Vikić and others: Family members of captured soldiers testified

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - At the trial for the murder of eight reservists of the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) in Veliki Park in Sarajevo, witnesses for the BiH Prosecutor's Office recounted what and how they learned about the suffering of their family members in April 1992.

All six witnesses presented similar information from military sources, stating that their loved ones were in a military convoy heading from Lukavica to Ilidža due to the conflict that broke out on April 22, and that their tank track fell off the transporter. They were captured when they got out to fix it, writes Detektor. 

Snježana Marković stated that her husband Zoran responded to a call-up to the JNA reserve force in April and went to the barracks in Lukavica. She said that on April 22, there was an attack on Ilidža, and she saw a column of military vehicles passing through Kasindolska Street, where she lived. After hearing that some reservists were missing from the barracks and had been captured, she said she went to Lukavica and learned from Major Despotović that her husband was among the captured and that efforts were being made for their release.

Marković added that there were various stories, and that she went to Lukavica with the wife of one of the captured men, but that an exchange never materialized. She confirmed seeing a document signed by Jerko Doko, stating that the captured men had declared they did not wish to join the Army of BiH and were sent home. Doko was the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina at the time. Other witnesses also stated they saw this letter, with some saying it was signed by Efendić alongside Doko, and others by Delimustafić.

Nedeljka Gojković stated that she heard her father Dragomir Đerić was in the JNA reserve force and that on April 22, he headed towards Ilidža due to the conflict, and was taken in an unknown direction after the track fell off their transporter.

Nevenka Đokanović stated that her husband Stevan owned a catering establishment on Kasindolska Street and was mobilized on April 4. She added that on April 24, she learned he had disappeared, and later heard stories that they were taken to Švrakino Selo, and then to the police near Veliki Park.

Jela Lalović stated that her brother Vlajko Golubović was in the transporter and was captured. Rajko Kovačević confirmed that after hearing information about the capture, he inquired about his wife's brother, Vlajko Golubović. He stated that he heard he was killed in Veliki Park.

Zorica Elez stated that she learned from her mother that her brother Nedeljko Vujičić had gone to Lukavica or elsewhere two days before his capture. She said that her brother's remains were found, and she went to Visoko, where she was given a chain her brother wore around his neck. Other witnesses stated that the remains of their family members were not found.

The defense teams for the accused Dragan Vikić, Jusuf Pušina, Nermin Uzunović, and Mladen Čovčić had no questions for today's witnesses.

Vikić's defense attorney Adna Dobojlić expressed condolences to the witnesses on behalf of herself and her client, emphasizing that the Defense also wishes for the truth to be established in this proceeding.

Vikić, as the former commander of the Special Unit and commander of the Reserve Unit, is accused of failing to prevent or take measures to punish subordinates, as is Pušina, who was the Assistant Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (RBiH). Uzunović and Čovčić are accused as members of the Police Reserve Unit.