Cablegate: Tfsrol: Severe Human Rights Abuses in B-H:

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

UNCLASSIFIED LIMITED OFFICIAL USE SECTION 01 OF 07 ZAGREB 00919

SIPDIS

AMEMBASSY PRAGUE
AMEMBASSY PARIS
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
AMEMBASSY MADRID
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA
AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN
AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
AMEMBASSY BONN
AMEMBASSY ATHENS
AMEMBASSY ANKARA
AMEMBASSY BELGRADE

LIMITED OFFICIAL USE SECTION 01 OF 07 ZAGREB 000919

STATE FOR EUR/EE, L, HA, IO

USMISSION VIENNA ALSO FOR USDEL CSCE

E.O. 12356: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREF HR PREF HR PREF HR PREF HR PREF HR PREF HR PREF HR BK
SUBJECT: TFSROL: SEVERE HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN B-H:
EYEWITNESS DESCRIBES KILLINGS AND ATROCITIES
IN BRCKO, LUKA, AND BATKOVIC

REF: (A) ZAGREB 827; (B) ZAGREB 872

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INTRODUCTION
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1. (U) THIS IS ONE IN A SERIES OF REPORTS OF
INTERVIEWS OF WAR CRIMES VICTIMS CONDUCTED IN LATE
1993 IN MAOCA, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, BY A DART/ZAGREB
FIELD REP AND AN AMCIT IRC REP WHILE THEY WERE IN THE
AREA ASSESSING HUMANITARIAN NEEDS. THIS REPORT NAMES
VICTIMS AND, IN SOME CASES, PERPETRATORS AND DETAILS
OF SPECIFIC CRIMES.

-----------
THE WITNESS
-----------

2. (LOU) ADMIR TOSKIC (STRICTLY PROTECT), HEREAFTER
REFERRED TO AS THE WITNESS, IS A BOSNIAN MUSLIM FROM
THE BRCKO MUNICIPALITY. HE WAS BORN JANUARY 11,
1969, AND WAS AN UNEMPLOYED CIVILIAN AT THE TIME OF
HIS ARREST BY BOSNIAN SERB FORCES ON MAY 7, 1992.

---------------------
THE WITNESS'S ACCOUNT
---------------------
3. (U) THE WITNESS WAS IN HIS APARTMENT IN NOVO
BRCKO ON MAY 7, 1992, WHEN TWO MASKED MEN ORDERED
EVERYONE (ABOUT 500 PEOPLE) OUT OF THE BUILDING ON
THE PRETEXT THAT THEY HAD TO BE EVACUATED BECAUSE OF
THE SHELLING. THEY WERE ALL TAKEN TO THE ARMY
BARRACKS WHERE SERBS WERE IMMEDIATELY SEPARATED AND
RELEASED, WHILE CROATS AND MUSLIMS WERE HELD.

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PAGE 04 ZAGREB 00919 01 OF 07 041724Z
4. (U) ABOUT TWO HOURS LATER, MILENKO VOJINOVIC,
AKA "DR. BELI," THE PRESIDENT OF THE SDS IN BRCKO,
CAME TO THE BARRACKS AND ASKED FOR 20 VOLUNTEERS TO
CLEAN UP BROKEN GLASS AROUND THE POLICE STATION AND
THE CENTER OF TOWN. THE WITNESS VOLUNTEERED ALONG
WITH 26 OTHER MEN, AND THEY WERE IMMEDIATELY DIVIDED
INTO TWO GROUPS. THE WITNESS'S GROUP BEGAN CLEANING
UP GLASS AROUND THE POLICE STATION.

5. (U) BETWEEN 4:30 AND 5:00 P.M., WITNESS HEARD
SCREAMS, SWEARING, AND TWO SHOTS FROM INSIDE THE
POLICE STATION. HE ALSO HEARD A (SERBIAN) "CETNIK"
SONG BEING SUNG. THEN, A GROUP OF STRANGERS
INCLUDING A WOMAN -- WHOM HE LATER DETERMINED TO BE
NAMED SEKA AND FROM NOVI SAD -- CAME OUT OF THE
POLICE STATION. THEY BEGAN BEATING THE MEMBERS OF
THE WITNESS'S GROUP AND MAKING THEM KNEEL WITH THEIR
HEADS DOWN WHILE THEY WAITED TO BE TAKEN FOR

