This post is also available in: Bosnian
Nedjo Stokanovic said that he and his family lived in Brezje village until mid-June 1992, when the shelling of the village from surrounding hills began. After that he headed towards Jasenica village, Srebrenik municipality, accompanied by a group of Serb residents.
“Eighteen of us traveled together, but we were captured in Oparkovica. We handed over a couple of pistols we had, but all of us were dressed in civil suits. We were captured by soldiers dressed in camouflage uniforms. They tied Stokan Markovic and two other guys and drove them away. They drove the rest of us to Straza village,” Stokanovic said.
He mentioned that he stayed in Straza for about three days before being taken with the other men to the Centre in Rapatnica, while women and children were transferred to Jasenica.
“While we were in Rapatnica, we were guarded by Muca and Senad. On the first day they brought some lists and told us to write our statements. I did not know how to do it, so they helped me. Sejo hit one of the men on that occasion. I had known Muce from before. He told me that they would not beat me. And they did not. We gave statements on the second day. I was there for a brief period of time, because I was a civilian, so they did not ask me many questions,” Stokanovic said.
According to the witness’ testimony, after having been examined, some of the detainees told him that they were beaten up.
The State Prosecution charges Ekrem Ibracevic, Faruk Smajlovic and Sejdalija Covic with crimes against Serb civilians in Rapatnica local community and “Rapatnica” football club premises in 1992.
According to the charges, the detainees were beaten up, tortured and abused, while Ibracevic approved of such treatment of detainees by acting as supervisor of those detention facilities. Covic is charged with having entered the local community premises and beaten the civilians, while Smajlovic is charged with having failed to prevent other people from coming in.
The indictment alleges that Ibracevic was Chief of the Military Security with the Municipal Headquarters of the Territrial Defence in Srebrenik, while Smajlovic was Commander of the Military Police Squad with the Municipal Headquarters of the Territorial Defence and Covic was a member of the military police.
Witness Stokanovic said that he stayed in Rapatnica for seven days before being transferred, along with the other detainees, to a prison in Tuzla, where he stayed until his exchange, which took place more than five months later.
“They transferred us to Tuzla by refrigerator truck. They took us out and tied us. They did not tie me, but they did tie the others. This was my worst day … It was hot. There was not enough room or air… The only good thing is that I stayed alive,” Stokanovic.
During the cross-examination the Defence of indictee Ibracevic asked the witness whether he had been a member of the military units in his village prior to the capture, but witness Stokanovic answered negatively.
The trial is due to continue on January 13.
