Kovac: First Prosecution Witnesses

The first prosecution witness Edin Beso, who was detained in Radnicki University in Vitez during 1993, said that he thought that indictee Ante Kovac “decided where the prisoners would be detained and ordered the military policemen to take them there”.

In the course of his testimony Beso told the Court that he was arrested in his family house in Vitez on April 16, 1993 and then taken to the veterinary station.

“After some time I was transferred to the premises of Radnicki University. When I arrived many civilians were already there. We used to sleep on the floor and some slept on chairs, but I remember that there was not enough space for us all,” Beso said, adding that, besides HVO soldiers, the university building was guarded by members of the military police. He claims to have seen Ante Kovac there in April, adding that he had known him from before “as he used to play for a local football club”.

The State Prosecution charges Ante Kovac, as commander of the Military Police Squad with Vitez Brigade of the Croatian Defence Council, HVO, with having “ordered and approved” the unlawful detention of Bosniak civilians in the premises of Radnicki University, the Public Accounting Service and a chess club.

The indictment alleges that the civilians were held in inhumane conditions and taken to the frontlines, located between the Bosnian Army and HVO military positions, to dig trenches. It further alleges that some of them were transferred to the Kaonik detention camp in Busovaca.

The Second Prosecution witness Salih Cicvara said that members of the HVO Military Police arrested him at work on April 16, 1993. He claims to have been taken to Radnicki University afterwards.

During the course of direct examination the witness said that he was taken, together with 20 other prisoners, to a place called Jardol to dig trenches. He said that the military units, which controlled the area, used to take them to work.

Cicvar said that, during the course of his detention in Radnicki University, all detainees were allowed to go to the toilet, but there were no beds in the room. He said that they received food, adding that their women were allowed to bring them food from home.

The witness said he stayed in Radnicki University until April 30, when he was released. He claimed that indictee Kovac and a person named Zlatko, whose surname he could not remember, drew up a list of people who would be released.

“I do not know if Kovac’s lists were followed, but I think they were,” Cicvara said.

Enes Surkovic, a former detainee at Radnicki University, and also a detainee in a chess club premises and the Kaonik detention camp in Busovaca, appeared as the third Prosecution witness.

Surkovic was arrested on April 16, 1993. He was held in Radnicki University until “May 2 or May 4”, 1993.

In the course of his testimony Surkovic failed to answer most questions posed by the Prosecutor Mirko Lecic. The Trial Chamber Chairman warned the witness a few times and he then also warned the Prosecutor.

“Please prepare the witnesses in advance for the testimony. They cannot present their own theories in the courtroom,” judge Saban Maksumic said.

At the end of his testimony Surkovic said that he was not satisfied with his testimony, because he was not allowed to say all that he knew.

The trial is due to continue on August 19.