Bosnia Tries Nine Serbs for Capturing, Killing Bosniaks

The trial began with the reading of the indictment, which alleges that Taranjac, Glusac, Babic and Dosenovic participated in the capture of 110 Bosniak civilians in the village of Miska Glava on July 27, by giving approval, providing vehicles and other conditions to members of the Miskoglava brigade of the Bosnian Serb Army, who were the direct perpetrators.

At the time, the civilians who were captured were fleeing their villages for the municipality of Bihac, according to the indictment.

The prosecution alleged that the accused agreed that the prisoners should be taken to the village of Miska Glava, where they were abused.

Zekanovic, Dosenovic and Prastalo are accused of being directly involved in the arrest and inhumane treatment of the prisoners.

The prosecution alleges that Taranjac, Glusac, Babic and Dosenovic approved and did nothing to prevent the torture, abuse, mistreatment and beating of the prisoners in the gauntlet.

After that, members of the reservist police force killed at least five of the civilians, according to the indictment.

Taranjac, Glusac, Babic and Dosenovic ordered to their subordinates to set aside 15 minors and take them to the Trnopolje detention camp, and the other 80 to the Ljubija mine, where they were shot.

Prastalo is accused of having participated in the shooting of the prisoners, three of whom survived.

According to the prosecution, the accused tried to cover up the crime by burying the bodies in mass graves.

Vukic and Panic, together with others, are meanwhile accused of taking 11 people from Miska Glava to the village of Panici, killing them and burying their bodies.

They then covered up the crime with the help of Taranjac, Glusac, Babic and Dosenovic.

Taranjac is charged as the president of the Crisis Committee in Ljubija and head of the civil authorities, Glusac as deputy commander of the Sixth Ljubija Battalion of the 43rd Brigade of the Bosnian Serb Army, Babic as a security operative with the 43rd Brigade and Dosenovic as assistant to the 43rd Brigade’s commander for security, and the others as members of the Miskoglava brigade and the military and civilian police.

Prosecutor Izet Odobasic said he plan to question more than 60 witnesses.

“The only three victims who survived will testify, among them Narmin Karagic, whose moving story you are going to hear. I am convince that after the evidence is presented, the chamber will be convinced about the guilt of the accused,” said Odobasic.

Defendant Taranjac responded by saying that prosecutor Odobasic “has a great imagination”.

However his defence team, as well as the lawyers representing the other defendants, did not present an opening statement at the hearing.

The first witness will testify at the next hearing on April 24.