Stadium

ICTY

The detentions in Bugojno followed the beginning of the conflict between the ARBiH and the HVO that broke out in the town in July 1993. Since there was no real prison in Bugojno, the Bugojno War Presidency converted several buildings into prisons where the ARBiH sent detainees. (para. 1158. Hadžihasanović and Kubura, p. 358.)

In a decision made on August 24, 1993, the Bugojno War Presidency decided to use the space under the stands of the Iskra stadium for the detention of civilians and military personnel. The stadium functioned as a detention centre from the second half of August 1993 until March 19, 1994. (paras. 1696-1697. Hadžihasanović and Kubura, p. 545.)

Between the second half of August 1993 and the beginning of November 1993, more than 400 detainees were detained at the Iskra stadium. These were mostly HVO soldiers, but there were also civilians, Bosnian Croats, and some Bosnian Serbs. (para. 1700. Hadžihasanović and Kubura, p. 547.)

Prisoners lived in an atmosphere of fear and poverty in the stadium, and were repeatedly subjected to physical abuse, either being beaten in the stadium or during interrogations that were carried out at BH Bank, just outside the stadium. (paras. 1706., 1715. Hadžihasanović and Kubura, pp. 548-549, 551.)

The Stadion camp remained in operation until March 19, 1994, when the last detainees were released. Many detainees from other detention centres in Bugojno spent long periods of time in detention, even up to eight months. On March 19, 1994, another 292 people were detained at the Iskra stadium. (para. 1586. Hadžihasanović and Kubura, p. 512.)

Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina

In accordance with the decision of the Bugojno War Presidency, the Stadion concentration camp was established in 1993. There, more than 300 men of Croat ethnicity were detained, including civilians and members of the HVO who had surrendered to members of the ARBiH. The camp was in operation until mid-March 1994. (Enes Handžić, pp. 10-13.), (paras. 219-221., 223. Nisvet Gasal et al., second-instance judgment, pp. 100-101, 102.)

In early October 1993, prisoners from the Public Security Station (SJB) and a gymnasium were transferred to the Stadion camp. (Nisvet Gasal et al. second-instance judgment, p. 4.)

Detainees at the stadium were taken to perform forced labour in Bugojno, to set up combat positions, and to dig trenches on the front lines facing Donji Vakuf, Gornji Vakuf/Uskoplje, and Kupres, where they were also used as human shields. Some of the detainees were killed or wounded when being used as human shields. (Enes Handžić, pp. 10-13.), (paras. 239-242., 262. Nisvet Gasal et al. second-instance judgment, pp. 9-10, 106-107, 113.)

During their stay in the camp, detainees were physically abused. (Enes Handžić, pp. 10-13.), (paras. 274-275. Nisvet Gasal et al. second-instance judgment, pp. 10-11, 118.)

The detainees were beaten immediately after being brought to the stadium in late August or early September 1993, and were hit on all parts of their bodies. (paras. 278-295. Nisvet Gasal et al. second-instance judgment, pp. 120-125.)

Some detainees, 16 of whom had been declared extremists, were separated and taken to a motel in Ravno Rostovo where they were killed. The bodies of some of the victims have not been located. One man escaped during the transport and survived. (Enes Handžić, pp. 10-13.)