Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
92ZAGREB1962
1992-10-09 12:29:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Zagreb
Cable title:
CGY001: UNPROFOR'S DAUNTING TASK IN CROATIA
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. 091229Z Oct 92 CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 ZAGREB 01962 01 OF 08 091325Z COMSIXTHFLT//N2// CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK//N2/N22// USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GM//ECJ3/ECJ5// CTF SIXZERO//N2// CTF SIXONE//N2// CTF SIXTWO//N2// CTF SIXSEVEN//JOCC// FOSIF ROTA SP USEC BRUSSELS WHITE HOUSE WASHDC 0928
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 08 ZAGREB 01962
SIPDIS
USVIENNA FOR USDEL CSCE
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF HR
SUBJECT: CGY001: UNPROFOR'S DAUNTING TASK IN CROATIA
- -- ANOTHER GRIM REPORT FROM SECTOR EAST
REF: STATE 309793
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 08 ZAGREB 01962
SIPDIS
USVIENNA FOR USDEL CSCE
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF HR
SUBJECT: CGY001: UNPROFOR'S DAUNTING TASK IN CROATIA
- -- ANOTHER GRIM REPORT FROM SECTOR EAST
REF: STATE 309793
1. CONFIDENTIAL - ENTIRE TEXT.
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------
2. A REGIME OF EXTRAORDINARY BRUTALITY HOLDS SWAY IN
SERBIAN-DOMINATED VUKOVAR AND ELSEWHERE IN THE SECTOR
EAST UNITED NATIONS PROTECTED AREA (UNPA) OF CROATIA.
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CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 ZAGREB 01962 01 OF 08 091325Z
MURDERS, ASSAULTS, VIOLENT HARASSMENT, DESTRUCTION OF
CATHOLIC CHURCHES, AND ATTACKS ON MIXED MARRIAGES ARE
NOW COMMONPLACE. UNPROFOR REPS ARE WAGING AN UPHILL
STRUGGLE TO BRING TO TASK SERBIAN PERPETRATORS -- WHO
ARE INTEGRAL ELEMENTS OF THE SO-CALLED GOVERNMENT IN
THE AREA. THE ODDS ON UNPROFOR'S SUCCEEDING ARE NOT
GREAT, WHICH IS WHY THE SECTOR EAST SITUATION IS AMONG
THE MOST OFT-CITED POTENTIAL CAUSES OF A FEARED LARGE-
SCALE FLARE UP OF SERBO-CROATIAN FIGHTING NEXT SPRING.
3. THIS REPORT IS BASED ON OBSERVATIONS AND
INTERVIEWS BY TWO EMBASSY OFFICERS DURING TRAVEL TO
SECTOR EAST OCTOBER 1-4 IN SUPPORT OF A CSCE
DELEGATION. SEPTEL REPORTS THEIR OBSERVATIONS ON
CONDITIONS IN SECTORS WEST AND SOUTH. END SUMMARY.
-
--------------
SECTOR EAST - THE QUIET HELL OF VUKOVAR
--------------
4. ONLY A PERSONAL VISIT CAN PROVIDE A FULL
APPRECIATION OF THE SCOPE OF WANTON DESTRUCTION THAT
WAS VISITED ON THE ONCE PROSPEROUS CROATIAN CITY OF
VUKOVAR BY SERBIAN FORCES IN THE FALL OF 1991. ON
OCTOBER 4 EMBOFFS WERE GIVEN AN ESCORTED TOUR OF
VUKOVAR AND SEVERAL SURROUNDING TOWNS IN SECTOR EAST
BY UNPROFOR OFFICIALS. THE REMAINS OF THE CITY LOOK
LIKE BERLIN, CIRCA 1945. NEARLY EVERY RESIDENTIAL,
COMMERCIAL, CULTURAL, AND RELIGIOUS STRUCTURE HAS
BEEN GUTTED OR SEVERELY DAMAGED. GRAIN ELEVATORS,
CRANES IN THE PORT ALONG THE RIVER, FACTORIES, AND
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CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 ZAGREB 01962 01 OF 08 091325Z
HIGH RISE APARTMENT BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN RENDERED
VIRTUALLY USELESS AND UNINHABITABLE.
CONFIDENTIAL
NNNN
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 01 ZAGREB 01962 02 OF 08 091325Z
ACTION IO-19
INFO LOG-00 AID-01 AMAD-01 CIAE-00 C-01 DODE-00 CISA-02
EB-01 EUR-01 HA-09 H-01 INRE-00 INR-01 LAB-04
L-03 ADS-00 NSAE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 PA-01 PM-02
PRS-01 P-01 RP-10 SCT-03 SDEL-01 SIL-01 SNP-01
SP-01 SR-01 SS-01 STR-18 TRSE-00 T-01 /090W
-------------- 6C09D4 091334Z /38
P 091229Z OCT 92
FM AMCONSUL ZAGREB
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2306
INFO AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
AMEMBASSY ANKARA
AMEMBASSY ATHENS
AMEMBASSY BONN
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
USMISSION GENEVA
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY MADRID
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
AMEMBASSY PARIS
AMEMBASSY ROME
AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
AMEMBASSY VIENNA
USMISSION USNATO
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USMISSION USVIENNA
USIA WASHDC 2175
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 ZAGREB 01962 02 OF 08 091325Z
COMSIXTHFLT//N2//
CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK//N2/N22//
USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GM//ECJ3/ECJ5//
CTF SIXZERO//N2//
CTF SIXONE//N2//
CTF SIXTWO//N2//
CTF SIXSEVEN//JOCC//
FOSIF ROTA SP
USEC BRUSSELS
WHITE HOUSE WASHDC 0929
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 08 ZAGREB 01962
SIPDIS
USVIENNA FOR USDEL CSCE
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF HR
SUBJECT: CGY001: UNPROFOR'S DAUNTING TASK IN CROATIA
- -- ANOTHER GRIM REPORT FROM SECTOR EAST
5. THE POPULATION OF VUKOVAR TOWNSHIP HAS DWINDLED
TO 20,000 FROM A PRE-WAR 80,000 (OF WHOM AN ESTIMATED
58 PERCENT WERE CROATS). ONLY SOME TENS OF PEOPLE
WERE VISIBLE ON THE STREETS DURING THE HALF-HOUR TOUR
BY CAR. THERE WERE ONLY A FEW OTHER VEHICLES ON THE
ROADS DESPITE THE REPORTED AVAILABILITY OF GASOLINE
BROUGHT IN FROM SERBIA.
-------------- --------------
HUNGARIANS, SLOVAKS, AND CROATS LOSE JOBS AND HOMES
-------------- --------------
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PAGE 03 ZAGREB 01962 02 OF 08 091325Z
6. IN THIS DISMAL SETTING, SERBIAN OFFICIALS ADD TO
THE MISERY THROUGH A SYSTEMATIC PROGRAM OF ETHNIC
CLEANSING AIMED AT DRIVING OUT ALL REMAINING CROATS,
HUNGARIANS, SLOVAKS, AND OTHER MINORITIES. ON AUGUST
31, 1992, SOME TWENTY NON-SERBS (MOSTLY SLOVAKS)
REPORTEDLY WERE DISMISSED FROM THE ILOK BRICK FACTORY
AND LOST, ALONG WITH THEIR JOBS, THEIR COMPANY-OWNED
HOUSING. SERBIAN REPLACEMENT WORKERS THEN MOVED IN
AND WERE HIRED AT THE BRICK FACTORY -- WHICH EMBOFFS
OBSERVED OPERATING AT A BRISK PACE.
7. UNPROFOR CIVILIAN POLICE ALSO TOLD EMBOFFS THAT
HUNGARIANS AND SLOVAKS ARE PRESSURED TO ACCEPT
MOBILIZATION INTO THE KRAJINA "ARMED FORCES." THOSE
WHO REFUSE ARE CLASSIFIED AS SUBVERSIVES AND HOUNDED
FROM THEIR JOBS AND HOMES.
--------------
PERSECUTION OF CROATS
--------------
8. MANY CROATS LIVING IN THE VUKOVAR AREA WERE WERE
DRIVEN OUT AFTER THE CITY FELL ON NOVEMBER 19, 1991.
THEY ARE REPORTEDLY SUBJECTED TO RELENTLESS, DIRECT
PHYSICAL INTIMIDATION -- AND OCCASIONAL MURDER. IN
ONE RECENT CASE, THREE UNARMED CIVILIANS OVER 70
YEARS OF AGE WERE SHOT AND KILLED BY THE SERBIAN
SO-CALLED "SPECIAL POLICE." NO SUSPECTS HAVE BEEN
ARRESTED. IN ANOTHER CASE, AN UNPROFOR CIVILIAN
POLICE OFFICER OBSERVED THE CORPSE OF AN ELDERLY
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PAGE 04 ZAGREB 01962 02 OF 08 091325Z
WOMAN WHOM THE LOCAL POLICE HAD REPORTED AS KILLED BY
A LAND MINE. THE DECEASED HAD MULTIPLE WOUNDS TO THE
BACK, LIKELY CAUSED BY A SHOTGUN.
