Slavko Puljic, Major-General, who was chief of the Operational Zone South-Eastern Herzegovina in 1993, said that the Croatian Defence Council, HVO, battalions “could not have had their own prisons”, adding that he “is now aware of their existence”.
The State Prosecution charges Marko Radic, Dragan Sunjic, Damir Brekalo and Mirko Vracevic, as members of the Croatian Defence Council, HVO, with having committed crimes in Vojno prison, near Mostar, in which Bosniaks, including women and children, were held in 1993 and 1994.
The indictment alleges that detainees were abused, mistreated, murdered and forced to perform hard labour.
Testifying as Marko Radic’s Defence witness, Puljic explained that the South-Eastern Herzegovina Operational Zone was responsible for “the units and frontlines, in the area from Sanicka vrata, near Dreznic, in Mostar municipality, to the border with the Republic of Croatia, including Stolac town”.
The witness explained that HVO units were divided into three sectors, adding that the northern sector included the area of Bijelo polje.
“According to the lines of command, sectors were superior to brigades and battalions. Therefore a battalion commander was supposed to listen to orders issued by a brigade commander,” Puljic said.
The indictment alleges that Radic was commander of the First Bijelo polje Battalion, which was active in the area of Bijelo polje.
“The First Battalion was responsible for the area from the destroyed bridge, where a new one has now been built, to the convent,” the witness said.
Asked by the Trial Chamber about the responsibility over Vojno, the witness said that “the defence line did not run through that place but it was located behind the zone of responsibility of the First Battalion”.
When asked who was responsible for the military police, the witness said that it had a separate Administration, but they used to join some battalions in order to support them if needed. Puljic explained that members of the Military Police “were obliged to report to a battalion commander only during the course of military operations”, adding that, “as far as other measures were concerned”, they were responsible to the Military Police Administration.
The indictment alleges that second indictee Dragan Sunjic was member of the Military Police Squad with the First HVO Battalion.
Sunjic’s Defence was due to present its material evidence at this hearing but that was postponed after indictee Damir Brekalo said that he “was not feeling well”.
The trial is due to continue on December 11.