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ACTION SS-00

INFO LOG-00 AID-01 AMAD-01 CIAE-00 C-01 OASY-00 EB-01
EUR-01 OIGO-01 HA-09 H-01 IMMC-01 TEDE-00 INR-00
IO-16 L-01 ADS-00 NSAE-00 OIC-02 PA-01 PRS-01
P-01 RP-10 RPCS-01 SB-00 SP-00 SR-00 SSO-00
STR-01 TRSE-00 USIE-00 RPE-01 SNIS-00 NISC-02 /054W
------------------2C2778 041726Z /38
P 041715Z MAR 94
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1080
INFO USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ3/ECJ5//
SECDEF WASHDC//ISA/ISP//
JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J5-PMA/J21//
HQ JTF PP NAPLES IT//CA/POLAD//
COM SIXTHFLT//N2//
CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK//N2/N22//
CINCUSAREUR HEIDELBERG GE//J3/J4/J5/POLAD//
CINCUSAFE RAMSTEIN AB GE//J3/J4/J5/POLAD//
WHITE HOUSE WASHDC
AMCONSUL MUNICH
USEC BRUSSELS
USMISSION USVIENNA
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USMISSION USNATO
USMISSION GENEVA
AMEMBASSY VIENNA
AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
AMEMBASSY ROME
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PAGE 02 ZAGREB 00919 02 OF 07 041725Z
AMEMBASSY PRAGUE
AMEMBASSY PARIS
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
AMEMBASSY MADRID
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA
AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN
AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
AMEMBASSY BONN
AMEMBASSY ATHENS
AMEMBASSY ANKARA
AMEMBASSY BELGRADE

LIMITED OFFICIAL USE SECTION 02 OF 07 ZAGREB 000919

STATE FOR EUR/EE, L, HA, IO

USMISSION VIENNA ALSO FOR USDEL CSCE

E.O. 12356: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREF HR PREF HR PREF HR PREF HR PREF HR PREF HR PREF HR BK
SUBJECT: TFSROL: SEVERE HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN B-H:
EYEWITNESS DESCRIBES KILLINGS AND ATROCITIES
IN BRCKO, LUKA, AND BATKOVIC

INTERROGATION. AFTER A WHILE, THE WITNESS SNEAKED A
LOOK AND SAW HIS NEIGHBOR KRSO, THE OWNER OF CAFE
LAKS. THE WOMAN NAMED SEKA HAD A CAMERA AND WAS
WEARING A GREEN MILITARY CAP WHICH SHE PUT ON KRSO'S
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PAGE 03 ZAGREB 00919 02 OF 07 041725Z
HEAD. A MAN NAMED GORAN JELISIC WHO WAS CALLED THE
"SERBIAN ADOLF" THEN SHOT KRSO TO DEATH WHILE SEKA
TOOK A PHOTO. THE WITNESS SPECULATED THAT THE CAP
WAS PUT ON KRSO TO MAKE IT LOOK IN THE PHOTO AS IF HE
WERE A SOLDIER.

6. (U) NEXT, A MAN WITH A MOUSTACHE WHOM THE WITNESS
DID NOT KNOW ORDERED HIM AND ANOTHER YOUNG MAN TO GO
IN FRONT OF THE POSAVINA HOTEL TO COVER UP TWO DEAD
BODIES. ONE OF THE BODIES WAS ON ITS BACK. THE
WITNESS COULD SEE THAT THE VICTIM'S THROAT HAD BEEN
CUT AND HIS PENIS CUT OFF. THE OTHER BODY (ALSO A
MAN) WAS LYING FACE DOWN, SO THE WITNESS DID NOT SEE
WHAT HAD BEEN DONE TO HIM. AFTER THE WITNESS
AND THE
OTHER YOUNG MAN COVERED THE BODIES WITH A TENT, THEY
WERE ORDERED TO MOVE AWAY. THE WITNESS QUICKLY
WALKED BACK TOWARD THE POLICE STATION. HE HEARD TWO
SHOTS BEHIND HIM AND NEVER SAW THE OTHER YOUNG MAN
AGAIN, SO HE ASSUMED THE GUARD SHOT HIM. BACK AT THE
POLICE STATION, HE REJOINED HIS GROUP. A GIRL NAMED
VIOLETA, WHO WAS SEKA'S DAUGHTER, LINED THE GROUP UP
AND MADE THEM SING A SONG ABOUT A TURKISH WOMAN WHO
SAID IN FRONT OF A MOSQUE THAT SHE HAD ONLY LOVED A
SERB.

7. (U) THE GROUP WAS THEN LED INTO THE POLICE
STATION AND WERE FORCED TO LOOK AT THE SERBIAN FLAG
WHILE A MAN NAMED GORAN JELISIC BEAT THEM WITH A
RUBBER TRUNCHEON. THE WITNESS REMEMBERED GORAN'S ARM
WAS COVERED WITH BLOOD FROM HIS VICTIMS. VIOLETA
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PAGE 04 ZAGREB 00919 02 OF 07 041725Z
SAID, "WHICH ONE DO WE DO NOW, NUMBER 53 OR 54?"
GORAN REPLIED, "I WON'T LEAVE BRCKO UNTIL I KILL 500."

