Gasal et al: Bruises on Back

Ante Breljak told the Court he joined the Fire Brigade in Bugojno in 1992, adding he decided “not to be member of any military force” despite numerous invitations to join the Croatian Defence Council, HVO.
 
“In May 1993 my brother and I were helping our neighbour with some work in the field. The HVO Brigade’s Police surrounded us and took us to Akvarijum hotel. As soon as we got there, they put me on a chair and said: ‘This is a big Bosniak’. At that moment their chief came and hit me in the eye. Then they started mistreating me and hitting me with all kinds of objects,” Breljak said.
 
The witness said he was detained in Akvarijum hotel for about 15 days and was mistreated by HVO members throughout his detention. He was then released “on condition that he become a member of the Third HVO Battalion”.
 
“They sent us to the HVO frontlines right after that. We were treated like we were in a prison, as we did not get permission to do anything and we were under surveillance. Two days before the breakout of the conflict with the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina in July 1993 they let us go home and bathe.

“I used the opportunity to go home and not come back again. When the conflict began I stayed in a building held by the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Many Croat neighbours were in the same building. As far as I know none of them were detained or arrested,” Breljak said.
 
The Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina charges Nisvet Gasal, Musajb Kukavica, Enes Handzic and Senad Dautovic with participation in crimes against Croat civilians who were detained in Slavonija DI furniture shop, Iskra stadium detention camp, BH banka premises, garages and houses in Bugojno during the course of 1993 and 1994.
 
The indictment alleges that Gasal and Kukavica were responsible for the functioning of the Iskra stadium detention camp, where men were held in inhumane conditions, Handzic was Chief of Security with the 307th Brigade of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Senad Dautovic was Chief of the Public Safety Station in Bugojno.
 
Nijaz Jusufspahic, wartime Commander of the Fire Brigade in Bugojno, also testified in defence of indictee Dautovic at this hearing. He said his unit was engaged in extinguishing fires and “delivering water to the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina and HVO forces on the frontlines” from 1992 to July 1993.
 
Jusufspahic confirmed that HVO members arrested fireman Ante Breljak in May 1993, adding he ordered other members of the Brigade to block the town until Breljak was released.
 
“I remember the day when he was released. He briefly came to say hello before going to the frontlines. He looked horrible. He had yellow and black bruises on his back,” he said.
 
Ante Ivkovic, who also testified for Dautovic’s Defence at this hearing, said he “stayed in the basement of a neighbour’s house” during the course of the violent incident between the HVO and Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 20, 1993.
 
“Battles were conducted during the night, but I went home in the morning. Some members of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina came, took me to a nearby garage and detained me there. I stayed there for two or three hours. My neighbours then came and asked them to release me as I had nothing to do with the conflict. After that, I went back home,” Ivkovic said.
 
The next hearing is due to take place on October 13.

D.Dz.