Macic: ‘Cruel Guard’

Witness Dragan Djordjic identified indictee Macic in the courtroom, saying he was “a cruel guard” in Celebici detention camp.

“His cruelty is reflected in the fact that he killed Kuljanin. He ordered Kuljanin, who was wounded, to lie down in a puddle of urine in the sink, where detainees usually urinated. He kicked him, while wearing his military boots, in the ribs and head. He also hit him with a gun butt. He then fired a short burst of bullets at him. He fell down. I could see that he was hit in the neck, face and chest,” the witness recalled, adding that Kuljanin died immediately.

The State Prosecution’s indictment charges Macic, former member of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, ABiH, with having participated in the murder of two Serb civilians in Celebici detention camp in 1992 and causing severe injuries to civilian detainees and prisoners of war in the Musala sports hall in Konjic.

Witness Djordjic said that he knew that Macic beat other prisoners too, but he did not take him out or beat him on his own. He said he assumed that he beat him, together with other guards, as per Hazim Delic’s orders, but he was not able to look at the people hitting him.

“He never beat me on his own,” the witness said, adding that he had known the indictee from before the war, because he had seen him in the town.

The Hague Tribunal sentenced Hazim Delic, who was first Deputy and then Manager of Celebici detention camp, to 18 years in prison.

“On the day when they brought 80 of us, who had handed our guns over, from Bradina to Celebici detention camp, they lined us against the wall and started hitting us. They also beat us when the International Red Cross came to register us,” Djordjic said. He was held in Celebici detention camp from the end of May to December 1992.

The witness said that he was transferred from Celebici to Musala sports hall, Konjic municipality, adding that indictee Macic did not abuse or hit him there either.

Second Prosecution witness Momir Mrkajic said that Macic used to beat him, accompanied by other guards.

“The first half of June 1992 was the worst for me. Four guards, including Macic, beat me up. They broke my ribs. It was hard when the International Red Cross came too, because they beat us up again,” Mrkaljic said.

The trial is due to continue on April 19.

A.S.