DOBROVOLJAČKA Witness doesn't remember positions on Trebević, burnings in Sarajevo on May 2nd, and claims Alija 'had a pleasant breakfast'

By Amina Čorbo Zećo

The trial in the Dobrovoljačka case continued today before the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina with the testimony of Predrag Miljić, a former member of the JNA, and later the Army of Republika Srpska.

In 1992, Miljić was a member of the JNA stationed at the 'Jusuf Đonlić' barracks. He was a driver and recounted how, on his return from Pale where they were transporting equipment, he ended up at the barracks in Lukavica. On May 2nd, they were informed that the command of the Second Military District would have to be relocated.

According to his claims, he did not know how Alija Izetbegović arrived at the Lukavica barracks or if it was voluntary, but he told prosecutor Mladen Vukojičić that on the morning of May 3rd, he saw Alija at breakfast in the canteen, sitting with 'some young woman and officers'.

"There was nothing unusual. There were many soldiers there, I had breakfast and left," Miljić said.

Miljić would recount that someone then called him to listen to a conversation between Ejup Ganić and Alija Izetbegović over the radio, and that he heard Izetbegović order Ganić to ensure the peaceful relocation of the Second Military District Command.

Today, he claimed this happened between 11 AM and 12 PM on May 3rd, but in a statement from 2011, he said it was on May 2nd. When asked by the defense which of the two claims was correct, Miljić said it was May 3rd.

He said he did not know if the conversation between Izetbegović and Ganić was publicly broadcast on the news on May 2nd. Miljić also recounted that afterwards, they received orders to go towards Bistrik to relocate the Second Military District Command, and that 20 trucks set off.

"We stopped for about an hour because we were loading. When we started, I was ninth in the column. With me was a colonel or lieutenant colonel, I'm not sure. I don't know his name either. At one point, near the school, a white BOV vehicle turned right, and several trucks went left. Then containers blocked the road, and we stopped. Shooting started from the school, from the containers, and from the surrounding hill, there was some retaining wall," Miljić said.

That lieutenant colonel was mowed down by a burst of fire, Miljić recounted, adding that he quickly realized he was also wounded in the leg.

"Then a soldier pulled me out of the truck, and I fell on the asphalt. There was shooting, the shooting was moving away from us towards the end of the column. That group was dressed differently, a mix of civilians and soldiers," Miljić said.

Miljić also recounted how they were taken to a hall, which he still doesn't know the location of today, and that young soldiers, contract soldiers, and officers were separated. Miljić was a young soldier but did not seek medical attention. He added that as soon as they realized he was wounded, he was transferred to the hospital at KCUS, where he stayed for four days.

Like previous witnesses, Miljić knows nothing about the events in Sarajevo on May 2nd, he doesn't know about the firing positions on Trebević, he doesn't even know there was a war in Croatia!

He said he did not see any burning buildings in Sarajevo while being escorted from Dobrovoljačka towards the FIS building.

He couldn't even explain why they told him at KCUS to lie down on the bed by the window, so that 'the Chetniks from Trebević would kill him'.

"I don't know what that meant," Miljić will tell lawyer Senad Pizović.

Incidentally, Miljić said today that he took antidepressants this morning to be calm during the testimony, and stated that he takes medication regularly. He also pointed out that he was a court police officer from 2003 to 2021, but did not use such substances then.

The court proceedings in this case continue on March 6th.