle.

Koncar said the local village guards didn’t hand over their weapons when the ultimatum to paramilitary formations was made.

“We didn’t attack anyone,” Koncar said.

When asked whether people left Mahmuljin and went to Trnopolje voluntarily, Koncar said they didn’t.

The trial will continue on February 9.