Cablegate: Tfsrol: Zagreb Update On Human Rights Issues

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

111605Z Jan 94

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PAGE 02 ZAGREB 00118 01 OF 03 111510Z
COM SIXTHFLT//N2//
CINCUSAFE RAMSTEIN AB GE//
AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
AMEMBASSY BONN
AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
AMEMBASSY ATHENS
AMEMBASSY ANKARA
CINCUSAREUR HEIDELBERG GE//J3/J4/J5/POLAD//

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ZAGREB 000118

SIPDIS

AMEMBASSY VIENNA ALSO FOR BOSNIA

E.O. 12356: NA
TAGS: PHUM PGOV HR PGOV HR PGOV HR BK
SUBJECT: TFSROL: ZAGREB UPDATE ON HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES

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27 BODIES FOUND IN KRIZANCEVO MASS GRAVE
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1. ON JANUARY 6 UNPROFOR TROOPS WERE PERMITTED TO
EXHUME A MASS GRAVE NEAR KRIZANCEVO (NEAR VITEZ, CENTRAL
B-H). BRITISH UNPROFOR ELEMENTS INVESTIGATING THE
SITUATION THERE ON DECEMBER 29 WERE FORCED TO WITHDRAW
AFTER ENCOUNTERING HEAVY FIRE FROM B-H ARMY POSITIONS.

2. ON JANUARY 8, AFTER UNPROFOR DID GET ACCESS TO THE
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PAGE 03 ZAGREB 00118 01 OF 03 111510Z
SCENE, UNPROFOR REPRESENTATIVE SIMON GHILL GAVE THE
CROATIAN DEFENSE COUNCIL (HVO) A LIST OF NAMES PROVIDED
BY THE B-H ARMY FOR THE 27 BODIES FOUND IN THE GRAVE.
ALL 27 WERE LISTED BY THE B-H ARMY AS HVO FIGHTERS OF
THE VITEZ BRIGADE. THE HVO ASSERTS, HOWEVER, THAT MOST
OF THE BODIES EXHUMED WERE DRESSED AS CIVILIANS. SO
FAR, 15 OF THE BODIES HAVE BEEN POSITIVELY IDENTIFIED.

3. ACCORDING TO UNPROFOR, ANOTHER COMMON GRAVE NEAR THE
KRIZANCEVO SITE CONTAINS AT LEAST 8 BODIES, ABOUT WHICH
THE B-H ARMY SO FAR HAS PROVIDED NO INFORMATION. IN
ADDITION, HVO SOURCES SAY, THE B-H ARMY HAS REFUSED TO
PERMIT RETRIEVAL OF SOME 15-20 BODIES LYING FOR THE LAST
18 DAYS NEAR THE CONFRONTATION LINE. THE B-H ARMY
CLAIMS 74 CROATS IN ALL WERE KILLED DURING THE
PRE-CHRISTMAS B-H ARMY OFFENSIVE NEAR KRIZANCEVO.
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CROATIAN CITIZENS REPORTEDLY MOBILIZED TO FIGHT IN B-H
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4. THE CROATIAN HELSINKI COMMITTEE (HHO) ISSUED A
STATEMENT DECEMBER 29 CLAIMING THAT IN THE WEEKS
PRECEDING THAT DATE SEVERAL THOUSAND CROATIAN CITIZENS
BORN IN B-H HAD BEEN DRAFTED AND SENT TO THE B-H FRONT.
THE HHO STATEMENT SAID MANY OF THE DRAFTEES ARE
STUDENTS, RETIRED OR EVEN HANDICAPPED PERSONS. THE HHO
SAYS THEY WERE STATIONED IN CROATIAN MILITARY BARRACKS
AND GIVEN UNIFORMS BEARING NO INSIGNIA. THE COMMITTEE
ALSO CLAIMS TO BE IN POSSESSION OF DOCUMENTS SHOWING
THAT SOLDIERS SERVING IN THE CROATIAN ARMY, AFTER
REFUSING TO BE TRANSFERRED TO B-H, WERE SUBJECTED TO
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PAGE 04 ZAGREB 00118 01 OF 03 111510Z
DISCIPLINARY MEASURES AND THREATENED WITH COURT MARTIAL.