8. (LOU) AT THIS POINT, FIVE OF THE WITNESS'S FORMER
SERB FRIENDS (PROTECT -- SEE PARA 24 FOR
IDENTIFICATION) ENTERED AND ASKED GORAN IF THEY COULD
HAVE FIVE MEN TO KILL. WHEN GORAN SAID YES, ONE OF
THEM SELECTED THE WITNESS, ELVEDIM SALKANOVIC, MIRSA
KORENIC, ADAN AHMEDOVIC, AND MELI HAMIDOVIC. THEY
ALL WERE PUT IN A CAR AND TAKEN TO AN APARTMENT IN
THE "S" SETTLEMENT (A NEIGHBORHOOD IN
BRCKO). IN THE APARTMENT WERE FIVE OR SIX BRCKO
SERBS INCLUDING TWO POLICEMEN (PROTECT - SEE PARA 24
FOR NAMES). AS IT TURNED OUT, THEY DID NOT WANT TO
KILL THE WITNESS AND THE OTHERS, BUT WERE COVERTLY
TRYING TO SAVE THEIR LIVES. THE WITNESS BEGGED THEM
TO GO BACK TO THE POLICE STATION TO GET HIS BROTHER,
WHICH THEY DID. TWO OTHER SERBS (IDENTIFIED IN PARA

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PAGE 01 ZAGREB 00919 03 OF 07 041725Z
ACTION SS-00

INFO LOG-00 AID-01 AMAD-01 CIAE-00 C-01 OASY-00 EB-01
EUR-01 OIGO-01 HA-09 H-01 IMMC-01 TEDE-00 INR-00
IO-16 L-01 ADS-00 NSAE-00 OIC-02 PA-01 PRS-01
P-01 RP-10 RPCS-01 SB-00 SP-00 SR-00 SSO-00
STR-01 TRSE-00 USIE-00 RPE-01 SNIS-00 NISC-02 /054W
------------------2C2782 041726Z /38
P 041715Z MAR 94
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1081
INFO USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ3/ECJ5//
SECDEF WASHDC//ISA/ISP//
JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J5-PMA/J21//
HQ JTF PP NAPLES IT//CA/POLAD//
COM SIXTHFLT//N2//
CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK//N2/N22//
CINCUSAREUR HEIDELBERG GE//J3/J4/J5/POLAD//
CINCUSAFE RAMSTEIN AB GE//J3/J4/J5/POLAD//
WHITE HOUSE WASHDC
AMCONSUL MUNICH
USEC BRUSSELS
USMISSION USVIENNA
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USMISSION USNATO
USMISSION GENEVA
AMEMBASSY VIENNA
AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
AMEMBASSY ROME
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PAGE 02 ZAGREB 00919 03 OF 07 041725Z
AMEMBASSY PRAGUE
AMEMBASSY PARIS
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
AMEMBASSY MADRID
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA
AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN
AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
AMEMBASSY BONN
AMEMBASSY ATHENS
AMEMBASSY ANKARA
AMEMBASSY BELGRADE

LIMITED OFFICIAL USE SECTION 03 OF 07 ZAGREB 000919

STATE FOR EUR/EE, L, HA, IO

USMISSION VIENNA ALSO FOR USDEL CSCE

E.O. 12356: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREF HR PREF HR PREF HR PREF HR PREF HR PREF HR PREF HR BK
SUBJECT: TFSROL: SEVERE HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN B-H:
EYEWITNESS DESCRIBES KILLINGS AND ATROCITIES
IN BRCKO, LUKA, AND BATKOVIC

24) WERE ALSO INVOLVED IN THIS SCHEME, THE FORMER
BRINGING IN THREE YOUNG MEN AND THE LATTER, ONE.
ALTOGETHER, 10 MEN FROM THE ORIGINAL 27 VOLUNTEERS
ENDED UP AT THIS APARTMENT, AND ANOTHER FIVE WERE
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PAGE 03 ZAGREB 00919 03 OF 07 041725Z
SAVED BY OTHERS. THE REMAINING 12, HE HEARD, WERE
KILLED.

9. (U) THE WITNESS AND HIS BROTHER WENT TO ANOTHER
APARTMENT, AND AFTER A FEW DAYS HAD TO GO OUT TO TRY
TO BUY BREAD. THEY AND TWO OTHERS INCLUDING ADMIR
SARAJLIC (AKA DEBA) WERE STOPPED BY A SERB SOLDIER
AND ASKED FOR THEIR IDENTIFICATION CARDS. THEY HAD
NO IDENTIFICATION, BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN TAKEN FROM
THEM AT THE TIME OF THEIR FIRST ARREST. THE SOLDIER
ARRESTED THEM AND TOOK THEM ALL TO ROOM 13 AT THE
BRCKO POLICE STATION.
-
10. (U) THE MEN WERE INITIALLY TAKEN INTO ROOM 13
WHERE THEY SAW TWO YOUNG MEN, MIRZA KARDAL AND SENAD
BECIREVIC, WHO HAD BEEN HORRIBLY BEATEN. WITNESS
DESCRIBED THE ROOM AS BEING APPROXIMATELY TWO METERS
BY TWO METERS AND COMPLETELY COVERED WITH BLOOD.
WHILE ENTERING THE STATION, WITNESS SAW PETAR DJOKIC
(SECRETARY OF THE SDS) AND PETAR KAURINOVIC AND KRSTO
MIHAJLOVIC (POLICE INSPECTORS). DJOKIC TOOK DEBA
SARAJLIC AWAY. THE WITNESS AND HIS BROTHER WERE THEN
QUESTIONED BY POLICE INSPECTORS DRAJISA AND
KAURINOVIC. AFTERWARDS, THEY RETURNED TO ROOM 13,
AND AFTER TWO OR THREE HOURS A POLICEMAN PUT
HANDCUFFS ON THEM AND TOOK THEM TO LUKA PRISON CAMP
ALONG WITH DEBA.

