Trial for Crimes in Mostar: Forced Labour in Šantićeva Street

At the trial for crimes committed in the area of Mostar, witnesses of the BiH Prosecutor's Office confirmed that they were wounded in Šantićeva Street during forced labour, BIRN reported, as carried by the Patria news agency.

Adem Vranović testified that in June 1993, members of the Croatian Defence Council (HVO) took him from his apartment in Mostar to the Dretelj camp, from where he was transferred to Heliodrom after a month.

As he recounted, at Heliodrom he found already detained prisoners from Mostar, Čapljina and Prozor, who were living in poor conditions.

We slept on the floor, on concrete, and we had to get permission if we wanted to drink water - said Vranović.

The witness explained that he was imprisoned at Heliodrom until December 1993, and that during his stay he was taken to forced labour in Šantićeva Street in Mostar.

I was taken out several times, I don't know how many, but I know we were not allowed to refuse. The guards told us what to do, and they would also hit us, mostly with their feet or rifle butts - stated Vranović.

He said that during the work he was wounded in his left leg. During cross-examination, Vranović could not say in which part of Šantićeva Street he was wounded. He confirmed that he does not know the accused Mile Puljić.

The BiH Prosecutor's Office charges Puljić with participating in a joint criminal enterprise from May 1993 to March 1994 in the area of Mostar, which included enforced disappearances, arrests and detentions, taking people to forced labour on the front line, and using them as human shields.

The indictment states that during forced labour, use as human shields, and other abuses, 11 victims of Bosniak nationality were killed, and more than 70 were wounded.

Puljić, according to the indictment, was the commander of the Second Battalion of the Second Brigade of the HVO.

At today's hearing, Mustafa Tuce also gave a statement, who was imprisoned at Heliodrom from July to August 1993. As he stated, during the work in Šantićeva Street he carried bags of sand.

I received a strong blow to the head, which caused me to faint. I don't remember who hit me, nor how, nor why. I only know it was a blow to the head - said witness Tuce, adding that after that he no longer went to work.

The trial continues on July 8, when three more witnesses of the BiH Prosecutor's Office will give their statements.