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NNNN
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PAGE 01 ZAGREB 01962 03 OF 08 091325Z
ACTION IO-19
INFO LOG-00 AID-01 AMAD-01 CIAE-00 C-01 DODE-00 CISA-02
EB-01 EUR-01 HA-09 H-01 INRE-00 INR-01 LAB-04
L-03 ADS-00 NSAE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 PA-01 PM-02
PRS-01 P-01 RP-10 SCT-03 SDEL-01 SIL-01 SNP-01
SP-01 SR-01 SS-01 STR-18 TRSE-00 T-01 /090W
-------------- 6C09D7 091334Z /38
P 091229Z OCT 92
FM AMCONSUL ZAGREB
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2307
INFO AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
AMEMBASSY ANKARA
AMEMBASSY ATHENS
AMEMBASSY BONN
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
USMISSION GENEVA
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY MADRID
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
AMEMBASSY PARIS
AMEMBASSY ROME
AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
AMEMBASSY VIENNA
USMISSION USNATO
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USMISSION USVIENNA
USIA WASHDC 2176
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 ZAGREB 01962 03 OF 08 091325Z
COMSIXTHFLT//N2//
CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK//N2/N22//
USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GM//ECJ3/ECJ5//
CTF SIXZERO//N2//
CTF SIXONE//N2//
CTF SIXTWO//N2//
CTF SIXSEVEN//JOCC//
FOSIF ROTA SP
USEC BRUSSELS
WHITE HOUSE WASHDC 0930
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 08 ZAGREB 01962
SIPDIS
USVIENNA FOR USDEL CSCE
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF HR
SUBJECT: CGY001: UNPROFOR'S DAUNTING TASK IN CROATIA
- -- ANOTHER GRIM REPORT FROM SECTOR EAST
9. THE SHAM COURT SYSTEM OF THE SO-CALLED KRAJINA
AUTHORITIES IN VUKOVAR APES WESTERN MODELS, WITH
COURTS OF THE FIRST INSTANCE, COURTS OF THE SECOND,
ETC. IN FACT, ACCORDING TO EXPERTS DIRECTLY FAMILIAR
WITH DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS, ALMOST ALL THE CASES IN
THE SERBIAN- CONTROLLED VUKOVAR REGION ARE BROUGHT
AGAINST CROATS AND OTHER MINORITIES. A JUDGE AND TWO
ASSISTANT JUDGES RUN THE PROCEEDINGS. NEITHER THE
PROSECUTOR NOR THE SUPPOSED DEFENSE ATTORNEY IS
ALLOWED TO PLAY A DIRECT ROLE. THE PRESIDING JUDGE
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CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 ZAGREB 01962 03 OF 08 091325Z
ASKS ALL QUESTIONS. THE DEFENSE ATTORNEY MUST SUBMIT
ALL/ALL QUESTIONS IN WRITING TO THE JUDGE -- EVEN
THOSE HE WANTS TO ASK HIS OWN CLIENT. THE JUDGE MAY
OR MAY NOT ASK THE QUESTIONS SUBMITTED. IN ONE
TYPICAL CASE OBSERVED BY AN UNPROFOR CIVILIAN POLICE
OFFICER, A SIXTY-TWO YEAR OLD CROATIAN WOMAN WAS
ACCUSED OF HAVING A HANDGRENADE, GUN, AND SHOTGUN IN
HER HOME. IN A "QUICKY" TRIAL THE DEFENDANT WAS
FOUND GUILTY, SENTENCED TO TEN MONTHS IN JAIL, AND
FINED 6,000 DINARS. THE SO-CALLED DEFENSE LAWYER DID
ALMOST NOTHING.
--------------
MINEFIELDS AND UNPUNISHED MURDERS
--------------
10. UNPROFOR CIVILIAN AUTHORITIES TOLD EMBOFFS THAT,
IN ANOTHER CASE, THEY INFORMED KRAJINA "OFFICIALS" OF
ACCUSATIONS AGAINST EIGHT INDIVIDUALS WHO HAD TRIED
TO FORCE 23 NON-SERBS THEY WERE EXPELLING TO CROSS A
KNOWN MINEFIELD AT THE UNPA FRONT LINE. THE UN POLICE
PREVENTED THE ACT FROM OCCURRING AND COLLECTED NAMES
OF 22 WITNESSES TO THE INCIDENT. NO ACTION HAS BEEN
TAKEN BY THE KRAJINA AUTHORITIES.
11. ACCORDING TO UNPROFOR, THE MANY MURDER VICTIMS
IN THE AREA ARE "INVARIABLY NON-SERBS." THE SUSPECTS
IMPLICATED (OR POSITIVELY IDENTIFIED) ARE OFTEN
MEMBERS OF THE SO-CALLED "SPECIAL POLICE" (SEE BELOW).
12. IN UNPROFOR'S VIEW, ONE OF THE BIGGEST HURDLES
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PAGE 04 ZAGREB 01962 03 OF 08 091325Z
TO ESTABLISHING LAW AND ORDER IN THE AREA IS THAT
CASES ARE SIMPLY NOT BROUGHT AGAINST KNOWN SUSPECTS.
EVEN THOSE (SERBS) WHO ARE ARRESTED REPORTEDLY ARE
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PAGE 01 ZAGREB 01962 04 OF 08 091325Z
ACTION IO-19
INFO LOG-00 AID-01 AMAD-01 CIAE-00 C-01 DODE-00 CISA-02
EB-01 EUR-01 HA-09 H-01 INRE-00 INR-01 LAB-04
L-03 ADS-00 NSAE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 PA-01 PM-02
PRS-01 P-01 RP-10 SCT-03 SDEL-01 SIL-01 SNP-01
SP-01 SR-01 SS-01 STR-18 TRSE-00 T-01 /090W
-------------- 6C09DC 091335Z /38
P 091229Z OCT 92
FM AMCONSUL ZAGREB
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2308
INFO AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
AMEMBASSY ANKARA
AMEMBASSY ATHENS
AMEMBASSY BONN
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
USMISSION GENEVA
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY MADRID
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
AMEMBASSY PARIS
AMEMBASSY ROME
AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
AMEMBASSY VIENNA
USMISSION USNATO
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USMISSION USVIENNA
USIA WASHDC 2177
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 ZAGREB 01962 04 OF 08 091325Z
COMSIXTHFLT//N2//
CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK//N2/N22//
USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GM//ECJ3/ECJ5//
CTF SIXZERO//N2//
CTF SIXONE//N2//
CTF SIXTWO//N2//
CTF SIXSEVEN//JOCC//
FOSIF ROTA SP
USEC BRUSSELS
WHITE HOUSE WASHDC 0931
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 04 OF 08 ZAGREB 01962
SIPDIS
USVIENNA FOR USDEL CSCE
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF HR
SUBJECT: CGY001: UNPROFOR'S DAUNTING TASK IN CROATIA
- -- ANOTHER GRIM REPORT FROM SECTOR EAST
QUICKLY FREED. ONE SERB REPORTEDLY WAS ARRESTED FOR
THREE CONSECUTIVE MURDERS. HE WAS RELEASED TWICE
WITHOUT PUNISHMENT. AFTER THE THIRD ARREST HE WAS
TAKEN TO THE SERBIAN BORDER AND ALLOWED TO CROSS INTO
VOJVODINA. DURING THE NIGHT OF SEPTEMBER 7-8, A
NON-SERB COUPLE WAS MURDERED IN THE UNPA. THERE ARE
NO SUSPECTS. ON OCTOBER 1, TWO MUSLIMS WERE MURDERED
IN THE UNPA. THERE ARE NO SUSPECTS. MILAN ILICH,
"PRESIDENT" OF THE VUKOVAR REGION EXECUTIVE COUNCIL,
WAS ASKED IN OCTOBER WHY NO ACTION HAD BEEN TAKEN
AGAINST KNOWN TERRORISTS. HE REPORTEDLY RESPONDED
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PAGE 03 ZAGREB 01962 04 OF 08 091325Z
SIMPLY THAT, WHILE HE OPPOSED THE METHODS USED TO
DRIVE NON-SERBS, HE DID NOT QUARREL WITH THE RESULTS.
13. UNPROFOR REPORTEDLY INFORMED ILICH OF AN
ESPECIALLY EGREGIOUS TERRORIZATION OF A NUMBER OF
ELDERLY NON-SERB WOMEN WHO WERE FINALLY DRIVEN OUT OF
THEIR HOMES IN SEPTEMBER. AFTER A DELAY, DURING
WHICH HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE INVESTIGATING THE CASE,
ILICH SENT A REQUEST THAT THE WOMEN SIGN OVER THEIR
PROPERTY TO THE KRAJINA AND CONFIRM THAT THEY WERE
LEAVING "VOLUNTARILY."
--------------
BLAMING THE REFUGEES
--------------
14. ILICH TOLD THE CSCE DELEGATION THAT THE REGION
HAS TAKEN IN A NUMBER OF SERBIAN REFUGEES FROM
BOSNIA-HERCEGOVINA AND ELSEWHERE. HE CLAIMED THAT
"THOSE PEOPLE (SERBS) WHO HAVE LOST EVERYTHING ON THE
OTHER SIDE ACT IN AN EMOTIONAL WAY." THESE PEOPLE
OFTEN CAUSE "DIFFICULTIES," HE CLAIMED.