11. (U) THE WITNESS AND FIVE OTHERS WERE PUT INTO
ONE CORNER OF THE FIRST WAREHOUSE AT LUKA. AFTER
ABOUT 10 MINUTES, GORAN JELISIC CALLED FOR SENAD
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PAGE 04 ZAGREB 00919 03 OF 07 041725Z
BECIREVIC, AND WHEN SENAD RETURNED HE HAD ONCE AGAIN
BEEN BEATEN BLOODY. THEN IVAN (LNU) FROM BIJELJINA
ENTERED WITH BRASS KNUCKLES AND BEAT THE WITNESS AND
DEBA.

12. (U) LATER, A YOUNG GIRL THE WITNESS KNEW AS
MONIKA ENTERED WITH A BAG AND A PISTOL AND COLLECTED
ALL REMAINING VALUABLES AND IDENTIFICATION CARDS.
GORAN ASKED MONIKA IF SHE WOULD LIKE TO KILL A BALJA
(DEROGATORY TERM FOR A MUSLIM). THEY THEN LEFT THE
WAREHOUSE AND WITNESS HEARD SHOTS AND SCREAMS. AT
THIS TIME, HE WAS ABLE TO LOOK UP AND OBSERVE ANOTHER
LARGE GROUP OF PRISONERS IN AN ADJOINING WAREHOUSE.

13. (U) A SHORT TIME LATER, GORAN JELISIC RETURNED
AND SELECTED THE WITNESS AND THREE OTHER MEN TO GO
WITH HIM TO PULL DEAD BODIES FROM THE SAVA RIVER.
THE WITNESS FOUND A BODY STUCK IN THE MUD OF THE

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PAGE 01 ZAGREB 00919 04 OF 07 041726Z
ACTION SS-00

INFO LOG-00 AID-01 AMAD-01 CIAE-00 C-01 OASY-00 EB-01
EUR-01 OIGO-01 HA-09 H-01 IMMC-01 TEDE-00 INR-00
IO-16 L-01 ADS-00 NSAE-00 OIC-02 PA-01 PRS-01
P-01 RP-10 RPCS-01 SB-00 SP-00 SR-00 SSO-00
STR-01 TRSE-00 USIE-00 RPE-01 SNIS-00 NISC-02 /054W
------------------2C279D 041727Z /38
P 041715Z MAR 94
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1082
INFO USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ3/ECJ5//
SECDEF WASHDC//ISA/ISP//
JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J5-PMA/J21//
HQ JTF PP NAPLES IT//CA/POLAD//
COM SIXTHFLT//N2//
CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK//N2/N22//
CINCUSAREUR HEIDELBERG GE//J3/J4/J5/POLAD//
CINCUSAFE RAMSTEIN AB GE//J3/J4/J5/POLAD//
WHITE HOUSE WASHDC
AMCONSUL MUNICH
USEC BRUSSELS
USMISSION USVIENNA
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USMISSION USNATO
USMISSION GENEVA
AMEMBASSY VIENNA
AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
AMEMBASSY ROME
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PAGE 02 ZAGREB 00919 04 OF 07 041726Z
AMEMBASSY PRAGUE
AMEMBASSY PARIS
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
AMEMBASSY MADRID
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA
AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN
AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
AMEMBASSY BONN
AMEMBASSY ATHENS
AMEMBASSY ANKARA
AMEMBASSY BELGRADE

LIMITED OFFICIAL USE SECTION 04 OF 07 ZAGREB 000919

STATE FOR EUR/EE, L, HA, IO

USMISSION VIENNA ALSO FOR USDEL CSCE

E.O. 12356: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREF HR PREF HR PREF HR PREF HR PREF HR PREF HR PREF HR BK
SUBJECT: TFSROL: SEVERE HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN B-H:
EYEWITNESS DESCRIBES KILLINGS AND ATROCITIES
IN BRCKO, LUKA, AND BATKOVIC

RIVER BED W
ITH ONLY THE LEGS PROTRUDING. HE HAD TO
PULL IT LOOSE AND CARRY IT UP THE MUDDY BANK. HE
KEPT SLIPPING, AND IT TOOK HIM AT LEAST 30 MINUTES TO
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GET THE BODY 10 TO 15 METERS UP THE SLOPE. WHEN THEY
REACHED THE PLATEAU IN FRONT OF LUKA THEY LAY THE
BODIES THERE. GORAN THEN ORDERED ONE OF THE
PRISONERS TO BEND DOWN AND LICK THE BLOOD OFF OF ONE
OF THE CORPSES AND, AS THE PRISONER DID SO, GORAN
SHOT HIM IN THE HEAD. ANOTHER ONE OF THE YOUNG MEN
THEN GOT DOWN ON HIS KNEES AND BEGGED GORAN NOT TO
KILL HIM BECAUSE HE HAD A LITTLE DAUGHTER. GORAN
KILLED HIM ON THE SPOT. THE WITNESS AND THE FOURTH
MAN THEN RETURNED TO THE WAREHOUSE TO THE SAME CORNER
FROM WHICH THEY HAD BEEN CALLED. SUDDENLY, GORAN
RUSHED IN, FORCED HIS PISTOL INTO THE FOURTH MAN'S
MOUTH AND SHOT HIM. THE WITNESS STOOD
THERE HELPLESSLY, WANTING ONLY TO HAVE THE NIGHTMARE
OVER. HE SAID HE HAD NO IDEA WHY GORAN DID NOT KILL
HIM LIKE THE OTHERS.