5. MINISTRY OF DEFENSE SPOKESMAN GENERAL DRAGO KRPINA
RESPONDED TO THE HHO CHARGES ON DECEMBER 31, SAYING
"NONE OF THE ALLEGATIONS IN THE HHO STATEMENT ARE
CORRECT." HE EXPLAINED THAT UNDER CROATIAN ARMY'S
MASTER DEVELOPMENT PLAN A SKELETON RESERVE BRIGADE WAS
ESTABLISHED AND MANNED AT ONLY ONE QUARTER OF NORMAL
BRIGADE STRENGTH, A FACT HE SAID REFUTES THE CHARGE THAT
"SEVERAL THOUSAND" CROATIAN CITIZENS WERE MOBILIZED.
WHERE THIS BRIGADE MIGHT BE DEPLOYED, ONCE ACTIVATED,
"WILL BE DECIDED THROUGH STANDARD PROCEDURES," THE
SPOKESMAN SAID, ADDING THAT HE DID NOT KNOW WHETHER
NATIVE BOSNIAN CROATS WOULD VOLUNTEER TO SERVE IN BOSNIA
"TO DEFEND THE HEARTHS OF THEIR FOREFATHERS."

6. THE SPOKESMAN DID NOT EXCLUDE THE POSSIBILITY THAT
SOME STUDENTS, WHO BY LAW HAVE THE RIGHT TO CONTINUE
THEIR STUDIES, MIGHT HAVE BEEN INADVERTENTLY INCLUDED
AMONG THE DRAFTEES. IF SO, HE SAID, THEIR CASES WILL BE
RECONSIDERED. WHILE KRPINA DENIED THAT ANYONE HAD

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PAGE 01 ZAGREB 00118 02 OF 03 111510Z
ACTION SS-00

INFO LOG-00 AID-01 AMAD-01 CIAE-00 C-01 OASY-00 DOEE-00
DS-00 EB-01 EUR-01 HA-09 H-01 IMMC-01 TEDE-00
INR-00 IO-16 LAB-01 L-01 ADS-00 NSAE-00 OIC-02
OMB-01 PA-02 PM-01 PRS-01 P-01 RPCS-01 SCT-03
SIL-00 SNP-00 SP-00 SR-00 SSO-00 STR-01 TRSE-00
T-00 USIE-00 RPE-01 SNIS-00 NISC-02 /050W
------------------18CE81 111511Z /38
R 111605Z JAN 94
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 0463
INFO JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J3/J4/J5//
SECDEF WASHDC//ISA/ISP//
USMISSION GENEVA
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USMISSION USNATO
USEC BRUSSELS
AMEMBASSY VIENNA
AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
AMEMBASSY ROME
AMEMBASSY PARIS
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
AMEMBASSY MADRID
CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK//N2/N22//
WHITE HOUSE WASHDC
HQ JTF PP NAPLES IT//CA/POLAD//
USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ3/ECJ5//
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PAGE 02 ZAGREB 00118 02 OF 03 111510Z
COM SIXTHFLT//N2//
CINCUSAFE RAMSTEIN AB GE//
AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
AMEMBASSY BONN
AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
AMEMBASSY ATHENS
AMEMBASSY ANKARA
CINCUSAREUR HEIDELBERG GE//J3/J4/J5/POLAD//

UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 03 ZAGREB 000118

SIPDIS

AMEMBASSY VIENNA ALSO FOR BOSNIA

E.O. 12356: NA
TAGS: PHUM PGOV HR PGOV HR PGOV HR BK
SUBJECT: TFSROL: ZAGREB UPDATE ON HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES

KNOWINGL
Y BEEN MOBILIZED IN CONTRAVENTION OF CROATIA'S
DEFENSE LAW, HE SAID THAT ANY SUCH CASES WHICH CAME TO
LIGHT WOULD BE REEXAMINED. HE ALSO SAID THAT NO ONE WHO
REFUSED TO FIGHT IN B-H HAD BEEN SUBJECTED TO
DISCIPLINARY MEASURES. KRPINA PROMISED TO INSPECT
CLOSELY ANY DOCUMENTATION PRESENTED TO HIM ALLEGING SUCH
DISCIPLINARY MEASURES AGAINST DRAFTEES.

