AHEAD OF JULY 11, BiH Prosecution Brought Kukanjac's Adjutant and Criminal Mladić as Witness Against 'Ganić and Others'

By: Amina Čorbo-Zećo

At today's hearing in the case known as Dobrovoljačka, the BiH Prosecution brought Ratko Banduka, adjutant (secretary) to war criminal Ratko Mladić, who testified in Mladić's defense in The Hague.

Banduka, on July 10, just a day before the anniversary and funeral for the victims of the Srebrenica genocide, requested protection from the BiH Court, asking for his photograph and full name not to be published, as he felt 'threatened' after learning that the defense would submit material evidence.

Prosecutor Mladen Vukojičić informed the BiH Court about Banduka's request, and the defense objected to such a request, particularly referring to principled reasons, emphasizing that they had provided the BiH Prosecution with the transcript of Banduka's testimony in Mladić's defense, where he also spoke about the 'Dobrovoljačka case'.

Bakir Alispahić also addressed the BiH Court, stating that this trial is public and that the accused are marked by this case, so it is not right to protect those who come to testify against them.

“I personally have had experiences when people recognize me talking about this case, and now people who lie are being protected. Shame on you,” Alispahić said.

The BiH Court rejected Banduka's request, and his public testimony began.

Banduka stated that he was the adjutant to General Milutin Kukanjac from February 1992, and spoke about the events of May 2 and 3, 1992.

“On May 2, in the afternoon, I heard that the JNA Home Guard was attacked. I heard it via communication. An order was then issued for Labudović to go with a unit to see what was happening. Then I heard over the Motorola that Labudović was also attacked and wounded. Then Šuput was ordered to move, and they were attacked,” said Banduka.

He, despite being born in Sarajevo and holding an important position as an adjutant, told the defense today that it was not known that there were fights near the Presidency building on May 2, nor that the Post Office building was burning. He also said he knew nothing about artillery fire on Sarajevo from JNA positions around Sarajevo in April.
Banduka also spoke about the 'attack' on the Second Military District on May 2, and that the attack lasted until 10:30 PM when it stopped.

He recounted how the head of the international community's observation mission, Pereira, came to the Second Military District barracks, and it was agreed in Kukanjac's office that he would meet with President Alija Izetbegović at the PTT Engineering building to discuss the relocation of the Second Military District.

“President Izetbegović was detained at Butmir Airport and taken to the barracks in Lukavica. Pereira spoke with McKenzie, and then I learned that President Izetbegović would be returned or released to the BiH Presidency after the negotiations concluded,” said Banduka.

He also said that he knew all this after listening to the conversation between Kukanjac and Izetbegović, in which Izetbegović told Kukanjac that he was arrested, to which Kukanjac replied that he was being held for security reasons and could leave.

When confronted with the question of why negotiations were held at all if Izetbegović was a free man, Banduka could not answer.

Banduka also stated that negotiations did not take place in the PTT Engineering building in Nedžarići because an armed group of officers in the Second Military District intervened and said that Kukanjac must not leave the barracks of the Second Military District.

Today, Banduka said that the officers did this for Kukanjac's safety, but in earlier testimonies in 1994, 2005, and 2011, Banduka stated, as other witnesses had previously confirmed, that the officers forcibly kept Kukanjac in the barracks, fearing his betrayal.

After that, according to Banduka, they returned to the office, and then a telephone connection was established with the Lukavica barracks, when Alija Izetbegović guaranteed with his presence the safe exit of the Second Military District.

“Izetbegović, accompanied by his daughter and Zlatko Lagumdžija, came to the Second Military District. 15-16 trucks from Lukavica arrived for loading. The loading was supposed to take 15 minutes but took longer, so they extended it by 45 minutes, and then Kukanjac went to the office with his guests for coffee. After a light chat, other individuals arrived. I don't know who they were, I think they were from the state leadership,” said Banduka.

The prosecutor presented Banduka with a statement in which he mentioned Bakir Alispahić and Jusuf Pušina, and Banduka said, 'I heard of them, they were there'.

When asked by the defense, as well as by members of the court panel, Banduka confirmed that Alispahić and Pušina were not at the negotiations because they arrived at the Second Military District later, after the agreement was reached.

This witness then recounted how the convoy stopped, and a tall, armed civilian took him out of the truck, disarmed him, and took his two pistols and two grenades.

He also spoke about how he was mistakenly picked up by a vehicle with the wounded and dead, and that he was transferred near the plateau of the Europe Hotel where a group of civilians who insulted them were waiting. According to his claims, police officers escorted them to the FIS building, from which they were eventually transferred to Lukavica.

Banduka also stated that there were three UNPROFOR vehicles, but he believes that was insufficient for securing the convoy.

During cross-examination, lawyer Asim Crnalić, clarifying the role of an adjutant as a person of the general's highest trust in the army, stated that he believes Banduka is not telling the truth today.

A new hearing in this case is scheduled for July 17, 2024.

PETITION TO ABOLISH THE HAGUE TRIBUNAL AND THE BiH COURT

Lawyer Senad Pizović confronted Banduka today with his actions in Bijeljina and asked him if he was a signatory to a petition condemning the work of the Hague Tribunal and the BiH Court.

He said he did not remember, but numerous media outlets reported it, and Banduka was among the first to do so.

“This is our protest against the evil that the Hague Tribunal and the BiH Court are inflicting on Serbs, but also our support for all detainees in The Hague. This is a message to endure in the defense of Serbdom,” Banduka stated.

He emphasized at the time that he had personally experienced evil and malicious justice through the 'Dobrovoljačka Street' case in Sarajevo, where, as adjutant to General Milutin Kukanjac, he was a 'legal target' of attacks by Muslim fighters, which, according to Banduka, had long been planned by the international community.

EUFOR SEARCHED APARTMENT

Banduka's apartment was searched, which he personally confirmed today, by EUFOR. The search was conducted because EUFOR was looking for Hague fugitives.

“Yes, they searched my apartment,” said Banduka.