15. UN OBSERVERS, HOWEVER, TELL A DIFFERENT STORY.
WHILE ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THE INFLUX OF SERBIAN
REFUGEES, ESTIMATED AT SOME 47,000, HAS AGGRAVATED A
TENSE SITUATION, UN CIVILIAN POLICE FAMILIAR WITH
DAILY CONDITIONS BELIEVE THAT MANY CRIMINALS COME NOT
FROM REFUGEE RANKS BUT FROM OFFICIALDOM. THEY CITED .
MEMBERS OF THE CIVILIAN ADMINISTRATION, SUCH AS THE
"MAYOR" OF THE TOWN OF DALJ, S. DORGJA (AKA "BRIGA"),
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PAGE 04 ZAGREB 01962 04 OF 08 091325Z
WHO HAS BEEN SEEN THREATENING, BEATING, AND SHOOTING
AROUND PERSONAL RESIDENCES IN AN EFFORT TO INTIMIDATE
NON-SERBS INTO LEAVING. IN THIS CONTEXT, UNPROFOR
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NNNN
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PAGE 01 ZAGREB 01962 05 OF 08 091325Z
ACTION IO-19
INFO LOG-00 AID-01 AMAD-01 CIAE-00 C-01 DODE-00 CISA-02
EB-01 EUR-01 HA-09 H-01 INRE-00 INR-01 LAB-04
L-03 ADS-00 NSAE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 PA-01 PM-02
PRS-01 P-01 RP-10 SCT-03 SDEL-01 SIL-01 SNP-01
SP-01 SR-01 SS-01 STR-18 TRSE-00 T-01 /090W
-------------- 6C09E2 091336Z /38
P 091229Z OCT 92
FM AMCONSUL ZAGREB
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2309
INFO AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
AMEMBASSY ANKARA
AMEMBASSY ATHENS
AMEMBASSY BONN
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
USMISSION GENEVA
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY MADRID
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
AMEMBASSY PARIS
AMEMBASSY ROME
AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
AMEMBASSY VIENNA
USMISSION USNATO
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USMISSION USVIENNA
USIA WASHDC 2178
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 ZAGREB 01962 05 OF 08 091325Z
COMSIXTHFLT//N2//
CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK//N2/N22//
USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GM//ECJ3/ECJ5//
CTF SIXZERO//N2//
CTF SIXONE//N2//
CTF SIXTWO//N2//
CTF SIXSEVEN//JOCC//
FOSIF ROTA SP
USEC BRUSSELS
WHITE HOUSE WASHDC 0932
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 05 OF 08 ZAGREB 01962
SIPDIS
USVIENNA FOR USDEL CSCE
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF HR
SUBJECT: CGY001: UNPROFOR'S DAUNTING TASK IN CROATIA
- -- ANOTHER GRIM REPORT FROM SECTOR EAST
NOTED THAT THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH IN DALJ WAS
RECENTLY BLOWN UP BY UNKNOWN PERPETRATORS. FOUR
OTHER ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCHES AROUND THE SOUTHERN
PART OF THE UNPA (IN ALMAS, ERDUT, SWINJERNO) HAVE
ALSO RECENTLY BEEN COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THERE ARE
NO SUSPECTS IN THE BOMBINGS.
-
--------------
THE "SPECIAL POLICE"
--------------
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PAGE 03 ZAGREB 01962 05 OF 08 091325Z
16. MEMBERS OF THE SO-CALLED "SPECIAL POLICE" ARE
ALSO BELIEVED TO BE DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN CRIMES
AGAINST THE CIVILIAN POPULATION. THESE FORCES ARE A
SUBTERFUGE DESIGNED TO AVOID THE LIMITS IN THE VANCE
PLAN AND WERE ORIGINALLY MEMBERS OF THE YUGOSLAV
NATIONAL ARMY (JNA). WHEN RESTRICTIONS WERE PLACED
ON THE JNA AND THEIR REMOVAL ORDERED, THEY BECAME
"TERRITORIAL DEFENSE." WHEN THE VANCE PLAN CALLED
FOR THEIR DEMOBILIZATION, THE SAME PEOPLE BECAME
"SPECIAL POLICE" OR "BORDER POLICE." THEIR EXACT
NUMBERS ARE A MATTER OF DISPUTE.
17. ACCORDING TO UN ESTIMATES, THE NUMBER OF SERBIAN
POLICE JUMPED FROM 150 TO 800 DURING THE TRANSITION
PERIOD AT THE SETTING UP OF THE UNPA. A "SPECIAL
POLICE" OF SOME 2,000 ALSO EXISTS AND OPERATES IN THE
NORTHERN PART OF THE UNPA. ON JULY 18, 1992, THE
SO-CALLED "REPUBLIC OF KRAJINA" ASSERTED ITS CONTROL
AND REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE
NUMBERS OF "POLICE." NO FURTHER SURRENDER OF WEAPONS
FROM PARAMILITARY GROUPS, AS CALLED FOR IN THE VANCE
PLAN, HAS TAKEN PLACE SINCE THAT DATE.
--------------
THE "RUSSIAN" ZONE OF SECTOR EAST
--------------
18. THE RUSSIAN BATTALION IN CHARGE OF THE SOUTHERN
PART OF THE UNPA HAS ITS HANDS FULL. BOTH "SPECIAL
POLICE" AND "POLICE" ARE INVOLVED IN CRIMES IN THIS
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PAGE 04 ZAGREB 01962 05 OF 08 091325Z
REGION BUT THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH RUSSIAN TROOPS TO
BLANKET THE AREA. WHEN UN OFFICIALS COMPLAINED ABOUT
THE OUTRAGEOUS CRIME WAVE, LOCAL SERBS ASKED THAT THE
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PAGE 01 ZAGREB 01962 06 OF 08 091326Z
ACTION IO-19
INFO LOG-00 AID-01 AMAD-01 CIAE-00 C-01 DODE-00 CISA-02
EB-01 EUR-01 HA-09 H-01 INRE-00 INR-01 LAB-04
L-03 ADS-00 NSAE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 PA-01 PM-02
PRS-01 P-01 RP-10 SCT-03 SDEL-01 SIL-01 SNP-01
SP-01 SR-01 SS-01 STR-18 TRSE-00 T-01 /090W
-------------- 6C09F0 091340Z /38
P 091229Z OCT 92
FM AMCONSUL ZAGREB
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2310
INFO AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
AMEMBASSY ANKARA
AMEMBASSY ATHENS
AMEMBASSY BONN
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
USMISSION GENEVA
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY MADRID
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
AMEMBASSY PARIS
AMEMBASSY ROME
AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
AMEMBASSY VIENNA
USMISSION USNATO
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USMISSION USVIENNA
USIA WASHDC 2179
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 ZAGREB 01962 06 OF 08 091326Z
COMSIXTHFLT//N2//
CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK//N2/N22//
USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GM//ECJ3/ECJ5//
CTF SIXZERO//N2//
CTF SIXONE//N2//
CTF SIXTWO//N2//
CTF SIXSEVEN//JOCC//
FOSIF ROTA SP
USEC BRUSSELS
WHITE HOUSE WASHDC 0933
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 06 OF 08 ZAGREB 01962
SIPDIS
USVIENNA FOR USDEL CSCE
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF HR
SUBJECT: CGY001: UNPROFOR'S DAUNTING TASK IN CROATIA
- -- ANOTHER GRIM REPORT FROM SECTOR EAST
UN RELEASE SERBIAN ARMORED CARS IMPOUNDED BY THE UN
SO THAT THEY COULD "FIGHT CRIME IN THE VILLAGES."
--------------
ARKAN AND OTHER PARAMILITARIES
--------------
19. THE NOTORIOUS SERBIAN TERRORIST ARKAN HAS BEEN
SEEN AGAIN IN THE UNPA. HE WAS REPORTEDLY FETED AS A
GUEST SPEAKER AT A RECENT PARTY IN THE REGION. THE
COMPOUND AND TRAINING COMPLEX AT ERDUT NEXT TO UN
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PAGE 03 ZAGREB 01962 06 OF 08 091326Z
HEADQUARTERS HAS A NEW HIGH RED BRICK WALL AROUND
PART OF THE PERIMETER. HIS MEN REPORTEDLY HAVE
BECOME MEMBERS OF THE "POLICE." THE SERBIAN "RED
BERETS," WHO HAVE BEEN ACCUSED OF WAR CRIMES IN ILOK
AND SEVERAL OTHER VILLAGES, HAVE MOVED TO THE
SOUTHERN PART OF THE UNPA AND THEIR MEMBERS ARE NOW
SEEN IN SERBIAN "SPECIAL POLICE" UNIFORMS.
20. A SO-CALLED "BORDER POLICE" ALSO IS BEING RUN BY
THE SERBIAN SIDE. THESE INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN SEEN
MANNING CHECKPOINTS WITH REGULAR "POLICE," AND ARE
REPORTED TO BE INVOLVED IN SOME OF THE WORST VIOLENCE
AGAINST CIVILIANS. LOCAL "POLICE" HAVE TOLD THEIR
INTERNATIONAL COUNTERPARTS THAT THEY ARE AFRAID TO
PURSUE CASES AGAINST THE "BORDER POLICE" AND "SPECIAL
POLICE" LEST THEY THEMSELVES BE ATTACKED OR MURDERED.
