Witness Claims No Knowledge of Kukavice Attack at Trial of Former Bosnian Army Soldiers

Defendants Muhamed Sisic, Tarik Sisic, Emir Drakovac and Aziz Susa have been charged with participating in an attack on a civilian convoy in Kukavice in Rogatica on August 27, 1992. At least 20 Serbs were killed and several more were wounded as a result of the attack. Muhamed Sisic was the commander of the Commando Squad of the Kukavicka Company of the Bosnian Army, while the other defendants were members of that unit.

At today’s hearing, witness Emir Brankovic said he was militarily involved at the village of Brcigovo in the municipality of Rogatica. He was a member of the Sixth Battalion of the 31st Drinska Brigade.
 
According to Brankovic, the Kukavicka and Rogaticka companies participated in the Krug (the “Circle”) military operation, aimed at securing the frontline. He said Muhamed and Tarik Sisic were in the Manoeuvre Squad of the Kukavicka Company.
 
“By the end of the military operation we didn’t have any more tasks. Just to observe who was passing from the direction of Rogatica towards Gorazde…Every time the column would cross towards Gorazde, the first thing that happened was “Praga” and shooting. We couldn’t see it directly, but we assumed that’s what it was,” Brankovic said.
 
When asked if he had knowledge of the events in Kukavice, Brankovic said he didn’t.

“In January 1993, I heard of some events in the Serb media. I was in Trovrh then. I heard that the Serb convoy was stopped in Rogatica and that those who stopped it said that they wouldn’t let them pass through,” Brankovic said.
 
Responding to questions from the defense, Brankovic said the village of Kukavice was not within the Bosnian Army’s zone of responsibility, but that of the Bosnian Serb Army.
 
“Members of the Bosnian Army weren’t present on that site,” Brankovic said.
 
Susa arrived drunk to the trial hearing again, and was removed from the courtroom.
 
The trial will continue on October 20.