Batković camp
{{Short description|Prison camp in Bijeljina, Bosnia and Herzegovina}}
{{Infobox concentration camp
| name = Batković prison camp
| image =
| image size =
| caption = The two barns and courtyard where Bosniak detainees were held, tortured, sexually assaulted, and killed
| alt =
| location map = Republika Srpska#Bosnia and Herzegovina
| map label = Batković camp
| map alt =
| map caption =
| coordinates = {{coord|44|51|13|N|19|11|47|E|display=it}}
| other names =
| known for =
| location = Batković, Bijeljina, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| built by =
| operated by = Army of Republika Srpska
Bosnian Serb police
| original use =
| construction =
| in operation = 1 April 1992 – late January 1996{{cite web|url=http://www.oslobodjenje.ba/vijesti/bih/prezivjeli-logoras-iz-batkovica-i-danas-sanjam-da-mi-neko-ulazi-u-kucu-i-stavlja-pusku-na-celo|title=Preživjeli logoraš iz Batkovića: I danas sanjam da mi neko ulazi u kuću i stavlja pušku na čelo|publisher=Oslobođenje|date=1 April 2015|access-date=17 April 2015}}
| gas chambers =
| prisoner type= predominately Bosniaks, but also Croats
| inmates = up to 4,000
| killed = at least 6 (ICTY)
{{circa|80}} (Bosniak claim)
| liberated by =
| notable inmates = Sulejman Tihić, Fikret Malovčić
| notable books =
| website =
}}
The Batković camp (Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian Latin: Logor Batković) was a prison camp operated between 1992 and 1996 by Republika Srpska authorities in Batković, a village in the municipality of Bijeljina, Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Bosnian War.[https://onms.nenasilje.org/2019/poljoprivredno-dobro-batkovic-bijeljina/?lang=en Batković agricultural estate] It is believed to have been the first concentration camp of the Bosnian war, set up for Bosniak (Muslim) and Croat men, women and children, in an effort to ethnically cleanse the areas under Bosnian Serb control. Detainees were held in two large barns and tortured, deprived of food and water, forced to dig trenches, carry ammunition to the front lines, work in fields and factories and bury the dead.{{cite web|url=http://www.sense-agency.com/icty/friendships-flourished-in-batkovic-prison-camp.29.html?news_id=14811|title=FRIENDSHIPS FLOURISHED IN BATKOVIC PRISON CAMP|publisher=Sense Agency|date=3 April 2013|access-date=17 April 2015|archive-date=28 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428200006/http://www.sense-agency.com/icty/friendships-flourished-in-batkovic-prison-camp.29.html%3Fnews_id%3D14811|url-status=dead}} Prisoners were subject to daily beatings,{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1PP987m08R8C&q=Batkovi%C4%87+Detention+Camp&pg=PA135|title=The Serbian Project and Its Adversaries: A Strategy of War Crimes|year=2003|isbn=9780773523852|access-date=17 April 2015|last1=Gow|first1=James}} sexual assault and forced to beat one another.
Although the camp is believed to have been established between 1 April and June 1992, its existence was only confirmed by foreign press in August 1992.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=D9IPnOphym4C&q=Batkovi%C4%87+Detention+Camp&pg=PA211 |title=War Crimes in Bosnia-Hercegovina, Volume 2 |others=Helsinki Watch (Organization) |date=April 1993 |isbn=9781564320971 |access-date=17 April 2015}} The Human Rights Watch Group Helsinki Watch visited the camp twice in August 1992 and were allowed to interview detainees, most of whom were too scared to share any information about goings-on.