IN A HEATED EXCHANGE WITH THE CSCE DELEGATION ON
OCTOBER 4, THE SERBIAN VUKOVAR AUTHORITIES REFUSED TO
PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION ON NUMBERS OF THE "BORDER"
AND "SPECIAL POLICE," CLAIMING THAT ONLY THE KNIN
AUTHORITIES COULD RELEASE THAT DATA.
--------------
LEGAL HARASSMENT OF NON-SERBS
--------------
21. EMBOFFS ALSO HEARD REPORTS FROM CREDIBLE SOURCES
OF OTHER, MORE SUBTLE FORMS OF HARASSMENT OF NON-SERBS
IN THE VUKOVAR AREA. FOR EXAMPLE, UNDER THE GUISE OF
HELPING THE DISPLACED, A NUMBER OF HUNGARIAN AND
SLOVAK HOMEOWNERS HAVE BEEN ORDERED TO TAKE IN SERBIAN
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PAGE 04 ZAGREB 01962 06 OF 08 091326Z
REFUGEES. THESE REFUGEES REPORTEDLY HARASS AND
INTIMIDATE THEIR "HOSTS" UNTIL THE LATTER FINALLY
MOVE OUT, THUS "ABANDONING" THE PROPERTY AND MAKING
CONFIDENTIAL
NNNN
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 01 ZAGREB 01962 07 OF 08 091326Z
ACTION IO-19
INFO LOG-00 AID-01 AMAD-01 CIAE-00 C-01 DODE-00 CISA-02
EB-01 EUR-01 HA-09 H-01 INRE-00 INR-01 LAB-04
L-03 ADS-00 NSAE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 PA-01 PM-02
PRS-01 P-01 RP-10 SCT-03 SDEL-01 SIL-01 SNP-01
SP-01 SR-01 SS-01 STR-18 TRSE-00 T-01 /090W
-------------- 6C09FD 091344Z /38
P 091229Z OCT 92
FM AMCONSUL ZAGREB
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2311
INFO AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
AMEMBASSY ANKARA
AMEMBASSY ATHENS
AMEMBASSY BONN
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
USMISSION GENEVA
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY MADRID
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
AMEMBASSY PARIS
AMEMBASSY ROME
AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
AMEMBASSY VIENNA
USMISSION USNATO
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USMISSION USVIENNA
USIA WASHDC 2180
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 ZAGREB 01962 07 OF 08 091326Z
COMSIXTHFLT//N2//
CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK//N2/N22//
USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GM//ECJ3/ECJ5//
CTF SIXZERO//N2//
CTF SIXONE//N2//
CTF SIXTWO//N2//
CTF SIXSEVEN//JOCC//
FOSIF ROTA SP
USEC BRUSSELS
WHITE HOUSE WASHDC 0934
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 07 OF 08 ZAGREB 01962
SIPDIS
USVIENNA FOR USDEL CSCE
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF HR
SUBJECT: CGY001: UNPROFOR'S DAUNTING TASK IN CROATIA
- -- ANOTHER GRIM REPORT FROM SECTOR EAST
IT AVAILABLE FOR LEGAL TAKEOVER BY THE INTRUDERS.
22. RELIABLE SOURCES INDICATED THAT THE KRAJINA
"GOVERNMENT" HAS "LEGISLATION" BY WHICH FAMILIES MAY
BE EVICTED IF THEY HAVE RELATIVES WHO HAVE SERVED IN
THE CROATIAN ARMED FORCES. IN A HEATED EXCHANGE WITH
THE CSCE DELEGATION OCTOBER 4, THE VUKOVAR SERBIAN
DELEGATION DENIED THAT ANY SUCH LEGISLATION EXISTED
OR THAT SUCH THINGS OCCURRED. INSTEAD THEY CITED THE
FORMATION OF THEIR OWN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION TO
HANDLE SUCH COMPLAINTS.
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PAGE 03 ZAGREB 01962 07 OF 08 091326Z
23. INTERESTED IN THE "NEWLY FORMED" VUKOVAR HUMAN
RIGHTS COMMISSION, THE CSCE DELEGATION INQUIRED ABOUT
THE GUIDELINES AND INTERNATIONALLY-RECOGNIZED
CONVENTIONS WHICH THE COMMISSION PRESUMABLY USED TO
GUIDE ITS WORK. AFTER AN EMBARRASSINGLY LONG SILENCE,
THE CHAIRMAN, HEARING NO SUGGESTIONS FROM HIS NINE
COLLEAGUES AT THE TABLE, MUMBLED, "WE USE THEM ALL."
IN EMBOFFS' JUDGMENT, HE DIDN'T HAVE A CLUE.
24. ATTACKS HAVE ALSO BEGUN RECENTLY ON MARRIAGES IN
WHICH ONE OF THE PARTIES IS NON-SERBIAN. THE ,
HARASSMENT HAS INCLUDED MAKING A LIST OF SUCH UNIONS
FOR "CENSUS" PURPOSES BUT WITH THE OBVIOUS OBJECTIVE
OF INTIMIDATING THESE COUPLES.
--------------
THREE ALLEGED MASS GRAVES
--------------
25. AMONG THE MANY RUMORS CIRCULATING IN SECTOR EAST
ABOUT MASS MURDERS AND MASS GRAVES, UN SOURCES
CONSIDER THREE ALLEGED INSTANCES PARTICULARLY
CREDIBLE. SOME 70 BODIES ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN
BURIED IN ONE LOCATION IN THE GRAVEYARD AT LOVAS.
THE SITE IS KEPT FREE OF WEEDS AND TENDED BY UNKNOWN
VISITORS, WHICH SUGGESTS THAT NEIGHBORS ARE AWARE OF
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE LOCATION. THERE IS A NEWLY
EXCAVATED AND REFILLED SITE IN FRONT OF THE ROMAN
CATHOLIC CHURCH AT TORDINCI WHERE SOME 208 ARE
BELIEVED TO BE BURIED. THE THIRD LOCATION IS WITHIN
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PAGE 04 ZAGREB 01962 07 OF 08 091326Z
A PARK IN THE VILLAGE OF ERNESTINOVO WHERE 30 BODIES
ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN INTERRED.
CONFIDENTIAL
NNNN
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 01 ZAGREB 01962 08 OF 08 091326Z
ACTION IO-19
INFO LOG-00 AID-01 AMAD-01 CIAE-00 C-01 DODE-00 CISA-02
EB-01 EUR-01 HA-09 H-01 INRE-00 INR-01 LAB-04
L-03 ADS-00 NSAE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 PA-01 PM-02
PRS-01 P-01 RP-10 SCT-03 SDEL-01 SIL-01 SNP-01
SP-01 SR-01 SS-01 STR-18 TRSE-00 T-01 /090W
-------------- 6C0A00 091345Z /38
P 091229Z OCT 92
FM AMCONSUL ZAGREB
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2312
INFO AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
AMEMBASSY ANKARA
AMEMBASSY ATHENS
AMEMBASSY BONN
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
USMISSION GENEVA
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY MADRID
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
AMEMBASSY PARIS
AMEMBASSY ROME
AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
AMEMBASSY VIENNA
USMISSION USNATO
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USMISSION USVIENNA
USIA WASHDC 2181
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 ZAGREB 01962 08 OF 08 091326Z
COMSIXTHFLT//N2//
CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK//N2/N22//
USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GM//ECJ3/ECJ5//
CTF SIXZERO//N2//
CTF SIXONE//N2//
CTF SIXTWO//N2//
CTF SIXSEVEN//JOCC//
FOSIF ROTA SP
USEC BRUSSELS
WHITE HOUSE WASHDC 0935
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 08 OF 08 ZAGREB 01962
SIPDIS
USVIENNA FOR USDEL CSCE
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF HR
SUBJECT: CGY001: UNPROFOR'S DAUNTING TASK IN CROATIA
- -- ANOTHER GRIM REPORT FROM SECTOR EAST
26. UNPROFOR OFFICIALS HAVE ASKED SERBIAN AUTHORITIES
TO EXCAVATE THE SUSPECTED GRAVES, BUT THEY HAVE DONE
NOTHING. IN RESPONSE TO DIRECT QUESTIONS FROM THE
CSCE DELEGATION ABOUT THE HARASSMENT, MURDER, AND
INTIMIDATION OF NON-SERBS IN VUKOVAR, "PRESIDENT"
ILICH SAID "WE HAVE NO EVIDENCE ABOUT THESE THINGS."
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 ZAGREB 01962 08 OF 08 091326Z
27. THE SERBIAN LEADERSHIP IN VUKOVAR, LIKE THEIR
COUNTERPARTS IN KNIN, HAVE MADE FOR THEMSELVES A
HOBBESIAN WORLD OF THE DARKEST DIMENSIONS. THE
SAVAGERY THEY HAVE UNLEASHED AND NOW AID AND ABET HAS
MADE LIFE A VIRTUAL HELL FOR ALL THE NON-SERBS WITHIN
THEIR GRASP. YET IT IS THE SERBS WHO CLAIM THAT THEY
ARE THE ONES THREATENED AND MISUNDERSTOOD.
PREDICTABLY, MUCH OF THE DELEGATION'S TWO-HOUR
MEETING IN VUKOVAR WAS TAKEN UP WITH A NOW-FAMILIAR
RECITATION OF ALLEGED SERBIAN GRIEVANCES STRETCHING
BACK TO BEFORE THE AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN EMPIRE.
