Hadzici Prisoners Treated Correctly, Former Journalist Says

Maric testified at the trial of Mustafa Djelilovic, Fadil Covic, Mirsad Sabic, Nezir Kazic, Becir Hujic, Halid Covic, Serif Mesanovic and Nermin Kalember. The defendants have been charged with war crimes in Hadzici. The indictment alleges they were members of military and police authorities, as well as managers and guards of detention camps.

They have been charged with the unlawful detention, inhumane treatment, physical abuse, mental abuse and forced labour of detainees in the Hadzici municipality.

Maric, a former journalist and member of the Hadzici crisis committee, testified at today’s hearing. Videos recordings of prisoners describing their correct treatment and representatives of the Silos prison were also played in the courtroom.

“Everything, including the relations between the guards and management, is correct. I can’t say any negative things. They give us as much food as they have,” one of the prisoners said in the video recording.

The recordings also depict prisoners saying they worked voluntarily.

“Everything is done on a voluntary basis. We work as much as we can. There is no compulsion,” one of the prisoners said.

A female prisoner said some soldiers who’d come from other places broke into the facility and mistreated prisoners. She said she was stripped naked.

Responding to a question from Halid Covic’s defense attorney, Maric said he went to Silos on a regular basis as of May 1992 and recorded the prisoners.

“The prisoners received food from their families. There was conflict between the prison management and the local population, who considered this a kind of privilege,” Maric said.

Maric said he saw members of the Rijecka Brigade forcibly enter the facility and force the manager and guards to leave. He said police intervened later on.

Maric said the local population didn’t allow the dismissal of the detention camp. He said they sought information on young men from Hadzici who had gone missing.

“They said, ‘Give us the missing, whether they’re alive or dead,’” Maric said.

The trial will continue on November 19.