Vlahovic: Grbavica as Detention Camp

Witness Mirjana Music told the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, that, just like the majority of Grbavica residents, her husband Sead and she performed forced labour, describing the settlement as some sort of a detention camp, because its residents could neither walk freely nor go to the other part of Sarajevo.

However, as they were afraid that their 18-year old son would be recruited by the military, her family members, including her husband, son and daughter, went to “the free territory” through the Caparde settlement in Republika Srpska, RS, in October 1992, while she decided to stay in their apartment.

“I was the only Serb in the building, so I fetched water or food for everyone, because I could use my identity card and move around the settlement more freely than the others,” Mirjana Music said.

Witness Music told the Court that, as member of a working squad, she met witnesses S3 and S4, who told her that indictee Veselin Vlahovic, known as Batko, had raped them.

“S4 told me that Batko took her to a shopping centre in Grbavica and raped her in the garage. S3 kept the fact that Batko raped her a secret for a long time, but she eventually told us about it,” witness Music said, adding that she did not see indictee Batko in Grbavica in the summer of 1992, but she heard that he took part in horrible things that happened in Vraca.

The Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina charges Veselin Vlahovic, known as Batko, with having killed and participated in the murder of more than 30 people in Grbavica, Vraca and Kovacici from May to August 1992 and, acting on his own or in collaboration with other armed persons, abused and beat Croat and Bosniak citizens and took their money and other  valuable possessions away.

A second indictment against Vlahovic was filed, charging him in 14 counts with murder and forcible disappearances of 14 persons, as well as rape, torture and abuse of civilians.

The witness said that she saw indictee Batko on local TV several times. “A TV spot was broadcast on TV Sarajevo, depicting him, wearing a uniform and traditional Serbian cap on his head, and using the three-finger salute,” said Music.

Second witness S15 told the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina that indictee Batko took her husband, Prosecution witness S14, away from their apartment, adding that he looked beaten up when he came back.

“Batko and Zoran Vitkovic came and took my husband to the Digitron building. Some woman and Zoran beat him up in that building. Three or four hours later Zoran and Batko brought him back home,” the witness said.

She said that Batko took her to another room, while Zoran stayed with her husband. “Batko took a knife, ordered me to lie down on the bed and threatened me by saying that he would slaughter me. But, he did not do it,” witness S15 said.

She said that Zoran and Batko took 5,200 German Marks and their jewelry away and left their apartment. “We were in a state of shock when they left. I was not able to stand on my feet for five days,” the witness said.

During the course of cross-examination, Radivoje Lazarevic, Defence attorney of the indictee, compared the witness’ statement given to the State Prosecution on March 9, 1999 with her testimony at the trial, saying that, in her previous statement she said that, when Batko came to their apartment, he was accompanied by Miro Vitkovic, not by Zoran.

“Do not bother me with names. I have not come here to lie. As if it was important who accompanied Batko. I know that the man, sitting next to you, waived a knife and threatened me by saying that he would slaughter me,” the witness explained.

The next hearing is due to be held on October 20, 2011, when two new Prosecution witnesses will be examined.