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Testifying for the State Prosecution, former Commander and Deputy Commander of the First Corps of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, ABiH, Karavelic said that he found out about the existence of Silos from informal conversations in 1993.
“I heard that civilians were detained in Silos and that they were detained, because the aggressor had collected a large number of Muslim civilians from the Hadzici area. I heard that some exchange was awaited and that there was no response from the other side,” Karavelic said.
The witness indicated that he considered that Silos was under the control of civil authorities and that the First Corps Command had no connection to that facility.
“Everybody washed their hands of Silos, so they tried to associate it with the First Corps. The Corps Command and I are not responsible for Silos,” Karavelic said.
The Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina charges Mustafa Djelilovic, Fadil Covic, Mirsad Sabic, Nezir Kazic, Becir Hujic, Halid Covic, Serif Mesanovic and Nermin Kalember with crimes committed in Silos detention camp, Krupa military barracks and “9. maj” school building.
The indictment alleges that Hujic was Manager and Deputy Manager of Silos detention camp, just like Covic. Mesanovic was allegedly one of the Deputy Managers of Silos and Manager of a detention camp in Krupa military barracks, Kalember was a guard in Silos, while Kazic was Commander of the 9th Mountain Brigade. The other indictees were members of the civil and police authorities.
Responding to the Defence’s questions, witness Karavelic said that both the Government and Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina knew about the existence of Silos. Also, he said that the Commander of the First Corps had never issued an order to use detainees for performing labour.
“When I arrived in that area by helicopter, I saw a group of people. I asked who they were, because they were not soldiers. I was told that those were detainees from Silos. I asked them angrily who had taken them out. I ordered them to take them back and never use them to perform any work within the First Corps’ domain,” he said.
He told the Court that he met Nezir Kazic, Commander of the 9th Brigade of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the summer of 1993, adding that the Brigade had never been under the direct command of the First Corps.
The trial is due to continue on February 6.
