Memic et al: Soldiers in Black Uniforms

Marija Miskic told the State Court that, in the early morning of April 16, 1993, she heard shooting in the vicinity of her house in Trusina village, adding she decided to hide in the basement together with her young daughter, parents and neighbour Milenko Mandic.

“The shooting then became louder, and we heard shouting coming from a neighbouring house. All of a sudden, someone came to the basement and started swearing. I saw him, I saw the soldier dressed in a black uniform with belts of ammunition.

“He told us to lean against the wall, telling me to leave and hitting Milenko,” the witness said, explaining that this was the last time she saw her parents alive.

The State Prosecution has charged Mensur Memic, Dzevad Salcin, Senad Hakalovic, Nedzad Hodzic, Nihad Bojadzic and Zulfikar Alispago with the murder of 18 civilians and members of the Croatian Defence Council, HVO, in Trusina village on April 16, 1993.

Zulfikar Alispago, former Commander of the Zulfikar Special Purposes squad with the Main Command headquarters of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, is charged with having failed to punish soldiers who participated in the murder of civilians and soldiers, while Alispago’s Deputy Bojadzic is charged with having commanded the attack on Trusina village.

Memic, Salcin and Hodzic, former members of the Zulfikar Special Purposes Squad, and Senad Hakalovic, former member of the Neretvica 45th Mountain Brigade of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, are charged with having participated in the attack on Trusina village.

The witness said that she saw “about 20 soldiers in black uniforms” in front of the house in which she was hiding, adding she did not know the soldiers.

“I went to Krese hamlet with my child. I saw Veljko Kreso lying down, facing the ground. He had a wound on his head and he was dead. I heard shooting, but it seemed to me as if soldiers were celebrating something and firing bullets in the air. It did not sound like a battle,” she recalled.

Miskic said she then hid in a house in Trusina village. “Less than half an hour later” some “members of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, who were dressed in camouflage uniforms”, came to pick her up. She said those soldiers were from Trusina village.

“They took me to Sejdefa Sultic’s house, where other Croat women were held as well. I saw Andjela Sagolj, whose hand was injured. (…) We stayed there until dark. As Sejdefa wanted to go as well, they took us to Vida Drljo’s house. They threatened us and said we must not leave the house,” Miskic said, adding that about 30 Croat civilians were accommodated in one room in the house.

The witness said that two days later members of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina allowed her to go home, where she found the bodies of her parents Ilija and Andja Ivankovic.

The next hearing is due to take place on Friday, October 29.

D.Dž.