Witness recalls Medak Pocket massacre

A protected witness in the trial of Croatian generals Rahim Ademi and Mirko Norac testified today. The witness stated that the two defendants had buried the bodies of mutilated Serb civilians and prisoners in order to cover up the crime. Witness recalls Medak Pocket massacre Ademi and Norac are accused of war crimes against Serb civilians and prisoners in the Medak Pocket operation of September 1993. The witness is a former Croatian solider whose testimony was read out today during the trial in Zagreb. The protected witness was a member of the brigade led by Norac that participated in gathering the bodies. Those that bore no signs of torture or mutilation were taken away to be exchanged. The bodies to be exchanged were selected by a medic who later turned out to be a military informant, the witness said, adding that he had participated in the burial of 40 to 60 mutilated bodies. There were some 50 graves with such bodies in the Medak Pocket region, the witness said, stressing that the crimes had been committed two days before the military pulled out of the Medak Pocket, when they heard that a peace agreement had been signed under which the Croatian military had to leave the region that it had taken over only a few days earlier. The witness also said that houses had been torched and property looted at the troops’ own initiative, adding that even civilians from nearby villages had come over in trucks to steal property from the area. He said that the military leaders had known about this, but had not reacted. The witness said Ademi, as the commander of the region, had been to blame, and that he had devised the whole operation with Norac, whom he called a barbarian. Reacting to the testimony, Norac said that this soldier had drunk a lot, as much as a liter and a half of spirits a day, while defense lawyers said that the evidence had not been presented in accordance with the law. Norac also called the doctor responsible for inspecting the bodies, Marko Jagetic, a drunkard, after he testified to the mutilated bodies and exchanges that took place. Witness number nine was one of two former soldiers who testified anonymously in this case, having come to the court earlier to testify in person, but pulling out at the last minute. The trial will continue on April 23, when Ademi opens his defense. The two generals are accused of torturing and killing several dozen prisoners and civilians, as well as looting, setting on fire, and destroying several hundred homes and other buildings in the villages around Gospic, in the Medak Pocket.

Witness recalls Medak Pocket massacre

Ademi and Norac are accused of war crimes against Serb civilians and prisoners in the Medak Pocket operation of September 1993.

The witness is a former Croatian solider whose testimony was read out today during the trial in Zagreb.

The protected witness was a member of the brigade led by Norac that participated in gathering the bodies. Those that bore no signs of torture or mutilation were taken away to be exchanged.

The bodies to be exchanged were selected by a medic who later turned out to be a military informant, the witness said, adding that he had participated in the burial of 40 to 60 mutilated bodies.

There were some 50 graves with such bodies in the Medak Pocket region, the witness said, stressing that the crimes had been committed two days before the military pulled out of the Medak Pocket, when they heard that a peace agreement had been signed under which the Croatian military had to leave the region that it had taken over only a few days earlier.

The witness also said that houses had been torched and property looted at the troops’ own initiative, adding that even civilians from nearby villages had come over in trucks to steal property from the area. He said that the military leaders had known about this, but had not reacted.

The witness said Ademi, as the commander of the region, had been to blame, and that he had devised the whole operation with Norac, whom he called a barbarian.

Reacting to the testimony, Norac said that this soldier had drunk a lot, as much as a liter and a half of spirits a day, while defense lawyers said that the evidence had not been presented in accordance with the law.

Norac also called the doctor responsible for inspecting the bodies, Marko Jagetić, a drunkard, after he testified to the mutilated bodies and exchanges that took place.

Witness number nine was one of two former soldiers who testified anonymously in this case, having come to the court earlier to testify in person, but pulling out at the last minute.

The trial will continue on April 23, when Ademi opens his defense.

The two generals are accused of torturing and killing several dozen prisoners and civilians, as well as looting, setting on fire, and destroying several hundred homes and other buildings in the villages around Gospić, in the Medak Pocket.