Requests for Exchange of Captives from Hadzici

Masovic, who began testifying on May 15, said, during the cross-examination, that he participated, in his capacity as member of the State Commission for Exchange, in the preparation of lists of captives, who were supposed to be exchanged at Kobiljaca on September 8, 1992.
 
Masovic said that Hadzici residents, whom Serb forces had captured, as well as detainees, who were held in “Silos”, were among the prisoners, who were supposed to be exchanged.
 
“I walked alongside the buses. I could see that many women and children were inside them… I was not allowed to check the lists. That was the reason the exchange did not succeed,” he said.
 
Masovic testified at the trial for crimes in “Silos” detention camp, “Krupa” military barracks and “9. maj” school building, which are charged upon Mustafa Djelilovic, Fadil Covic, Mirsad Sabic, Nezir Kazic, Becir Hujic, Halid Covic, Serif Mesanovic and Nermin Kalember.
 
According to the charges, Hujic was Manager and Deputy Manager of “Silos”, just like Halid Covic. Mesanovic was allegedly one of the Deputy Managers in “Silos” and Manager of a detention camp in “Krupa” military barracks, while Kalember was a guard in “Silos”. The other indictees were members of the civil, military and police authorities.
 
During the cross-examination the Defence of indictee Djelilovic showed a part of a video recording made during the exchange at Kobiljaca, depicting one of the representatives on the Serb side saying that they were requested to exchange Irfan Music, who had actually been exchanged a month before.
 
“Irfan Music is still a missing person. The Serb side’s allegations that he had been exchanged a month before inspired us to make the lists,” Masovic said, adding that 99 missing Hadzici residents, mainly Bosniaks, were still being searched for.
 
Masovic confirmed that families of the captured Hadzici residents requested that their family members be exchanged and that they put pressure against the authorities to do that.
 
“Women from Pazaric and Tarcin once even blocked the international forces, requesting their family members to be exchanged,” he said.
 
The trial is due to continue on June 19.