veličina fonta

verzija za štampu

copyright

pošalji komentar

Mihaljevic: Nightmare in Tulice

Zdravko Mihaljevic

29 November 2007  Two former HVO members, whose names are mentioned in the indictment against Zdravko Mihaljevic, defend him before the Court of BiH.

Defence witnesses Anto Cvijanovic and Tibor Prajo, former members of the Croatian Defence Council (HVO) who participated in the attack on Tulica village, claim they did not see indictee Zdravko Mihaljevic on June 12, 1993.

The two men also said that they considered that Mihaljevic would not have allowed the killing of civilians had he been present in Tulice.

"Although I cannot stand Zdravko Mihaljevic, I still claim, accountably and resolutely, that he was not in Tulice in June 1993. Had Zdravko been in the village at that time, I am sure that no Bosniaks would have been killed. In 1992 and 1993 he punished me for having violated the rule of warfare and for having, allegedly, maltreated Bosniaks," said witness Tibor Prajo.

Zdravko 'Pijuk' Mihaljevic, a former member of the Second HVO Battalion named "Ban Josip Jelacic" and commander of "Maturice" Special Purpose Squad, is charged with the persecution, torture and murder of civilians in Tulice village during an attack in June 1993.

The indictment alleges that the following persons also participated in the attack on Tulice village: Vlatko Trogrlic, Anto Cvijanovic, Stjepan Laco, Tibor Prajo, Ljubo Medic and Nikica Medic.

In 2002, Prajo was sentenced to two and a half years imprisonment for having committed these crimes. Prajo considers that the verdict, which was confirmed by the Supreme Court of the Federation of BiH, is "unfair" claiming that, what happened in Tulice on June 12, 1993 was a "nightmare" and that "everyone was doing what they wanted".

"Serbs were shelling the village from their positions and they demolished it. We were warned, earlier on, that this might happen and that we would simply have to check the village afterwards. At the time, the army members wore camouflage uniforms, while I was naked from the waist up and I had two cartridge belts and military boots," said Prajo, adding that members of the Republika Srpska Army also took part in the attack on the village.

During cross-examination, witness Prajo said that, after the war, he heard of the killing of civilians in Tulice, but he did not know what their nationality was because "I did not shoot them or check their IDs to see who they were".

"I have always been honest and have told the truth. I am doing the same at this trial," said Prajo.

At the end of his testimony, witness Prajo addressed the Trial Chamber.

"Do not allow for one more innocent person to be imprisoned. I can be held accountable for saying that he was not in Tulice and 'Maturice'. You can interrogate me using a lie detector if you think I am not telling the truth," said Prajo.

Second defence witness Anto Cvijanovic pointed out that, on June 12, 1993 he participated in the attack on Tulice as an HVO member, but he did not see Mihaljevic or the shooting of civilians.

"We searched the houses and looked for weapons in Tulice. Later on, I found out that some people were captured, but I do not know where they were taken. People said that some people were killed," explained Cvijanovic.

The Prosecution of BiH did not have any questions for witness Cvijanovic concerning his involvement in the crimes committed in Tulice.

The trial is due to continue on Monday, December 3.