Bundalo et al: Exhumation Records

The State Prosecution presented its material evidence at the trial of three people charged with war crimes committed in Kalinovik, seeking to prove that the civilians whose remains were found in mass graves were killed by small-arms fire.

A total of 98 pieces of material evidence were presented. They concerned exhumations, autopsies and the identification of victims whose remains were found in mass graves in Miljevina and the Kalinovik area.

The State Prosecution charges Ratko Bundalo, Nedjo Zeljaja and Djordjislav Askraba with crimes against humanity committed in Kalinovik in 1992.

Among other things, the three men are charged with participation in the murder, rape, forcible disappearances, physical and mental abuse and unlawful detention of people in various buildings located in the Kalinovik area.

The record of exhumation of ten bodies in Jelasci village at Mehka brda location in Kalinovik Municipality indicates that the people died due to wounds caused by shooting by “small arms or something similar”.

The indictment alleges that members of a paramilitary group from Miljevina took 12 people from “Barutni magacin” (“Gunpowder Depot”) detention camp on August 5, 1992, transported them to Mehka brda by truck and killed them.

During the exhumation of bodies from the mass grave at Mehka brda the remains of Ismet Hatic, Safet Suljic, Fikret Karan, Edin Hodzic, Mirsad Karaman, Salko Kurtovic, Salko Bico, Meho Sacic and two unidentified persons were found. Two persons are still recorded as missing.

The State Prosecution presented the notes on body parts found in a barn near Ratine village, in Foca Municipality, which were “charred”.

The indictment alleges that, on August 5, 1992 Askraba handed over the remaining detainees from “Barutni magacin” detention camp to members of a paramilitary unit from Miljevina, who then tied them with wire and took them to Ratine place, where they shot 24 people and burned their bodies.

In the course of 1999 the remains of 36 people were found in “Tuneli” mass grave, near Miljevina, in Foca Municipality. As indicated in the autopsy report, it was determined that those people died due to injuries caused by “small arms or something similar”.

The indictment alleges that the surviving detainees were then taken from Ratine to “Tuneli”, near Miljevina, where members of the same paramilitary unit killed them.

The Defence of the three indictees did not object to the presented evidence. Until now the State Prosecution has introduced 163 pieces of material evidence.

The trial is due to continue on Tuesday, March 10.