14. (LOU) THE NEXT DAY, THE WITNESS WENT TO THE
TOILET WITHOUT PERMISSION. GORAN JELISIC ORDERED HIM
INTO HIS OFFICE AND SCREAMED, "SIT DOWN|" ADMIR
SARAJLIC WAS ALREADY THERE BEING INTERROGATED AND WAS
BEING BEATEN WITH STICKS AND HAMMERS. AT THAT
MOMENT, THE PHONE RANG, AND AFTER A BRIEF
CONVERSATION, GORAN ASKED ADMIR HIS NAME. ADMIR
REPLIED AND GORAN SAID, "YOU'RE LUCKY. YOU WERE
FOURTH ON THE LIST TO BE SHOT, AND THIS BLOODY MONKEY
WAS FIFTH, BUT YOU'RE BOTH RELEASED." THEY WERE
TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME WAREHOUSE AND, AT TWILIGHT,
WERE RELEASED ALONG WITH THE WITNESS'S BROTHER. THEY
WENT FIRST TO THEIR AUNT'S APARTMENT, THEN TO
ANOTHER, AND FINALLY TO HIS OWN IN NOVO BRCKO.
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15. (U) THE WITNESS AND HIS BROTHER REMAINED IN HIS
APARTMENT UNTIL JUNE 18, 1992. DURING THIS TIME,
THEY WERE REGULARLY VISITED BY ONE MISO DORBERMAN WHO
WOULD BEAT AND MISTREAT THEM. ON JUNE 18, TWO BUSES
ARRIVED AT HIS BUILDING, AND ALL THE ABLE-BODIED MEN
(INCLUDING THE WITNESS) WERE PUT IN ONE WHILE THE
WOMEN, CHILDREN, AND ELDERLY BOARDED THE OTHER. THE
MEN'S BUS WENT TO LUKA. THE WITNESS DID NOT KNOW
WHERE THE OTHER BUS WENT.

16. (U) GORAN HAD LEFT LUKA, AND KONSTANTIN
SIMEUNOVIC (AKA KOLE), MONIKA'S BROTHER, WAS IN
CHARGE. (NOTE: THE WITNESS LATER HEARD THAT MONIKA,
GORAN, AND KOLE HAD ALL MOVED TO BIJELJINA WHERE
MONIKA HAS A BOUTIQUE NAMED "MONIKA.") THE WITNESS
WAS PUT INTO THE SAME WAREHOUSE AS BEFORE. 100 TO
150 MEN WERE ALREADY IN THIS BUILDING, AND 400 TO 500

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ACTION SS-00

INFO LOG-00 COR-01 AID-01 AMAD-01 CIAE-00 C-01 OASY-00
EB-01 EUR-01 OIGO-01 HA-09 H-01 IMMC-01 TEDE-00
INR-00 IO-16 L-01 ADS-00 NSAE-00 OIC-02 PA-01
PRS-01 P-01 RP-10 RPCS-01 SB-00 SP-00 SR-00
SSO-00 STR-01 TRSE-00 USIE-00 RPE-01 SNIS-00 NISC-02
/055W
------------------2D6A48 081816Z /45/38
P 041715Z MAR 94
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1083
INFO USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ3/ECJ5//
SECDEF WASHDC//ISA/ISP//
JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J5-PMA/J21//
HQ JTF PP NAPLES IT//CA/POLAD//
COM SIXTHFLT//N2//
CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK//N2/N22//
CINCUSAREUR HEIDELBERG GE//J3/J4/J5/POLAD//
CINCUSAFE RAMSTEIN AB GE//J3/J4/J5/POLAD//
WHITE HOUSE WASHDC
AMCONSUL MUNICH
USEC BRUSSELS
USMISSION USVIENNA
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USMISSION USNATO
USMISSION GENEVA
AMEMBASSY VIENNA
AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
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AMEMBASSY ROME
AMEMBASSY PRAGUE
AMEMBASSY PARIS
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
AMEMBASSY MADRID
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA
AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN
AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
AMEMBASSY BONN
AMEMBASSY ATHENS
AMEMBASSY ANKARA
AMEMBASSY BELGRADE

LIMITED OFFICIAL USE SECTION 05 OF 07 ZAGREB 000919

C O R R E C T E D C O P Y - TEXT
STATE FOR EUR/EE, L, HA, IO

USMISSION VIENNA ALSO FOR USDEL CSCE

E.O. 12356: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREF HR PREF HR PREF HR PREF HR PREF HR PREF HR PREF HR BK
SUBJECT: TFSROL: SEVERE HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN B-H:
EYEWITNESS DESCRIBES KILLINGS AND ATROCITIES
IN BRCKO, LUKA, AND BATKOVIC