28. IN SECTOR EAST, AT LEAST, THE ALREADY POOR ODDS
OF UNPROFOR'S BEING ABLE TO IMPLEMENT THE VANCE PLAN
-- WITH ITS CURRENT FORCE LEVELS AND MANDATE --
APPEAR TO BE STEADILY RECEDING.
NEITZKE
CONFIDENTIAL
NNNN
SIPDIS
USVIENNA FOR USDEL CSCE
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF HR
SUBJECT: CGY001: UNPROFOR'S DAUNTING TASK IN CROATIA
- -- ANOTHER GRIM REPORT FROM SECTOR EAST
REF: STATE 309793
1. CONFIDENTIAL - ENTIRE TEXT.
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------
2. A REGIME OF EXTRAORDINARY BRUTALITY HOLDS SWAY IN
SERBIAN-DOMINATED VUKOVAR AND ELSEWHERE IN THE SECTOR
EAST UNITED NATIONS PROTECTED AREA (UNPA) OF CROATIA.
CONFIDENTIAL
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PAGE 03 ZAGREB 01962 01 OF 08 091325Z
MURDERS, ASSAULTS, VIOLENT HARASSMENT, DESTRUCTION OF
CATHOLIC CHURCHES, AND ATTACKS ON MIXED MARRIAGES ARE
NOW COMMONPLACE. UNPROFOR REPS ARE WAGING AN UPHILL
STRUGGLE TO BRING TO TASK SERBIAN PERPETRATORS -- WHO
ARE INTEGRAL ELEMENTS OF THE SO-CALLED GOVERNMENT IN
THE AREA. THE ODDS ON UNPROFOR'S SUCCEEDING ARE NOT
GREAT, WHICH IS WHY THE SECTOR EAST SITUATION IS AMONG
THE MOST OFT-CITED POTENTIAL CAUSES OF A FEARED LARGE-
SCALE FLARE UP OF SERBO-CROATIAN FIGHTING NEXT SPRING.
3. THIS REPORT IS BASED ON OBSERVATIONS AND
INTERVIEWS BY TWO EMBASSY OFFICERS DURING TRAVEL TO
SECTOR EAST OCTOBER 1-4 IN SUPPORT OF A CSCE
DELEGATION. SEPTEL REPORTS THEIR OBSERVATIONS ON
CONDITIONS IN SECTORS WEST AND SOUTH. END SUMMARY.
-
--------------
SECTOR EAST - THE QUIET HELL OF VUKOVAR
--------------
4. ONLY A PERSONAL VISIT CAN PROVIDE A FULL
APPRECIATION OF THE SCOPE OF WANTON DESTRUCTION THAT
WAS VISITED ON THE ONCE PROSPEROUS CROATIAN CITY OF
VUKOVAR BY SERBIAN FORCES IN THE FALL OF 1991. ON
OCTOBER 4 EMBOFFS WERE GIVEN AN ESCORTED TOUR OF
VUKOVAR AND SEVERAL SURROUNDING TOWNS IN SECTOR EAST
BY UNPROFOR OFFICIALS. THE REMAINS OF THE CITY LOOK
LIKE BERLIN, CIRCA 1945. NEARLY EVERY RESIDENTIAL,
COMMERCIAL, CULTURAL, AND RELIGIOUS STRUCTURE HAS
BEEN GUTTED OR SEVERELY DAMAGED. GRAIN ELEVATORS,
CRANES IN THE PORT ALONG THE RIVER, FACTORIES, AND
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PAGE 04 ZAGREB 01962 01 OF 08 091325Z
HIGH RISE APARTMENT BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN RENDERED
VIRTUALLY USELESS AND UNINHABITABLE.
CONFIDENTIAL
NNNN
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 01 ZAGREB 01962 02 OF 08 091325Z
ACTION IO-19
INFO LOG-00 AID-01 AMAD-01 CIAE-00 C-01 DODE-00 CISA-02
EB-01 EUR-01 HA-09 H-01 INRE-00 INR-01 LAB-04
L-03 ADS-00 NSAE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 PA-01 PM-02
PRS-01 P-01 RP-10 SCT-03 SDEL-01 SIL-01 SNP-01
SP-01 SR-01 SS-01 STR-18 TRSE-00 T-01 /090W
-------------- 6C09D4 091334Z /38
P 091229Z OCT 92
FM AMCONSUL ZAGREB
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2306
INFO AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
AMEMBASSY ANKARA
AMEMBASSY ATHENS
AMEMBASSY BONN
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
USMISSION GENEVA
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY MADRID
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
AMEMBASSY PARIS
AMEMBASSY ROME
AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
AMEMBASSY VIENNA
USMISSION USNATO
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USMISSION USVIENNA
USIA WASHDC 2175
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 ZAGREB 01962 02 OF 08 091325Z
COMSIXTHFLT//N2//
CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK//N2/N22//
USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GM//ECJ3/ECJ5//
CTF SIXZERO//N2//
CTF SIXONE//N2//
CTF SIXTWO//N2//
CTF SIXSEVEN//JOCC//
FOSIF ROTA SP
USEC BRUSSELS
WHITE HOUSE WASHDC 0929
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 08 ZAGREB 01962
SIPDIS
USVIENNA FOR USDEL CSCE
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF HR
SUBJECT: CGY001: UNPROFOR'S DAUNTING TASK IN CROATIA
- -- ANOTHER GRIM REPORT FROM SECTOR EAST
5. THE POPULATION OF VUKOVAR TOWNSHIP HAS DWINDLED
TO 20,000 FROM A PRE-WAR 80,000 (OF WHOM AN ESTIMATED
58 PERCENT WERE CROATS). ONLY SOME TENS OF PEOPLE
WERE VISIBLE ON THE STREETS DURING THE HALF-HOUR TOUR
BY CAR. THERE WERE ONLY A FEW OTHER VEHICLES ON THE
ROADS DESPITE THE REPORTED AVAILABILITY OF GASOLINE
BROUGHT IN FROM SERBIA.
-------------- --------------
HUNGARIANS, SLOVAKS, AND CROATS LOSE JOBS AND HOMES
-------------- --------------
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 ZAGREB 01962 02 OF 08 091325Z
6. IN THIS DISMAL SETTING, SERBIAN OFFICIALS ADD TO
THE MISERY THROUGH A SYSTEMATIC PROGRAM OF ETHNIC
CLEANSING AIMED AT DRIVING OUT ALL REMAINING CROATS,
HUNGARIANS, SLOVAKS, AND OTHER MINORITIES. ON AUGUST
31, 1992, SOME TWENTY NON-SERBS (MOSTLY SLOVAKS)
REPORTEDLY WERE DISMISSED FROM THE ILOK BRICK FACTORY
AND LOST, ALONG WITH THEIR JOBS, THEIR COMPANY-OWNED
HOUSING. SERBIAN REPLACEMENT WORKERS THEN MOVED IN
AND WERE HIRED AT THE BRICK FACTORY -- WHICH EMBOFFS
OBSERVED OPERATING AT A BRISK PACE.
7. UNPROFOR CIVILIAN POLICE ALSO TOLD EMBOFFS THAT
HUNGARIANS AND SLOVAKS ARE PRESSURED TO ACCEPT
MOBILIZATION INTO THE KRAJINA "ARMED FORCES." THOSE
WHO REFUSE ARE CLASSIFIED AS SUBVERSIVES AND HOUNDED
FROM THEIR JOBS AND HOMES.
--------------
PERSECUTION OF CROATS
--------------
8. MANY CROATS LIVING IN THE VUKOVAR AREA WERE WERE
DRIVEN OUT AFTER THE CITY FELL ON NOVEMBER 19, 1991.
THEY ARE REPORTEDLY SUBJECTED TO RELENTLESS, DIRECT
PHYSICAL INTIMIDATION -- AND OCCASIONAL MURDER. IN
ONE RECENT CASE, THREE UNARMED CIVILIANS OVER 70
YEARS OF AGE WERE SHOT AND KILLED BY THE SERBIAN
SO-CALLED "SPECIAL POLICE." NO SUSPECTS HAVE BEEN
ARRESTED. IN ANOTHER CASE, AN UNPROFOR CIVILIAN
POLICE OFFICER OBSERVED THE CORPSE OF AN ELDERLY
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CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 ZAGREB 01962 02 OF 08 091325Z
WOMAN WHOM THE LOCAL POLICE HAD REPORTED AS KILLED BY
A LAND MINE. THE DECEASED HAD MULTIPLE WOUNDS TO THE
BACK, LIKELY CAUSED BY A SHOTGUN.