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REACTION TO BOMBING OF ORTHODOX EPARCHY RESIDENCE
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PAGE 03 ZAGREB 00118 02 OF 03 111510Z
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7. A POWERFUL EXPLOSION EARLY DECEMBER 24 MORNING
SHATTERED THE CHRISTMAS CEASEFIRE CALM IN KARLOVAC,
COMPLETELY DESTROYING ONE WING OF THE ORTHODOX EPARCHY
RESIDENCE, PROPERTY OF THE SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH, IN
THE CENTER OF THE CITY. SOME TEN SHOPS IN THE VICINITY
ALSO WERE DAMAGED, AS WELL AS THE ROOF OF A NEARBY
FRANCISCAN MONASTERY. POLICE SAY A TIME BOMB APPARENTLY
WAS THE CAUSE. THE RESIDENCE HAD BEEN VACATED AND
LOCKED SINCE SEPTEMBER 1991, WHEN MOST ORTHODOX CLERGY
LEFT CROATIA. A COMPLETE INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN ORDERED
BY CROATIAN AUTHORITIES.

8. CROATIAN ROMAN CATHOLIC CARDINAL FRANJO KUHARIC
IMMEDIATELY ISSUED A STRONG CONDEMNATION. "A CRIME HAS
BEEN COMMITTED AGAINST THE LAW AND AGAINST PEACE," HE
SAID. "RESOLUTELY AND WITH BITTERNESS WE PROTEST
AGAINST THIS CRIME, WHICH HAS TRAGIC CONSEQUENCES NOT
ONLY FOR THE EPARCHY BUT ALSO FOR CROATIA. DURING
CHRISTMAS, A CEASEFIRE WAS AGREED UPON IN THIS SENSITIVE
TERRITORY. THE BOMBING HAS VIOLATED THIS CEASEFIRE. WE
REQUEST A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION. WE CONDEMN EACH ACT
OF HATRED, VIOLENCE, AND REVENGE, BECAUSE IT IS AN
ATTACK ON DIVINE AND HUMAN LAWS. WHOEVER HAS COMMITTED
THIS ACT IS AN ENEMY OF MAN AND THE NATION."

9. KARLOVAC DISTRICT GOVERNOR JOSIP JAKOVCIC ALSO
CONDEMNED THE BOMBING AS A POLITICALLY-MOTIVATED
CRIMINAL ACT. JAKOVCIC SAID THAT THE PERPETRATORS "DID
CROATIA NO FAVOR -- JUST THE OPPOSITE." HE CALLED THE
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PAGE 04 ZAGREB 00118 02 OF 03 111510Z
BOMBING A PREMEDITATED ACT, DESIGNED TO DESTABILIZE THE
KARLOVAC REGION.
10. ACCORDING TO KARLOVAC MILITARY CORPS COMMANDER
GENERAL PAVAO MILJEVAC, THE BOMBING DID GREAT HARM TO
THE FRAGILE CEASEFIRE IN SECTOR NORTH. "WE MAINTAIN
CONSTANT CONTACT WITH THE OTHER SIDE," SAID MILJEVAC.
"SPECIAL CONSIDERATION IS GIVEN TO RESPECTING THE
CEASEFIRE. THE EPARCHY RESIDENCE IS NEAR THE
CONFRONTATION LINE, WHERE FORCES ARE VERY CLOSE. AN
ESCALATION OF THE CONFLICT IS NOW POSSIBLE. IT IS UP TO
US TO PRESERVE PEACE. WE WISH TO INFORM THE OTHER SIDE
ABOUT THE DETAILS. THE MILITARY LEADERSHIP, AS WELL AS
THE GOVERNMENT, CONSIDERS THIS BOMBING A TERRORIST ACT,
REGARDLESS OF WHO THE PERPETRATOR WAS." (EMBASSY
COMMENT: THE CHRISTMAS CEASEFIRE ESSENTIALLY HELD IN
SECTOR NORTH AND THE INVESTIGATION IS CONTINUING. END
COMMENT)