Trials
In the indictment against former Bosnian Serb general Ratko Mladić, International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) prosecutors claimed that at least 6 prisoners were murdered during the camp's operation, and that many others were raped or otherwise physically and psychologically abused.{{cite web|publisher=International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia|title=ICTY: Ratko Mladić Indictment|date=27 October 2011|url=https://www.icty.org/x/cases/mladic/ind/bcs/111020.pdf|page=33}} Bosniak sources maintain that as many as 80 inmates perished in the camp between 1992 and early 1996.{{cite web|publisher=Oslobođenje |title=Torture logora Batković prošlo 4.000 osoba |trans-title=4,000 People Were Detained in the Batković Camp |url=http://www.oslobodjenje.ba/vijesti/bih/torture-logora-batkovic-proslo-4000-osoba |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418170413/http://www.oslobodjenje.ba/vijesti/bih/torture-logora-batkovic-proslo-4000-osoba |archive-date=2015-04-18 }}
On 2 March 2012, the trial for four former Serb camp guards (Đoko Pajić, Petar Dmitrović, Đorđe Krstić, Ljubomir Mišić) began in a Bijeljina court. The four defendants were accused of abusing and beating Bosniak prisoners.{{cite web|url=http://www.nezavisne.com/novosti/bih/Svjedok-izjavio-da-je-u-logoru-Sabirni-centar-konstantno-bio-tucen-i-maltretiran-213002.html|title=Svjedok izjavio da je u logoru Sabirni centar konstantno bio tučen i maltretiran|publisher=Nezavisne|date=9 October 2013|access-date=17 April 2015}} Dmitrović was identified by witnesses as the camp commander, Pajić was identified as his successor, Krstić was identified as Pajić's replacement and Mišić was identified as commander of the guard.{{cite web|url=http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/witness-recalls-slaps-in-camp|title=Bosniak Prisoner 'Assaulted' at Bijeljina's Batkovic Camp|publisher=Balkan Insight|date=6 March 2014|access-date=17 April 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.dw.de/po%C4%8Delo-su%C4%91enje-za-zlo%C4%8Dine-u-logoru-batkovi%C4%87/a-15781491|title=Počelo suđenje za zločine u logoru Batković|publisher=DW.DE|date=2 March 2012|access-date=17 April 2015}} The trial was still ongoing two years later.{{cite web|url=http://www.balkaninsight.com/rs/article/%C5%A1amaran-bez-razloga/1458/6|title=Šamaran bez razloga|publisher=Balkan Insight|date=6 March 2014|access-date=17 April 2015}}
Another Serb, Gligor Begović, was arrested in Rogatica for war crimes on 28 April 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.oslobodjenje.ba/vijesti/bih/uhapsena-osoba-osumnjicena-za-ratne-zlocine-u-bijeljini |title=U Rogatici uhapšen Gligor Begović osumnjičen za ratne zločine u Bijeljini |publisher=Oslobođenje |date=28 April 2014 |access-date=17 April 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150417122818/http://www.oslobodjenje.ba/vijesti/bih/uhapsena-osoba-osumnjicena-za-ratne-zlocine-u-bijeljini |archive-date=17 April 2015 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.klix.ba/vijesti/bih/gligor-begovic-uhapsen-zbog-zlocina-u-batkovicu/140428052|title=Gligor Begović uhapšen zbog zločina u Batkoviću|publisher=Klix|date=28 April 2014|access-date=17 April 2015}} His trial began 26 November 2014. Begović was indicted for crimes committed against Bosniaks in Batković concentration camp in 1992.{{cite web|url=http://www.trial-ch.org/en/resources/trial-watch/trial-watch/profiles/profile/4376/action/show/controller/Profile.html |title=Gligor Begovic |publisher=Trial |access-date=17 April 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160409125151/http://www.trial-ch.org/en/resources/trial-watch/trial-watch/profiles/profile/4376/action/show/controller/Profile.html |archive-date=9 April 2016 }} Begović is further accused of participating in beatings, together with other guards, which caused the deaths of several detainees.{{cite web|url=http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/trial-of-gligor-begovic-begins|title=Bosnia Opens Batkovic Prisoner Abuse Trial|publisher=Balkan Insight|date=26 November 2014|access-date=17 April 2015}} He was sentenced to 13 years in prison on 9 December 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.justice-report.com/en/articles/witness-describes-assault-at-the-batkovic-detention-camp-at-begovic-trial|title=Witness Describes Assault at the Batkovic Detention Camp at Begovic Trial|publisher=Justice Report|date=11 March 2015|access-date=17 April 2015}}
Notable inmates
- Fikret Malovčić, singer
- Sulejman Tihić, politician
References
{{reflist|2}}
{{Bosnian War}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Batkovic camp}}
Category:1992 establishments in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Category:1996 disestablishments in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Category:Serbian concentration camps in the Yugoslav Wars