CONFIDENTIAL
NNNN
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 01 ZAGREB 01962 03 OF 08 091325Z
ACTION IO-19
INFO LOG-00 AID-01 AMAD-01 CIAE-00 C-01 DODE-00 CISA-02
EB-01 EUR-01 HA-09 H-01 INRE-00 INR-01 LAB-04
L-03 ADS-00 NSAE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 PA-01 PM-02
PRS-01 P-01 RP-10 SCT-03 SDEL-01 SIL-01 SNP-01
SP-01 SR-01 SS-01 STR-18 TRSE-00 T-01 /090W
-------------- 6C09D7 091334Z /38
P 091229Z OCT 92
FM AMCONSUL ZAGREB
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2307
INFO AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
AMEMBASSY ANKARA
AMEMBASSY ATHENS
AMEMBASSY BONN
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
USMISSION GENEVA
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY MADRID
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
AMEMBASSY PARIS
AMEMBASSY ROME
AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
AMEMBASSY VIENNA
USMISSION USNATO
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USMISSION USVIENNA
USIA WASHDC 2176
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 ZAGREB 01962 03 OF 08 091325Z
COMSIXTHFLT//N2//
CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK//N2/N22//
USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GM//ECJ3/ECJ5//
CTF SIXZERO//N2//
CTF SIXONE//N2//
CTF SIXTWO//N2//
CTF SIXSEVEN//JOCC//
FOSIF ROTA SP
USEC BRUSSELS
WHITE HOUSE WASHDC 0930
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 08 ZAGREB 01962
SIPDIS
USVIENNA FOR USDEL CSCE
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF HR
SUBJECT: CGY001: UNPROFOR'S DAUNTING TASK IN CROATIA
- -- ANOTHER GRIM REPORT FROM SECTOR EAST
9. THE SHAM COURT SYSTEM OF THE SO-CALLED KRAJINA
AUTHORITIES IN VUKOVAR APES WESTERN MODELS, WITH
COURTS OF THE FIRST INSTANCE, COURTS OF THE SECOND,
ETC. IN FACT, ACCORDING TO EXPERTS DIRECTLY FAMILIAR
WITH DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS, ALMOST ALL THE CASES IN
THE SERBIAN- CONTROLLED VUKOVAR REGION ARE BROUGHT
AGAINST CROATS AND OTHER MINORITIES. A JUDGE AND TWO
ASSISTANT JUDGES RUN THE PROCEEDINGS. NEITHER THE
PROSECUTOR NOR THE SUPPOSED DEFENSE ATTORNEY IS
ALLOWED TO PLAY A DIRECT ROLE. THE PRESIDING JUDGE
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 ZAGREB 01962 03 OF 08 091325Z
ASKS ALL QUESTIONS. THE DEFENSE ATTORNEY MUST SUBMIT
ALL/ALL QUESTIONS IN WRITING TO THE JUDGE -- EVEN
THOSE HE WANTS TO ASK HIS OWN CLIENT. THE JUDGE MAY
OR MAY NOT ASK THE QUESTIONS SUBMITTED. IN ONE
TYPICAL CASE OBSERVED BY AN UNPROFOR CIVILIAN POLICE
OFFICER, A SIXTY-TWO YEAR OLD CROATIAN WOMAN WAS
ACCUSED OF HAVING A HANDGRENADE, GUN, AND SHOTGUN IN
HER HOME. IN A "QUICKY" TRIAL THE DEFENDANT WAS
FOUND GUILTY, SENTENCED TO TEN MONTHS IN JAIL, AND
FINED 6,000 DINARS. THE SO-CALLED DEFENSE LAWYER DID
ALMOST NOTHING.
--------------
MINEFIELDS AND UNPUNISHED MURDERS
--------------
10. UNPROFOR CIVILIAN AUTHORITIES TOLD EMBOFFS THAT,
IN ANOTHER CASE, THEY INFORMED KRAJINA "OFFICIALS" OF
ACCUSATIONS AGAINST EIGHT INDIVIDUALS WHO HAD TRIED
TO FORCE 23 NON-SERBS THEY WERE EXPELLING TO CROSS A
KNOWN MINEFIELD AT THE UNPA FRONT LINE. THE UN POLICE
PREVENTED THE ACT FROM OCCURRING AND COLLECTED NAMES
OF 22 WITNESSES TO THE INCIDENT. NO ACTION HAS BEEN
TAKEN BY THE KRAJINA AUTHORITIES.
11. ACCORDING TO UNPROFOR, THE MANY MURDER VICTIMS
IN THE AREA ARE "INVARIABLY NON-SERBS." THE SUSPECTS
IMPLICATED (OR POSITIVELY IDENTIFIED) ARE OFTEN
MEMBERS OF THE SO-CALLED "SPECIAL POLICE" (SEE BELOW).
12. IN UNPROFOR'S VIEW, ONE OF THE BIGGEST HURDLES
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PAGE 04 ZAGREB 01962 03 OF 08 091325Z
TO ESTABLISHING LAW AND ORDER IN THE AREA IS THAT
CASES ARE SIMPLY NOT BROUGHT AGAINST KNOWN SUSPECTS.
EVEN THOSE (SERBS) WHO ARE ARRESTED REPORTEDLY ARE
CONFIDENTIAL
NNNN
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 01 ZAGREB 01962 04 OF 08 091325Z
ACTION IO-19
INFO LOG-00 AID-01 AMAD-01 CIAE-00 C-01 DODE-00 CISA-02
EB-01 EUR-01 HA-09 H-01 INRE-00 INR-01 LAB-04
L-03 ADS-00 NSAE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 PA-01 PM-02
PRS-01 P-01 RP-10 SCT-03 SDEL-01 SIL-01 SNP-01
SP-01 SR-01 SS-01 STR-18 TRSE-00 T-01 /090W
-------------- 6C09DC 091335Z /38
P 091229Z OCT 92
FM AMCONSUL ZAGREB
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2308
INFO AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
AMEMBASSY ANKARA
AMEMBASSY ATHENS
AMEMBASSY BONN
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
USMISSION GENEVA
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY MADRID
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
AMEMBASSY PARIS
AMEMBASSY ROME
AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
AMEMBASSY VIENNA
USMISSION USNATO
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USMISSION USVIENNA
USIA WASHDC 2177
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 ZAGREB 01962 04 OF 08 091325Z
COMSIXTHFLT//N2//
CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK//N2/N22//
USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GM//ECJ3/ECJ5//
CTF SIXZERO//N2//
CTF SIXONE//N2//
CTF SIXTWO//N2//
CTF SIXSEVEN//JOCC//
FOSIF ROTA SP
USEC BRUSSELS
WHITE HOUSE WASHDC 0931
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 04 OF 08 ZAGREB 01962
SIPDIS
USVIENNA FOR USDEL CSCE
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF HR
SUBJECT: CGY001: UNPROFOR'S DAUNTING TASK IN CROATIA
- -- ANOTHER GRIM REPORT FROM SECTOR EAST
QUICKLY FREED. ONE SERB REPORTEDLY WAS ARRESTED FOR
THREE CONSECUTIVE MURDERS. HE WAS RELEASED TWICE
WITHOUT PUNISHMENT. AFTER THE THIRD ARREST HE WAS
TAKEN TO THE SERBIAN BORDER AND ALLOWED TO CROSS INTO
VOJVODINA. DURING THE NIGHT OF SEPTEMBER 7-8, A
NON-SERB COUPLE WAS MURDERED IN THE UNPA. THERE ARE
NO SUSPECTS. ON OCTOBER 1, TWO MUSLIMS WERE MURDERED
IN THE UNPA. THERE ARE NO SUSPECTS. MILAN ILICH,
"PRESIDENT" OF THE VUKOVAR REGION EXECUTIVE COUNCIL,
WAS ASKED IN OCTOBER WHY NO ACTION HAD BEEN TAKEN
AGAINST KNOWN TERRORISTS. HE REPORTEDLY RESPONDED
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PAGE 03 ZAGREB 01962 04 OF 08 091325Z
SIMPLY THAT, WHILE HE OPPOSED THE METHODS USED TO
DRIVE NON-SERBS, HE DID NOT QUARREL WITH THE RESULTS.
13. UNPROFOR REPORTEDLY INFORMED ILICH OF AN
ESPECIALLY EGREGIOUS TERRORIZATION OF A NUMBER OF
ELDERLY NON-SERB WOMEN WHO WERE FINALLY DRIVEN OUT OF
THEIR HOMES IN SEPTEMBER. AFTER A DELAY, DURING
WHICH HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE INVESTIGATING THE CASE,
ILICH SENT A REQUEST THAT THE WOMEN SIGN OVER THEIR
PROPERTY TO THE KRAJINA AND CONFIRM THAT THEY WERE
LEAVING "VOLUNTARILY."
--------------
BLAMING THE REFUGEES
--------------
14. ILICH TOLD THE CSCE DELEGATION THAT THE REGION
HAS TAKEN IN A NUMBER OF SERBIAN REFUGEES FROM
BOSNIA-HERCEGOVINA AND ELSEWHERE. HE CLAIMED THAT
"THOSE PEOPLE (SERBS) WHO HAVE LOST EVERYTHING ON THE
OTHER SIDE ACT IN AN EMOTIONAL WAY." THESE PEOPLE
OFTEN CAUSE "DIFFICULTIES," HE CLAIMED.
15. UN OBSERVERS, HOWEVER, TELL A DIFFERENT STORY.
WHILE ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THE INFLUX OF SERBIAN
REFUGEES, ESTIMATED AT SOME 47,000, HAS AGGRAVATED A
TENSE SITUATION, UN CIVILIAN POLICE FAMILIAR WITH
DAILY CONDITIONS BELIEVE THAT MANY CRIMINALS COME NOT
FROM REFUGEE RANKS BUT FROM OFFICIALDOM. THEY CITED .