WERE IN THE ONE NEXT DOOR. THERE WAS ALSO A SMALLER
WAREHOUSE OPPOSITE THE TWO BIGGER ONES WHICH HELD
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PAGE 03 ZAGREB 00919 05 OF 07 081757Z
APPROXIMATELY 50 PRISONERS. THEY HAD FOAM MATS TO
SLEEP ON. THE FIRST NIGHT, THE CETNIKS TOOK OUT SOME
PRISONERS WHO DID NOT RETURN. THEY BEAT OTHERS
INSIDE THE WAREHOUSE. DURING THIS PERIOD IN LUKA,
"WEEKEND CETNIKS" WHO COULD BE RECOGNIZED BY THEIR
ACCENTS WOULD COME IN FROM SERBIA TO ABUSE THEM. ALL
DURING THE WEEK, THEY WOULD BE BEATEN AND HUMILIATED
BY LOCAL "CETNIKS." THESE INCLUDED: RANKO CESIC;
DRAZIN UROSEVIC (AKA CICIN); DIMCE IVCEV; GORAN
RECANOVIC; MILA GATAREVIC (AKA BOLERO); THE ILIC
BROTHERS (GROZDAN, ZORAN, AND GORAN) AND THEIR
FATHER, NIKOLA. ACCORDING TO THE WITNESS, UROSEVIC
AND IVCEV WERE WELL KNOWN FOR BURNING HOUSES. ALSO
DURING THIS STAY, WITNESS SAW THE REPEATED BEATINGS
OF ONE OSMAN VATIC WHO WAS ACCUSED OF HAVING GIVEN
50,000 DM TO THE SDA.
17. (LOU) IT WAS DURING THIS PERIOD OF INCARCERATION
THAT WITNESS BEGAN WORKING IN THE DUTY-FREE ZONE
(DFZ) OF THE PORT OF BRCKO. THE DFZ WAS RUN BY A MAN
WHO WORKED FOR ONE CAPTAIN DRAGAN. TWO OF CAPTAIN
DRAGAN'S MEN HE KNEW WERE NESO (NFI) FROM BOR IN
SERBIA AND CVELE (NFI) FROM LESKOVAC (BOTH STRICTLY
PROTECT). THEY WERE VERY GOOD TO THE PRISONERS WHO
WORKED IN THE DFZ. THE WITNESS AND OTHERS WORKED
MOVING AND LOADING STOLEN GOODS FOR SHIPMENT TO
SERBIA. HIS FIRST JOB WAS TO MOVE AND LOAD INTO
SERBIA-BOUND TRUCKS ALL THE STOCK FROM A PLUMBING
SUPPLY COMPANY CALLED "BEDRO." THIS TOOK SEVERAL
DAYS. EACH DAY THEY LOADED THREE TO FOUR LARGE
TRUCKS.

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PAGE 04 ZAGREB 00919 05 OF 07 081757Z
18. (U) SEVERAL MUSLIM GIRLS WERE KEPT FOR KITCHEN
AND CLEANING WORK IN THE DFZ (SEE PARA 24 FOR THE
NAMES OF THOSE GIRLS THE WITNESS COULD IDENTIFY).
THEY ALSO HAD TO SUBMIT TO THE SEXUAL DEMANDS OF THE
"CETNIKS." THESE GIRLS WERE FROM 12 TO 23 YEARS
OLD. ONCE, THE WITNESS HAD TO CLEAN ON OF THE "SEX
ROOMS." HE SAID THE BED WAS SOAKED WITH BLOOD.
WITNESS DARED NOT BE SEEN TALKING TO THESE GIRLS, SO
HE DID NOT TRY TO SPEAK WITH THEM. THE MAIN BOSSES
OF THESE GIRLS WERE THE PREVIOUSLY-MENTIONED SEKA,
HER DAUGHTER VIOLETA, AND LIDIJA JEVTIC FROM BRCKO.
-
19. (U) ON JULY 9, 1992, NINE BUSES CAME TO LUKA AND
TOOK ALL THE PRISONERS TO BATKOVIC. THE WITNESS WAS
ON THE LAST BUS WITH HIS BROTHER. THEY ARRIVED AT
BATKOVIC CAMP AT APPROXIMATELY 8:30 P.M. AND WERE
GREETED BY GLIGOR BEGOVIC WHO CURSED THEM AND ORDERED
THEM TO LEAVE THE BUSES WITH THEIR HEADS BOWED, AND
ONE VELJO (LNU) WHO, THROUGH A LOUDSPEAKER, ORDERED

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PAGE 01 ZAGREB 00919 06 OF 07 041727Z
ACTION SS-00

