At the trial for the crimes committed near Orasje, the witness of the Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) described the imprisonment, mistreatment, and killing of prisoners, as well as taking them to forced labor.
Zoran Saric stated that he lived in Orasje until April 29th, 1992, after which, due to shelling, he and his family went to Bukova Greda. He explained that on May 9th, the men were gathered in front of their houses and that Marko Dominkovic ordered them to hand over their weapons.
Saric said that he, together with his uncle, headed home because they were ordered to bring weapons, and that on that occasion his uncle was beaten. Then they came back, where they were interrogated, and after that, they were taken to Donja Mahala, where they were locked in a shed.
He said that several people did not come for questioning and that he heard that they were in “Zarko’s cottage”.
”These guys went there and we found out that little Misa tried to escape through the wheat and was killed. Zarko as well,” Saric stated.
According to him, when he came to Donja Mahala, several people were locked in the shed. He recalled how tired they were, and “their clothes were partially torn, they were despondent and they were looking down”.
While he was staying in the shed, several people were taken out, Saric said, adding that he knew that“Bandzo” and “Mato Rakijica”, who was in uniform and had a knife, were among the policemen.
He said that, among other things, Cedo Cvijanovic and Makso Gajic, who he later heard had been killed, were taken out of the shed.
The next day, as he explained, he was taken to the sports hall in Orasje, and said that there were already imprisoned people there. He explained that there were guards and that the prisoners slept on the floor, but were given food.
”There was a gathering from May 9th, and at the beginning of the sixth month we started working on the lines,” said Saric, explaining that he, together with others, was taken to work, where he dug ditches and trenches, and that he was on the lines where shots were fired.
He added that he was aware that there were wounded and dead.
He said that he stayed in the sports hall for three months, after which he was transferred to the sports hall in the elementary school in Donja Mahala.
Saric said that his uncle Savo Saric was taken out on June 6th, 1992, and that “he did not make it to June 7th alive.” He added that he heard how “Zika”| killed Aca Petrovic. He explained that his father was imprisoned in a strict part of the prison and that on one occasion “Keni” hit him on the head, causing his eardrums to burst.
The witness said that people went on exchange and that he was exchanged in June, and his father in July 1993. He added that exchanges were made and that “there were cases where dead people were brought to the exchange.”
Djuro Matuzovic, Ivo and Tado Orsolic, Marko Dominkovic, Joso Nedic, Marko Blazanovic, Mato and Anto Zivkovic, Stjepo Djuric, and Mirko Juric were accused of the persecution of the Serbian population – murders, imprisonment, torture, rape, and other acts committed in Orasje. According to the indictment, they committed the crimes as members of the command structures of the Croatian Defence Council (HVO), as well as the military and civilian police in Orasje.
When asked by the Defense if Saric saw how Savo Saric and Aco Petrovic were killed, he said that he did not. He also explained how he saw “Keni” in Donja Mahala every day, and said that “Keni” was a military policeman dressed in a camouflage uniform and that he thinks he had a gun.
The trial is scheduled to continue on September 7th, Detektor writes.
E.Dz.
