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Mile Matijevic, the former Chief of the Public Safety Station in Bugojno, presented his findings and opinion at the request of the Defence of Senad Dautovic.
He said that attempts were made to have Bosniak and Croat policemen perform tasks together at the beginning of the conflict in the town, but the situation became more complicated over time.
“The fact is that some Croat policemen did not participate in execution of tasks. The management team tried to maintain the unity of policemen, but it was an impossible mission. Incidents started happening…
“Eventually, the forces were totally split following the escalation of the conflict from July 18 to 27, 1993,” expert witness Matijevic said.
The expert witness said that at the beginning of 1993, “various Croat authority structures, including a parallel Public Safety Station, were formed in Bugojno”.
Senad Dautovic, Nisvet Gasal, Musajb Kukavica and Enes Handzic are on trial for crimes committed against Croats in Bugojno, who were detained at various locations, tortured and killed.
The indictment alleges that Gasal was Manager of the Iskra stadium detention camp, Kukavica was Commander of the detention camp security and Handzic was Assistant Commander for Security with the 307th Brigade of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, ABiH.
The expert witness explained that the roles and competencies of police forces are different in times of peace and war. Matijevic said that in times of peace the police forces are “independent” and they are responsible for protecting the lives and property of citizens and shedding light on crimes.
“The situation changes during the war. Police members lose their competencies, particularly those related to commanding and decision making functions. Police forces may become involved in combat tasks, but the subordination principal is applied in these cases. The police forces lose their identity while being integrated into military structures,” Matijevic said.
The examination of this witness is due to continue at the next hearing, scheduled for December 15.
M.T.