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LEAKED DOCUMENTS IMPLICATE DEPUTY IN 1991 WAR CRIMES
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PAGE 01 ZAGREB 00118 03 OF 03 111511Z
ACTION SS-00

INFO LOG-00 AID-01 AMAD-01 CIAE-00 C-01 OASY-00 DOEE-00
DS-00 EB-01 EUR-01 HA-09 H-01 IMMC-01 TEDE-00
INR-00 IO-16 LAB-01 L-01 ADS-00 NSAE-00 OIC-02
OMB-01 PA-02 PM-01 PRS-01 P-01 RPCS-01 SCT-03
SIL-00 SNP-00 SP-00 SR-00 SSO-00 STR-01 TRSE-00
T-00 USIE-00 RPE-01 SNIS-00 NISC-02 /050W
------------------18CE85 111511Z /38
R 111605Z JAN 94
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 0464
INFO JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J3/J4/J5//
SECDEF WASHDC//ISA/ISP//
USMISSION GENEVA
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USMISSION USNATO
USEC BRUSSELS
AMEMBASSY VIENNA
AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
AMEMBASSY ROME
AMEMBASSY PARIS
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
AMEMBASSY MADRID
CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK//N2/N22//
WHITE HOUSE WASHDC
HQ JTF PP NAPLES IT//CA/POLAD//
USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ3/ECJ5//
UNCLASSIFIED

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PAGE 02 ZAGREB 00118 03 OF 03 111511Z
COM SIXTHFLT//N2//
CINCUSAFE RAMSTEIN AB GE//
AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
AMEMBASSY BONN
AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
AMEMBASSY ATHENS
AMEMBASSY ANKARA
CINCUSAREUR HEIDELBERG GE//J3/J4/J5/POLAD//

UNCLAS SECTION 03 OF 03 ZAGREB 000118

SIPDIS

AMEMBASSY VIENNA ALSO FOR BOSNIA

E.O. 12356: NA
TAGS: PHUM PGOV HR PGOV HR PGOV HR BK
SUBJECT: TFSROL: ZAGREB UPDATE ON HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES

11. A REPORT PUBLISHED IN THE CHRISTMAS ISSUE OF THE
WEEKLY NEWSMAGAZINE "GLOBUS" LEVELLED WAR CRIMES CHARGES
AGAINST SABOR REPRESENTATIVE TOMISLAV MERCEP, KNOWN IN
SOME CROATIAN CIRCLES AS THE DEFENDER OF VUKOVAR AND OF
GOSPIC. THE ARTICLE INCLUDES EXTRACTS FROM CROATIAN
INTERIOR MINISTRY DOCUMENTS, CLASSIFIED AS "STATE
SECRETS," WHICH CLAIM THAT SOME 20 EXECUTIONS WERE

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CARRIED OUT IN 1991 BY A POLICE SQUAD LED BY MERCEP.
THE KILLINGS ALLEGEDLY TOOK PLACE IN PAKRACKA POLJANA,
WHERE THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT IN LATE 1993 PERMITTED UN
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PAGE 03 ZAGREB 00118 03 OF 03 111511Z
WAR CRIMES INVESTIGATORS TO EXAMINE A MASS GRAVE.
INTERIOR MINISTER IVAN JARNJAK SAID DECEMBER 28 THAT AN
INQUIRY INTO THE ALLEGED WAR CRIMES HAD ALREADY BEGUN.
JARNJAK ALSO SAID HE DID NOT KNOW HOW THE DOCUMENTS WERE
OBTAINED BY THE PRESS BUT THAT THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT
IS INVESTIGATING THE LEAK.

GALBRAITH

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