CGY001: UNPROFOR'S DAUNTING TASK IN CROATIA

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. CONFIDENTIAL 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 CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 04 ZAGREB 01962 01 OF 08 091325Z HIGH RISE APARTMENT BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN RENDERED VIRTUALLY USELESS AND UNINHABITABLE. CONFIDENTIAL �0A; 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 CONFIDENTIAL 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 CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL 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 CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL 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"), CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL 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 CONFIDENTIAL NNNN CONFIDENTIAL 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" -------------- CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL 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 CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL 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 CONFIDENTIAL NNNN CONFIDENTIAL 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 CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL 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 CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL 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. CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL 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 CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL 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