FBU-2007-04-21

Date of Interview

4-21-2007

Interview Location

St. Louis, MO

Length of Interview

499:23

Gender

Male

Religion and/or Ethnicity

Muslim

Description

Born in Bugojno and after primary school moved to Sarajevo where he completed college and lived until 1977,Moved to Prijedor started a career working for the federal Yugoslavian government in a judiciary, enjoyed a great life with his wife and traveled all over Europe while also almost exclusively having friendships with Serbians, Noticed a change in Yugoslavia in 1991 when coworkers and friends who were Serbian stopped inviting him to social events, April 30th 1992 The Serbian paramilitary forces with the support of JNA take over the Police force and government of Prijedor, Driving to work that morning there was road blocks on the road and a list on the judiciary building door listing Muslim names who cannot enter the building, The new government immediately began to dismiss most of the non-Serb population from their positions and began to institute special rules against non-Serbs, The position of mayor was given to Milomir Stakic who would eventually be convicted of war crimes, Both his wife and him lose their jobs and are forced to rely on savings and humanitarian aid to survive, Muslim population is not allowed outside without a pass or a white tape tied around their arm, June 7th 1992 the military Police arrest his wife and take her to a concentration camp while he is away form him, Arrives home at 8:00 PM to an empty house, Military police arrest him as well and take him to the military headquarters, Questioned for hours and accused of being the organizer of a Muslim force to kill Serbians, Taken to Keraterm camp where he was held for about a month with 500 people, July 7th taken via bus with 26 Croats and 3 Muslims to Omarska camp, On arrival they called out a roll call and as prisoners would come out of the bus Serbs soldiers on either side with beat them with objects such as baseball bats, Taken to the "White House" a known location of torture and killings, While inside the house a Serb soldier attempts to take his shoes but seeing they are of no worth puts on knife to his thorat to kill him, saved by a young Serbian solider who knew him how he knew him is unknown, taken to another room for interrogation where he is accused of crimes against Serbs, Finally let out and placed into a room with wounded where through the window he witness the execution of everyone on his bus except 2 Muslims and 2 Croats, Witnessed arms, legs, feet and large amounts behind the "White House" morning after arrival after being taken there to use the restroom, Taken from the "White House" to a greenhouse in the camp where he spent the rest of his time at the camp recovering from head wounds and broken ribs, August 6th due to international pressure Omarska camp is closed, Transferred via base to the Manjaca camp which house about 3,000 people, During the transfer while waiting on the bus for his name to be hold had to eat his prayer beads so they would not be found, Only given food every 48 hours and only given access to water that was contaminated by rotting animal carcass, Witnessed the failed exchange of 150 Croatian who after the unsuccessful exchange came back to the camp via Knin heavily beaten and with some missing, Used a part of his shirt to treat one of the Croatians who he had become friend with, Stayed in the camp until November 15th, Traveled to Switzerland via Croatia after releasee, Applied for asylum in the United States and after waiting for approval came to the United States.

Keywords

Keraterm, Omarska, Manjača, Milomir Stakic, Concentration camp, Beatings, Torture

Pre-War Residence

Prijedor

Wartime Residence

Prijedor

First Country of Residence

Switzerland

Document Type

Oral History

Collection

Fontbonne University

Digital Format

MP3, MP4

Digital Publisher

Center for Bosnian Studies

City

St. Louis, MO

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