Uzamnica camp was an internment camp established in 1992 by the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) forces housing Bosniak civilian prisoners during the Bosnian War.
| Uzamnica camp | |
|---|---|
| Detainment camp | |
  Uzamnica camp Location of Uzamnica camp within Republika Srpska  Uzamnica camp Uzamnica camp (Bosnia and Herzegovina) | |
| Coordinates | 43°46′59″N 19°17′33″E / 43.78306°N 19.29250°E |
| Location | Višegrad, Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Operated by | JNA forces |
| Inmates | Bosniak civilians |
Many of the Bosniaks who were not killed in the Višegrad massacres were detained at various locations in the town, including the former JNA military barracks and warehouse at Uzamnica, five kilometres from Višegrad. Some of these detainees were kept at this site for over two years. Serb soldiers raped many women and beat and terrorised non-Serb civilians. Widespread looting and destruction of non-Serb homes and property took place daily and the town's two mosques were destroyed.[1]
The camp
editPrisoners detained at Uzamnica were subjected to inhumane conditions. Many were subjected to regular beatings. Army of Republika Srpska were also permitted to enter the camp to beat and torture the prisoners at will. As a result of these assaults, many of the victims suffered serious and permanent injuries. Many prisoners were used for hard forced labour projects.[2] According to survivors interviewed by Ed Vulliamy, the only food provided for the prisoners was pork, which is forbidden in Islam. Each week, convoys of male prisoners would leave the camp, heading into Serbia, never to be seen again.[3]
Judgements by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY)
editMilan Lukić, was found guilty of 10 counts of crimes against humanity and nine counts of violations of the laws of war for his alleged involvement in atrocities, including murder, torture, persecution, looting and destruction of property, and was sentenced to life imprisonment on July 20, 2009.[4]
The Trial Chamber found Sredoje Lukić guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity and sentenced him to 30 years imprisonment.[5]
In relation to the Uzamnica camp, the evidence showed that both Milan Lukić and Sredoje Lukić were opportunistic visitors to the camp, although Sredoje Lukić came to the camp less frequently than Milan Lukić. When at the camp, both Milan Lukić and Sredoje Lukić severely and repeatedly kicked and beat the detainees with their fists, truncheons, sticks and rifle butts. Several victims testified before the Trial Chamber about these brutal beatings and the grave and permanent injuries they sustained and the suffering they endured.[6]
See also
editNotes
edit- ^ ICTY Vasiljevic Initial Judgement, pp. 1–2.
- ^ ICTY Vasiljevic Initial Judgement, p. 2.
- ^ The Guardian 11 March 1996.
- ^ ICTY 20 July 2009, pp. 5–6.
- ^ ICTY 20 July 2009, p. 6.
- ^ ICTY 20 July 2009, pp. 3–4.
References
edit- ICTY
- "Vasiljevic - Initial Judgement" (PDF). ICTY.org. International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.
- "Judgement Summary for Milan Lukić and Sredoje Lukić" (PDF). ICTY.org. International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. 20 July 2009.
- News Reports
- Vulliamy, Ed (11 March 1996). "Bloody Trail of Butchery at the Bridge". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 10 August 2007.