MEMBERS OF THE CIVILIAN ADMINISTRATION, SUCH AS THE
"MAYOR" OF THE TOWN OF DALJ, S. DORGJA (AKA "BRIGA"),
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PAGE 04 ZAGREB 01962 04 OF 08 091325Z
WHO HAS BEEN SEEN THREATENING, BEATING, AND SHOOTING
AROUND PERSONAL RESIDENCES IN AN EFFORT TO INTIMIDATE
NON-SERBS INTO LEAVING. IN THIS CONTEXT, UNPROFOR
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PAGE 01 ZAGREB 01962 05 OF 08 091325Z
ACTION IO-19
INFO LOG-00 AID-01 AMAD-01 CIAE-00 C-01 DODE-00 CISA-02
EB-01 EUR-01 HA-09 H-01 INRE-00 INR-01 LAB-04
L-03 ADS-00 NSAE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 PA-01 PM-02
PRS-01 P-01 RP-10 SCT-03 SDEL-01 SIL-01 SNP-01
SP-01 SR-01 SS-01 STR-18 TRSE-00 T-01 /090W
-------------- 6C09E2 091336Z /38
P 091229Z OCT 92
FM AMCONSUL ZAGREB
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2309
INFO AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
AMEMBASSY ANKARA
AMEMBASSY ATHENS
AMEMBASSY BONN
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
USMISSION GENEVA
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY MADRID
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
AMEMBASSY PARIS
AMEMBASSY ROME
AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
AMEMBASSY VIENNA
USMISSION USNATO
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USMISSION USVIENNA
USIA WASHDC 2178
CONFIDENTIAL
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PAGE 02 ZAGREB 01962 05 OF 08 091325Z
COMSIXTHFLT//N2//
CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK//N2/N22//
USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GM//ECJ3/ECJ5//
CTF SIXZERO//N2//
CTF SIXONE//N2//
CTF SIXTWO//N2//
CTF SIXSEVEN//JOCC//
FOSIF ROTA SP
USEC BRUSSELS
WHITE HOUSE WASHDC 0932
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 05 OF 08 ZAGREB 01962
SIPDIS
USVIENNA FOR USDEL CSCE
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF HR
SUBJECT: CGY001: UNPROFOR'S DAUNTING TASK IN CROATIA
- -- ANOTHER GRIM REPORT FROM SECTOR EAST
NOTED THAT THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH IN DALJ WAS
RECENTLY BLOWN UP BY UNKNOWN PERPETRATORS. FOUR
OTHER ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCHES AROUND THE SOUTHERN
PART OF THE UNPA (IN ALMAS, ERDUT, SWINJERNO) HAVE
ALSO RECENTLY BEEN COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THERE ARE
NO SUSPECTS IN THE BOMBINGS.
-
--------------
THE "SPECIAL POLICE"
--------------
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PAGE 03 ZAGREB 01962 05 OF 08 091325Z
16. MEMBERS OF THE SO-CALLED "SPECIAL POLICE" ARE
ALSO BELIEVED TO BE DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN CRIMES
AGAINST THE CIVILIAN POPULATION. THESE FORCES ARE A
SUBTERFUGE DESIGNED TO AVOID THE LIMITS IN THE VANCE
PLAN AND WERE ORIGINALLY MEMBERS OF THE YUGOSLAV
NATIONAL ARMY (JNA). WHEN RESTRICTIONS WERE PLACED
ON THE JNA AND THEIR REMOVAL ORDERED, THEY BECAME
"TERRITORIAL DEFENSE." WHEN THE VANCE PLAN CALLED
FOR THEIR DEMOBILIZATION, THE SAME PEOPLE BECAME
"SPECIAL POLICE" OR "BORDER POLICE." THEIR EXACT
NUMBERS ARE A MATTER OF DISPUTE.
17. ACCORDING TO UN ESTIMATES, THE NUMBER OF SERBIAN
POLICE JUMPED FROM 150 TO 800 DURING THE TRANSITION
PERIOD AT THE SETTING UP OF THE UNPA. A "SPECIAL
POLICE" OF SOME 2,000 ALSO EXISTS AND OPERATES IN THE
NORTHERN PART OF THE UNPA. ON JULY 18, 1992, THE
SO-CALLED "REPUBLIC OF KRAJINA" ASSERTED ITS CONTROL
AND REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE
NUMBERS OF "POLICE." NO FURTHER SURRENDER OF WEAPONS
FROM PARAMILITARY GROUPS, AS CALLED FOR IN THE VANCE
PLAN, HAS TAKEN PLACE SINCE THAT DATE.
--------------
THE "RUSSIAN" ZONE OF SECTOR EAST
--------------
18. THE RUSSIAN BATTALION IN CHARGE OF THE SOUTHERN
PART OF THE UNPA HAS ITS HANDS FULL. BOTH "SPECIAL
POLICE" AND "POLICE" ARE INVOLVED IN CRIMES IN THIS
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PAGE 04 ZAGREB 01962 05 OF 08 091325Z
REGION BUT THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH RUSSIAN TROOPS TO
BLANKET THE AREA. WHEN UN OFFICIALS COMPLAINED ABOUT
THE OUTRAGEOUS CRIME WAVE, LOCAL SERBS ASKED THAT THE
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PAGE 01 ZAGREB 01962 06 OF 08 091326Z
ACTION IO-19
INFO LOG-00 AID-01 AMAD-01 CIAE-00 C-01 DODE-00 CISA-02
EB-01 EUR-01 HA-09 H-01 INRE-00 INR-01 LAB-04
L-03 ADS-00 NSAE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 PA-01 PM-02
PRS-01 P-01 RP-10 SCT-03 SDEL-01 SIL-01 SNP-01
SP-01 SR-01 SS-01 STR-18 TRSE-00 T-01 /090W
-------------- 6C09F0 091340Z /38
P 091229Z OCT 92
FM AMCONSUL ZAGREB
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2310
INFO AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
AMEMBASSY ANKARA
AMEMBASSY ATHENS
AMEMBASSY BONN
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
USMISSION GENEVA
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY MADRID
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
AMEMBASSY PARIS
AMEMBASSY ROME
AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
AMEMBASSY VIENNA
USMISSION USNATO
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USMISSION USVIENNA
USIA WASHDC 2179
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 ZAGREB 01962 06 OF 08 091326Z
COMSIXTHFLT//N2//
CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK//N2/N22//
USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GM//ECJ3/ECJ5//
CTF SIXZERO//N2//
CTF SIXONE//N2//
CTF SIXTWO//N2//
CTF SIXSEVEN//JOCC//
FOSIF ROTA SP
USEC BRUSSELS
WHITE HOUSE WASHDC 0933
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 06 OF 08 ZAGREB 01962
SIPDIS
USVIENNA FOR USDEL CSCE
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF HR
SUBJECT: CGY001: UNPROFOR'S DAUNTING TASK IN CROATIA
- -- ANOTHER GRIM REPORT FROM SECTOR EAST
UN RELEASE SERBIAN ARMORED CARS IMPOUNDED BY THE UN
SO THAT THEY COULD "FIGHT CRIME IN THE VILLAGES."
--------------
ARKAN AND OTHER PARAMILITARIES
--------------
19. THE NOTORIOUS SERBIAN TERRORIST ARKAN HAS BEEN
SEEN AGAIN IN THE UNPA. HE WAS REPORTEDLY FETED AS A
GUEST SPEAKER AT A RECENT PARTY IN THE REGION. THE
COMPOUND AND TRAINING COMPLEX AT ERDUT NEXT TO UN
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PAGE 03 ZAGREB 01962 06 OF 08 091326Z
HEADQUARTERS HAS A NEW HIGH RED BRICK WALL AROUND
PART OF THE PERIMETER. HIS MEN REPORTEDLY HAVE
BECOME MEMBERS OF THE "POLICE." THE SERBIAN "RED
BERETS," WHO HAVE BEEN ACCUSED OF WAR CRIMES IN ILOK
AND SEVERAL OTHER VILLAGES, HAVE MOVED TO THE
SOUTHERN PART OF THE UNPA AND THEIR MEMBERS ARE NOW
SEEN IN SERBIAN "SPECIAL POLICE" UNIFORMS.
20. A SO-CALLED "BORDER POLICE" ALSO IS BEING RUN BY
THE SERBIAN SIDE. THESE INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN SEEN
MANNING CHECKPOINTS WITH REGULAR "POLICE," AND ARE
REPORTED TO BE INVOLVED IN SOME OF THE WORST VIOLENCE
AGAINST CIVILIANS. LOCAL "POLICE" HAVE TOLD THEIR
INTERNATIONAL COUNTERPARTS THAT THEY ARE AFRAID TO
PURSUE CASES AGAINST THE "BORDER POLICE" AND "SPECIAL
POLICE" LEST THEY THEMSELVES BE ATTACKED OR MURDERED.
IN A HEATED EXCHANGE WITH THE CSCE DELEGATION ON
OCTOBER 4, THE SERBIAN VUKOVAR AUTHORITIES REFUSED TO
PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION ON NUMBERS OF THE "BORDER"
AND "SPECIAL POLICE," CLAIMING THAT ONLY THE KNIN
AUTHORITIES COULD RELEASE THAT DATA.