INFO LOG-00 AID-01 AMAD-01 CIAE-00 C-01 OASY-00 EB-01
EUR-01 OIGO-01 HA-09 H-01 IMMC-01 TEDE-00 INR-00
IO-16 L-01 ADS-00 NSAE-00 OIC-02 PA-01 PRS-01
P-01 RP-10 RPCS-01 SB-00 SP-00 SR-00 SSO-00
STR-01 TRSE-00 USIE-00 RPE-01 SNIS-00 NISC-02 /054W
------------------2C27CA 041728Z /38
P 041715Z MAR 94
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1084
INFO USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ3/ECJ5//
SECDEF WASHDC//ISA/ISP//
JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J5-PMA/J21//
HQ JTF PP NAPLES IT//CA/POLAD//
COM SIXTHFLT//N2//
CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK//N2/N22//
CINCUSAREUR HEIDELBERG GE//J3/J4/J5/POLAD//
CINCUSAFE RAMSTEIN AB GE//J3/J4/J5/POLAD//
WHITE HOUSE WASHDC
AMCONSUL MUNICH
USEC BRUSSELS
USMISSION USVIENNA
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USMISSION USNATO
USMISSION GENEVA
AMEMBASSY VIENNA
AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
AMEMBASSY ROME
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE

LIMITED OFFICIAL USE

PAGE 02 ZAGREB 00919 06 OF 07 041727Z
AMEMBASSY PRAGUE
AMEMBASSY PARIS
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
AMEMBASSY MADRID
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA
AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN
AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
AMEMBASSY BONN
AMEMBASSY ATHENS
AMEMBASSY ANKARA
AMEMBASSY BELGRADE

LIMITED OFFICIAL USE SECTION 06 OF 07 ZAGREB 000919

STATE FOR EUR/EE, L, HA, IO

USMISSION VIENNA ALSO FOR USDEL CSCE

E.O. 12356: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREF HR PREF HR PREF HR PREF HR PREF HR PREF HR PREF HR BK
SUBJECT: TFSROL: SEVERE HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN B-H:
EYEWITNESS DESCRIBES KILLINGS AND ATROCITIES
IN BRCKO, LUKA, AND BATKOVIC

THEM TO LEAVE ANYTHING SHARP BEHIND. THEY THEN HAD
TO PASS IN PAIRS BETWEEN TWO ROWS OF SERBS WHO BEAT
THEM WITH RIFLES, CLUBS, AND STICKS. THE THREE OR
FOUR SERBS FROM BRCKO WHO HAD BEEN ON EACH BUS JOINED
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PAGE 03 ZAGREB 00919 06 OF 07 041727Z
THE OTHER "CETNIKS" IN THIS "RITUAL." AS HE AND HIS
BROTHER REACHED THE WAREHOUSE, THE WITNESS WAS
STOPPED BY ZORAN (LNU) FROM BRCKO WHO ASKED ABOUT A
GIRL HE HAD LIKED IN SCHOOL, AMELA OMEROVIC. WHEN
THE WITNESS SAID HE DID NOT KNOW HER WHEREABOUTS,
ZORAN BEAT THE WITNESS AND HIS BROTHER ON THE HEAD
AND IN THE KIDNEYS. IN THE MORNING, THE NEW
PRISONERS WERE TAKEN TO HAVE THEIR HEADS SHAVED, AND
THEIR LIVES IN BATKOVIC BEGAN.

20. (U) FOR THE FIRST MONTH OR TWO, THERE WERE
REGULAR BEATINGS, ESPECIALLY OF WHAT THE "CETNIKS"
CALLED "EXTREME CASES." THESE INCLUDED A 14-YEAR-OLD
BOY WHO WAS ACCUSED OF CUTTING THE EYES OUT OF SERBS;
A TOOLMAKER ACCUSED OF MAKING KNIVES; AND A
BODYBUILDER WHO, APPARENTLY, WAS BEATEN JUST BECAUSE
HE WAS SO WELL BUILT. DURING THIS TIME, ONE WOULD BE
BEATEN JUST FOR LIFTING ONE'S HEAD. THE WORST
ABUSERS WERE: ZORAN (LNU, FROM BIJELJINA); GLIGOR
BEGOVIC; TOJIC (LNU); NIKOLIC (LNU); MAJOR GORAN
(LNU, FROM GORAZDE); DZEMAL ZAHIROVIC (AKA SPAJZER, A
GYPSY FROM ZENICA); FIKRET SMAJLOVIC (AKA PIKLE OR
PIKLIC); OMER BRODLIC (FROM BRCKO); MERSED (LNU, FROM
BRCKO); AND ESAD BEDRIC (AKA ESO, FROM TESANJ).

21. (U) AT THE END OF AUGUST 1992, THE ICRC VISITED
THE CAMP. THE PRISONERS WERE TOLD TO SAY BATKOVIC
WAS A "COLLECTIVE CENTER" AND THAT THEY WERE
RECEIVING THREE MEALS PER DAY AND WERE BEING TREATED
WELL. THE SERBS WOULD INFILTRATE THEIR OWN PEOPLE
AMONG THE PRISONERS, SO NO ONE DARED COMPLAIN. THE
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PAGE 04 ZAGREB 00919 06 OF 07 041727Z
WITNESS FAINTED DURING THE ICRC VISIT, AND AFTER THEY
LEFT, GLIGOR AND PIKLIC BEAT HIM, KNOCKING OUT HIS
TEETH. THEY ALSO BEAT TWO OTHERS. THE NEXT DAY, THE
WITNESS WAS INCLUDED IN THE GROUP OF "EXTREME CASES"
AND WAS TAKEN AWAY DURING FUTURE ICRC VISITS. THE
ICRC, ACCORDING TO THE WITNESS, DID NOT CHECK THE
LISTS REGULARLY DURING THEIR TWO VISITS PER MONTH.
IF THEY DID CHECK, THEY WERE TOLD THE MISSING WERE
AWAY ON LABOR DETAILS AND WOULD RETURN IN THE
EVENING. THIS SEEMED TO SATISFY THE ICRC OFFICIALS.
AFTER THE ICRC LEFT, THE GUARDS WOULD BEAT PEOPLE WHO
WROTE "CAMP" INSTEAD OF "CENTER" ON THE RETURN
ADDRESSES OF THEIR LETTERS.

