Karadzic: Shelling of Civilian Districts

On the second day of his testimony at the trial of Radovan Karadzic, a Prosecution witness says that the Republika Srpska Army “deliberately targeted civilians” in Sarajevo from 1992 to 1995.

As he continued his testimony, Nedzib Djozo, former investigator with Stari Grad Police Station in Sarajevo, said that Republika Srpska Army, VRS, forces “shelled the civilian districts in Sarajevo which had the most inhabitants in order to make sure that the shellings would cause a large number of casualties”.

The witness explained that Mula Mustafe Baseskije Street in Sarajevo and, particularly, Markale market place, was targeted most frequently. He said that Markale was “the only place in Sarajevo where people could exchange their goods” during the course of the war.

“In all shelling incidents that happened from the beginning of the aggression on Sarajevo onwards, projectiles would hit central gathering places.

“We, as policemen, tried to warn people by telling them not to gather outside, but it was just not possible to avoid it. People had to obtain food and they had to exchange goods. For this reason, shelling incidents always resulted in mass murder and wounding of people,” Djozo said.

Radovan Karadzic, former Supreme Commander of Republika Srpska armed forces, is on trial before the Hague Tribunal on charges of genocide, crimes against humanity and a shelling and sniping campaign targeted against the civilian population in Sarajevo, among other counts.

The indictment charges Karadzic with 15 shelling incidents in Sarajevo, including, among others, the shelling of Markale market place on February 5, 1994, when 66 people were killed and more than 140 were wounded, and August 28, 1995, when 43 people were killed and 75 were wounded.

During the course of cross-examination indictee Karadzic denied the witness’ allegations that VRS forces deliberately targeted civilians, adding that Stari grad municipality in Sarajevo “had plenty of military forces and targets”.

“VRS targeted the places where there were many civilians and people moving or gathering. All of us who lived in Sarajevo at the time experienced this. VRS considered the hospital a military zone. The maternity hospital was also a wartime zone for them,” Djozo, who began his testimony on December 9, responded.

“This was how they shelled the city. Those were their targets. You should know this very well, as you were their commander. You know what was happening and what orders you gave,” he added.

Ismet Svraka also began his testimony at this hearing. He said he was wounded on both his legs and his stomach after being hit by shrapnel from a grenade that exploded in front of Markale market place on August 28, 1995.

“After having been wounded, I arrived at the hospital. They immediately amputated the remains of my left leg. I had a stomach injury as well, so they conducted two operations. My ankle and two toes on my right leg were injured as well. This caused a lot of pain, so I could not even put my foot down. All of this made me immobile for nearly two years,” Svraka recalled.

The witness said that “no military activities or military buildings” were present in the vicinity of Markale prior to the grenade explosion.

The examination of Svraka is due to continue on Monday, December 13.

D.Dz.