--------------
LEGAL HARASSMENT OF NON-SERBS
--------------
21. EMBOFFS ALSO HEARD REPORTS FROM CREDIBLE SOURCES
OF OTHER, MORE SUBTLE FORMS OF HARASSMENT OF NON-SERBS
IN THE VUKOVAR AREA. FOR EXAMPLE, UNDER THE GUISE OF
HELPING THE DISPLACED, A NUMBER OF HUNGARIAN AND
SLOVAK HOMEOWNERS HAVE BEEN ORDERED TO TAKE IN SERBIAN
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PAGE 04 ZAGREB 01962 06 OF 08 091326Z
REFUGEES. THESE REFUGEES REPORTEDLY HARASS AND
INTIMIDATE THEIR "HOSTS" UNTIL THE LATTER FINALLY
MOVE OUT, THUS "ABANDONING" THE PROPERTY AND MAKING
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PAGE 01 ZAGREB 01962 07 OF 08 091326Z
ACTION IO-19
INFO LOG-00 AID-01 AMAD-01 CIAE-00 C-01 DODE-00 CISA-02
EB-01 EUR-01 HA-09 H-01 INRE-00 INR-01 LAB-04
L-03 ADS-00 NSAE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 PA-01 PM-02
PRS-01 P-01 RP-10 SCT-03 SDEL-01 SIL-01 SNP-01
SP-01 SR-01 SS-01 STR-18 TRSE-00 T-01 /090W
-------------- 6C09FD 091344Z /38
P 091229Z OCT 92
FM AMCONSUL ZAGREB
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2311
INFO AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
AMEMBASSY ANKARA
AMEMBASSY ATHENS
AMEMBASSY BONN
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
USMISSION GENEVA
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY MADRID
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
AMEMBASSY PARIS
AMEMBASSY ROME
AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
AMEMBASSY VIENNA
USMISSION USNATO
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USMISSION USVIENNA
USIA WASHDC 2180
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 ZAGREB 01962 07 OF 08 091326Z
COMSIXTHFLT//N2//
CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK//N2/N22//
USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GM//ECJ3/ECJ5//
CTF SIXZERO//N2//
CTF SIXONE//N2//
CTF SIXTWO//N2//
CTF SIXSEVEN//JOCC//
FOSIF ROTA SP
USEC BRUSSELS
WHITE HOUSE WASHDC 0934
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 07 OF 08 ZAGREB 01962
SIPDIS
USVIENNA FOR USDEL CSCE
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF HR
SUBJECT: CGY001: UNPROFOR'S DAUNTING TASK IN CROATIA
- -- ANOTHER GRIM REPORT FROM SECTOR EAST
IT AVAILABLE FOR LEGAL TAKEOVER BY THE INTRUDERS.
22. RELIABLE SOURCES INDICATED THAT THE KRAJINA
"GOVERNMENT" HAS "LEGISLATION" BY WHICH FAMILIES MAY
BE EVICTED IF THEY HAVE RELATIVES WHO HAVE SERVED IN
THE CROATIAN ARMED FORCES. IN A HEATED EXCHANGE WITH
THE CSCE DELEGATION OCTOBER 4, THE VUKOVAR SERBIAN
DELEGATION DENIED THAT ANY SUCH LEGISLATION EXISTED
OR THAT SUCH THINGS OCCURRED. INSTEAD THEY CITED THE
FORMATION OF THEIR OWN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION TO
HANDLE SUCH COMPLAINTS.
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PAGE 03 ZAGREB 01962 07 OF 08 091326Z
23. INTERESTED IN THE "NEWLY FORMED" VUKOVAR HUMAN
RIGHTS COMMISSION, THE CSCE DELEGATION INQUIRED ABOUT
THE GUIDELINES AND INTERNATIONALLY-RECOGNIZED
CONVENTIONS WHICH THE COMMISSION PRESUMABLY USED TO
GUIDE ITS WORK. AFTER AN EMBARRASSINGLY LONG SILENCE,
THE CHAIRMAN, HEARING NO SUGGESTIONS FROM HIS NINE
COLLEAGUES AT THE TABLE, MUMBLED, "WE USE THEM ALL."
IN EMBOFFS' JUDGMENT, HE DIDN'T HAVE A CLUE.
24. ATTACKS HAVE ALSO BEGUN RECENTLY ON MARRIAGES IN
WHICH ONE OF THE PARTIES IS NON-SERBIAN. THE ,
HARASSMENT HAS INCLUDED MAKING A LIST OF SUCH UNIONS
FOR "CENSUS" PURPOSES BUT WITH THE OBVIOUS OBJECTIVE
OF INTIMIDATING THESE COUPLES.
--------------
THREE ALLEGED MASS GRAVES
--------------
25. AMONG THE MANY RUMORS CIRCULATING IN SECTOR EAST
ABOUT MASS MURDERS AND MASS GRAVES, UN SOURCES
CONSIDER THREE ALLEGED INSTANCES PARTICULARLY
CREDIBLE. SOME 70 BODIES ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN
BURIED IN ONE LOCATION IN THE GRAVEYARD AT LOVAS.
THE SITE IS KEPT FREE OF WEEDS AND TENDED BY UNKNOWN
VISITORS, WHICH SUGGESTS THAT NEIGHBORS ARE AWARE OF
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE LOCATION. THERE IS A NEWLY
EXCAVATED AND REFILLED SITE IN FRONT OF THE ROMAN
CATHOLIC CHURCH AT TORDINCI WHERE SOME 208 ARE
BELIEVED TO BE BURIED. THE THIRD LOCATION IS WITHIN
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PAGE 04 ZAGREB 01962 07 OF 08 091326Z
A PARK IN THE VILLAGE OF ERNESTINOVO WHERE 30 BODIES
ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN INTERRED.
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PAGE 01 ZAGREB 01962 08 OF 08 091326Z
ACTION IO-19
INFO LOG-00 AID-01 AMAD-01 CIAE-00 C-01 DODE-00 CISA-02
EB-01 EUR-01 HA-09 H-01 INRE-00 INR-01 LAB-04
L-03 ADS-00 NSAE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 PA-01 PM-02
PRS-01 P-01 RP-10 SCT-03 SDEL-01 SIL-01 SNP-01
SP-01 SR-01 SS-01 STR-18 TRSE-00 T-01 /090W
-------------- 6C0A00 091345Z /38
P 091229Z OCT 92
FM AMCONSUL ZAGREB
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2312
INFO AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
AMEMBASSY ANKARA
AMEMBASSY ATHENS
AMEMBASSY BONN
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
USMISSION GENEVA
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY MADRID
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
AMEMBASSY PARIS
AMEMBASSY ROME
AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
AMEMBASSY VIENNA
USMISSION USNATO
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USMISSION USVIENNA
USIA WASHDC 2181
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 ZAGREB 01962 08 OF 08 091326Z
COMSIXTHFLT//N2//
CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK//N2/N22//
USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GM//ECJ3/ECJ5//
CTF SIXZERO//N2//
CTF SIXONE//N2//
CTF SIXTWO//N2//
CTF SIXSEVEN//JOCC//
FOSIF ROTA SP
USEC BRUSSELS
WHITE HOUSE WASHDC 0935
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 08 OF 08 ZAGREB 01962
SIPDIS
USVIENNA FOR USDEL CSCE
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF PREL PHUM PREF HR
SUBJECT: CGY001: UNPROFOR'S DAUNTING TASK IN CROATIA
- -- ANOTHER GRIM REPORT FROM SECTOR EAST
26. UNPROFOR OFFICIALS HAVE ASKED SERBIAN AUTHORITIES
TO EXCAVATE THE SUSPECTED GRAVES, BUT THEY HAVE DONE
NOTHING. IN RESPONSE TO DIRECT QUESTIONS FROM THE
CSCE DELEGATION ABOUT THE HARASSMENT, MURDER, AND
INTIMIDATION OF NON-SERBS IN VUKOVAR, "PRESIDENT"
ILICH SAID "WE HAVE NO EVIDENCE ABOUT THESE THINGS."
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
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PAGE 03 ZAGREB 01962 08 OF 08 091326Z
27. THE SERBIAN LEADERSHIP IN VUKOVAR, LIKE THEIR
COUNTERPARTS IN KNIN, HAVE MADE FOR THEMSELVES A
HOBBESIAN WORLD OF THE DARKEST DIMENSIONS. THE
SAVAGERY THEY HAVE UNLEASHED AND NOW AID AND ABET HAS
MADE LIFE A VIRTUAL HELL FOR ALL THE NON-SERBS WITHIN
THEIR GRASP. YET IT IS THE SERBS WHO CLAIM THAT THEY
ARE THE ONES THREATENED AND MISUNDERSTOOD.
PREDICTABLY, MUCH OF THE DELEGATION'S TWO-HOUR
MEETING IN VUKOVAR WAS TAKEN UP WITH A NOW-FAMILIAR
RECITATION OF ALLEGED SERBIAN GRIEVANCES STRETCHING
BACK TO BEFORE THE AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN EMPIRE.
28. IN SECTOR EAST, AT LEAST, THE ALREADY POOR ODDS
OF UNPROFOR'S BEING ABLE TO IMPLEMENT THE VANCE PLAN
-- WITH ITS CURRENT FORCE LEVELS AND MANDATE --
APPEAR TO BE STEADILY RECEDING.
NEITZKE
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