22. (U) BEGINNING IN SEPTEMBER 1992, MOST OF THE
WORST GUARDS WERE REPLACED BY GOOD PEOPLE FROM THE
BIJELJINA AREA. THEY OFTEN WORKED FOR LOCAL FARMERS
OR IN BUSINESSES. LOCAL CITIZENS GAVE THEM FOOD AND

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PAGE 01 ZAGREB 00919 07 OF 07 041727Z
ACTION SS-00

INFO LOG-00 AID-01 AMAD-01 CIAE-00 C-01 OASY-00 EB-01
EUR-01 OIGO-01 HA-09 H-01 IMMC-01 TEDE-00 INR-00
IO-16 L-01 ADS-00 NSAE-00 OIC-02 PA-01 PRS-01
P-01 RP-10 RPCS-01 SB-00 SP-00 SR-00 SSO-00
STR-01 TRSE-00 USIE-00 RPE-01 SNIS-00 NISC-02 /054W
------------------2C27CF 041730Z /38
P 041715Z MAR 94
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1085
INFO USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ3/ECJ5//
SECDEF WASHDC//ISA/ISP//
JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J5-PMA/J21//
HQ JTF PP NAPLES IT//CA/POLAD//
COM SIXTHFLT//N2//
CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK//N2/N22//
CINCUSAREUR HEIDELBERG GE//J3/J4/J5/POLAD//
CINCUSAFE RAMSTEIN AB GE//J3/J4/J5/POLAD//
WHITE HOUSE WASHDC
AMCONSUL MUNICH
USEC BRUSSELS
USMISSION USVIENNA
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USMISSION USNATO
USMISSION GENEVA
AMEMBASSY VIENNA
AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
AMEMBASSY ROME
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE

LIMITED OFFICIAL USE

PAGE 02 ZAGREB 00919 07 OF 07 041727Z
AMEMBASSY PRAGUE
AMEMBASSY PARIS
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
AMEMBASSY MADRID
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA
AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN
AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
AMEMBASSY BONN
AMEMBASSY ATHENS
AMEMBASSY ANKARA
AMEMBASSY BELGRADE

LIMITED OFFICIAL USE SECTION 07 OF 07 ZAGREB 000919

STATE FOR EUR/EE, L, HA, IO

USMISSION VIENNA ALSO FOR USDEL CSCE

E.O. 12356: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREF HR PREF HR PREF HR PREF HR PREF HR PREF HR PREF HR BK
SUBJECT: TFSROL: SEVERE HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN B-H:
EYEWITNESS DESCRIBES KILLINGS AND ATROCITIES
IN BRCKO, LUKA, AND BATKOVIC

CIGARETTES AND TOLD THEM THEY WERE ASHAMED ABOUT WHAT
HAD BEEN DONE TO THEM. ALL THE BEATINGS STOPPED.

23. (U) ON NOVEMBER 24, 1992, THE WITNESS WAS
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PAGE 03 ZAGREB 00919 07 OF 07 041727Z
RELEASED IN A REGULAR PRISONER EXCHANGE.

-----------------------------------------
IDENTIFICATION OF PROTECTED THIRD PARTIES
-----------------------------------------

24. (LOU) THIRD PARTIES MENTIONED BY THE WITNESS WHO
MERIT PROTECTION OR PRIVACY ARE IDENTIFIED AS
FOLLOWS:
THE SERBS WHO SAVED THE WITNESS'S LIFE (REF
PARA 8) WERE NINO SIMEUNOVIC, A FORMER POLICE
INSPECTOR; DRAGISA (LNU); ZVJEZDAN MILICEVIC, AKA
ADOLF (HE WAS THE ONE WHO SELECTED WHICH INDIVIDUALS
TO TAKE); RATKO ZARIC, AND PERO ZARIC. ALSO IN PARA
8 ABOVE, THE TWO POLICEMEN INVOLVED WERE DOBRICA
MILOSEVIC AND DRAGAN ZIVKOVIC, AND THE TWO OTHER
SERBS WHO SAVED OTHER PRISONERS WERE SLOBODAN
LJUBICIC AND LJUBICA POZNANOVIC. IN PARA 19, THE
MUSLIM GIRLS THE WITNESS COULD IDENTIFY WERE LEJLA
SULEJMANOVIC, FAHIRA CACKOVIC, SABINA DELALIC, AND
SELJA (LNU).

NEITZKE

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1994ZAGREB00919 - Classification: LIMITED OFFICIAL USE

v1.6.2

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