Military Police Didn’t Mistreat Serbs in Lupoglavo, Witnesses Say

Zijad Hamzic, Safet Mujcinovic, Ramiz Halilovic, Selman Busnov, Nusret Muhic, Nedzad Hodzic, Osman Gogic and Kahro Vejzovic are on trial for war crimes in the Kladanj area. The defendants are former members of the civil police, the military police and the Territorial Defense. They’ve been charged with the unlawful detention, assault and inhumane treatment of Serb civilians in Stupari.

According to the charges, Hamzic and Halilovic came to Lupoglavo on June 7, 1992 with their subordinates and unlawfully arrested Serb civilians, who were then taken to Stupari and detained. The indictment alleges that Hamzic and Halilovic beat two of the civilians, who were escorted to the military police premises.

Kemal Mesanovic and Sead Hajdarevic, former members of a military police section in Stupari, testified at today’s hearing in defense of Ramiz Halilovic. The defendants said they joined their unit on June 1, 1992, and that their commander was Halilovic.

They said the military police was tasked with apprehending Territorial Defense soldiers who committed offenses. They said the military police was a part of the Territorial Defense in Stupari, which was commanded by defendant Zijad Hamzic.

The witnesses said Hamzic ordered them to go to the village of Lupoglavo.

“Hamzic came and said something was happening in Lupoglavo, so he wanted us to go there and check it out. He said he would go as well,” Hajdarevic said.

Hajdarevic said they saw Hamzic in Lupoglavo as well as local Serb civilians, civil police, and Territorial Defense soldiers from the neighbouring village of Tarevo. He said the soldiers from Tarevo wanted to harm the Serb civilians, and said one in particular seemed anxious to do so. Hajdarevic said they realized they needed help, so one of the military police officers called Halilovic via walkie-talkie.

Hamzic asked the witnesses why they didn’t approach him the village, as he was their commander.

“We considered Ramiz our commander. He was a professional,” Hajdarevic said. He said Halilovic went to Lupoglavo after their call.

Mesanovic said the Serb civilians in the village climbed onto a military police truck, but he didn’t know how exactly that happened. He said Hamzic told them to drive the civilians to Stupari.

“I would say that isn’t true, because I was there,” Hajdarevic said.

The trial will continue on November 27.