Witness Describes Batkovic Prisoner Abuse at Begovic Trial
This post is also available in: Bosnian
Gligor Begovic, a former member of the Bosnian Serb Army, has been charged with participating in the assault of Bosniak civilians and prisoners of war in the Batkovic detention camp in the summer of 1992 and other crimes committed in the same location.
Husein Halilovic, a former prisoner in the Batkovic detention camp, described the abuse he experienced during his time there.
“They lined us up against a wall in Batkovic. That’s when Mr. Gligor began his show…He beat me with a rifle butt and punched me. I was swollen and I wasn’t able to eat for three days,” Halilovic said.
Halilovic said he remembered guards named Zoka and Major. He said he wouldn’t be able to recognize Gligor Begovic today.
Huseinovic said the prisoners were held in unhygienic conditions in tents and hangars, and were beaten by guards and soldiers who came back from the battlefield on a daily basis.
Huseinovic said that he and other prisoners were also taken to other locations in order to perform forced labour. They were watched over by guards while they worked.
“Gligor came with a revolver. He put the revolver into my mouth and played Russian roulette. I luckily stayed alive,” Halilovic said.
Halilovic said he stayed in the detention camp for about a year, but wasn’t able to remember the precise dates or years.
The trial will continue on June 10.
