Stanarevic Didn’t Take Away Detainees, Witness Says

Zeljko Stanarevic, a former military police officer with the 15th Light Infantry Brigade of the Bosnian Serb Army, has been charged with participating in the persecution of Bosniak civilians as part of a widespread and systematic attack by the military and police on the villages of Ripac, Cukovi, Orasac, Klisa and Kulen-Vakuf in the municipality of Bihac.

He has also been charged with participating in the murder of 11 prisoners held in a facility in Ripac in June and July 1992. He and other Bosnian Serb Army members allegedly transported the prisoners to the Bezdan Pit, where they were executed and buried.

Miroslav Popovic, a former member of reserve civilian police forces in Ripac, testified at today’s hearing. Popovic said there was no conflict in the Ripac area, and said people left the area on their own. He said the Second Krajiski Corps disarmed the local population in Orasac, Cukovi and Kulen Vakuf for security reasons.

“I don’t know in what way the weapons were confiscated. There were some prisoners in Ripac. The army brought them. When I came, they were already. They were guarded by the civil police. I guarded them for some time as well,” Popovic said. He said the military police detained civilians, but he didn’t see anyone taking them away.

He said he didn’t see Stanarevic during that time and also didn’t see him during his shifts. He said he heard that half of the detainees had been exchanged, but he didn’t know the details of their release.

Defense witness Milan Blanusa said the Bosniak population became active in the villages surrounding Bihac. The formed the Territorial Defense and police forces armed with automatic rifles and hunting guns.

He said he didn’t know when the weapons were handed over. Blanusa said there was no attack on Orasac. He said after the Bosniaks handed their weapons over, they left towards Strbacki Buk on the other side of the Una river.

“I knew the defendant from before the war. I used to see him in Ripac during the war. I think he was a member of some police forces. He’s still my colleague at work. I’ve never seen him drink alcohol or take drugs,” Blanusa said.

Rade Blanusa, a former member of reserve civil police forces, also testified at today’s hearing. He said he met Stanarevic in mid-July 1992.

“I met Stanarevic at a checkpoint, because military police controlled the checkpoint in Uzljebici in the municipality of Bihac with us. His parents were in Lipa. I know he said he would go to his parents’, but I do not know if he did,” he said.

The trial will continue on December 21.