Kurtovic: Ranking of BiH Army Officers
29 November 2007 Prosecution witnesses tell the Court what they know about the Military Police Squad with the Independent Battalion from Dreznica.
At the trial of Zijad Kurtovic, who is charged with crimes against Croats committed in Dreznica area in Herzegovina, two Prosecution witnesses gave interpretations of the military formation structure and rules for ranking of officers in the Army of BiH.
In 1994, Hamza Ajanovic visited Dreznica, in his capacity as member of the Fourth Corps HQ with the Army of BiH, in order to check the functioning of the management and command system of the Independent Battalion in Dreznica. During his visit, he noticed that a Military Police Squad had been formed with this battalion.
Asked by the Prosecutor if he knew who the commander of the Military Police Squad was, Ajanovic responded that he probably knew.
"However, that was not important to me. I may have met that man, but I do not remember any details," said the witness, adding that it was "possible" that he met Kurtovic in the course of his visit to Dreznica, but he "does not remember" that.
Kurtovic is charged in his capacity of commander of the Military Police Squad with "Dreznica" Independent Battalion of the Army of BiH.
The indictment alleges that, in the second half of 1993, Kurtovic tortured and maltreated 20 Croats detained in All Saints catholic church in Donja Dreznica, Jablanica municipality, causing them bodily and mental injuries.
Prosecution witness Hasan Hakalovic was commander of the 445th Brigade of the Fourth Corps with the Army of BiH.
Hakalovic said that, at that time, he did know that there was one battalion with the Fourth Corps in Dreznica, but he did not know whether there was a military police squad with that battalion.
The prosecution presented a statement given by this witness during an investigation on November 13, 2006. In that statement Hakalovic said that a Military Police Squad was formed with the Dreznica battalion, which was in charge of Dreznica area.
"Military police can exist, but its existence is not mandatory," said the witness, without giving further explanation of the discrepancies between his statements.
Both witnesses said that only those BiH Army members who were commanders of some units could be given a military rank. In the course of cross-examination Hasan Hakalovic added that "the deserving soldiers" were given ranks.
The indictment alleges that, in 1994, Kurtovic was promoted to lieutenant.
The Kurtovic trial is due to continue on December 13, when two more Prosecution witnesses will be examined.
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