Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
92ZAGREB2038
1992-10-16 15:53:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Zagreb
Cable title:  

CYGOOL: HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN BOSNIA-

Tags:  PREF PHUM HR BK 
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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 09 ZAGREB 02038 
 
SIPDIS 
 
USEC BRUSSELS 
DIA WASHDC 
JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-5/J-2// 
WHITE HOUSE WASHDC 0962 
 
 
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE SECTION 01 OF 09 ZAGREB 02038 
 
 
DEPT FOR EUR, L, IO, HA 
. 
USVIENNA FOR USDEL CSCE 
. 
E.O. 12356: DECL: N/A 
TAGS: PREF PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR BK
SUBJECT: CYGOOL: HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN BOSNIA- 
- HERCEGOVINA - CASES OF X., F.B., AND A.V.; 
- THE PERSONNEL STRUCTURE AT OMARSKA CAMP 
 
------------------------ 
INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY 
------------------------
UNCLASSIFIED LIMITED OFFICIAL USE SECTION 01 OF 09 ZAGREB 02038 SIPDIS USEC BRUSSELS DIA WASHDC JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-5/J-2// WHITE HOUSE WASHDC 0962 LIMITED OFFICIAL USE SECTION 01 OF 09 ZAGREB 02038 DEPT FOR EUR, L, IO, HA . USVIENNA FOR USDEL CSCE . E.O. 12356: DECL: N/A TAGS: PREF PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR BK SUBJECT: CYGOOL: HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN BOSNIA- - HERCEGOVINA - CASES OF X., F.B., AND A.V.; - THE PERSONNEL STRUCTURE AT OMARSKA CAMP -------------- INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (U) THIS IS ONE IN A SERIES OF REPORTS OF SPECIFIC AND GROSS HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN BOSNIA AND HERCEGOVINA (B-H) BASED ON PERSONAL INTERVIEWS WITH THE SUBJECTS NAMED. THE SUBJECTS IN THIS REPORT AGREED TO SPEAK ONLY AFTER RECEIVING ASSURANCES THAT THEIR NAMES WOULD NOT BE USED PUBLICLY FOR FEAR THAT THAT WOULD ENDANGER THE LIVES OF FAMILY MEMBERS STILL IN SERBIAN-CONTROLLED AREAS IN B-H. LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 03 ZAGREB 02038 01 OF 09 161553Z ¶2. (LOU) ZDENKA RAJKOVIC, IDENTIFIED BELOW AS "X.", FAROUK BURAZOROVIC, IDENTIFIED BELOW AS "F.B.", AND ABID VELIC, IDENTIFIED BELOW AS "A.V.", ARE BOSNIANS TEMPORARILY IN THE KARLOVAC TRANSIT FACILITY FOR EX-DETAINEES. RAJKOVIC IS A 41-YEAR-OLD CROATIAN WOMAN FROM KOZARAC, BOSNIA, WHERE SHE WORKED AS AN AGRICULTURAL TECHNICIAN. SHE WAS INTERNED IN OMARSKA CAMP FROM MAY 26 TO AUGUST 23. BURAZOROVIC IS A 40-YEAR-OLD MUSLIM MALE FROM PRIJEDOR, WHERE HE WORKED AS A CENTRAL-HEATING TECHNICIAN. HE WAS INTERNED IN OMARSKA FROM MAY 30 TO AUGUST 3. VELIC IS A 39-YEAR-OLD MOSLEM MALE FROM KOZARUSIC. HE WORKED IN THE OMARSKA MINE AS A STEEL FRAMEWORK BUILDER BEFORE HIS THREE-MONTH INTERNMENT IN OMARSKA CAMP. ¶3. (LOU) RAJKOVIC SAID SHE WAS AMONG THE FIRST DETAINEES TO ARRIVE AT OMARSKA AND AMONG THE LAST FIVE WOMEN TO LEAVE THE CAMP -- SEVERAL DAYS AFTER OMARSKA WAS EMPTIED OF ITS LAST MALE PRISONERS. MOREOVER, RAJKOVIC AND SEVERAL OTHER WOMEN HAD SPECIAL ACCESS TO THE CAMP COMMANDERS AND ADMINISTRATORS BECAUSE THEY WERE CONFINED NEAR THE CAMP OFFICES, NEXT TO THE INTERROGATION ROOMS. ¶4. (U) ALL THREE SUBJECTS CLAIM TO HAVE WITNESSED SEVERE BEATINGS, SEXUAL TORTURE, MUTILATION, AND KILLINGS. IN PART BECAUSE THEY HAD SPENT SUCH LONG PERIODS IN THE CAMP, THEY WERE ABLE T
O IDENTIFY WHAT THEY BELIEVED TO BE VIRTUALLY THE ENTIRE PERSONNEL STRUCTURE OF OMARSKA CAMP. THESE SUBJECTS WERE INTERVIEWED SEVERAL TIMES, TOGETHER AND SEPARATELY, LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 04 ZAGREB 02038 01 OF 09 161553Z ON OCTOBER 8, 10, AND 13 IN KARLOVAC. ALL WERE JUDGED HIGHLY CREDIBLE. END INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY. LIMITED OFFICIAL USE NNNN LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 01 ZAGREB 02038 02 OF 09 161554Z ACTION EUR-01 INFO LOG-00 AID-01 AMAD-01 CIAE-00 C-01 CISA-02 EB-01 HA-09 H-01 INRE-00 INR-01 IO-19 LAB-04 L-03 ADS-00 NSAE-00 OIC-02 PA-01 PRS-01 P-01 RP-10 SDEL-01 SIL-01 SP-01 SR-01 SS-01 STR-18 TRSE-00 /082W -------------- 6ECDC1 161555Z /38 P 161553Z OCT 92 FM AMCONSUL ZAGREB TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2374 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 USUN NEW YORK USMISSION USVIENNA USMISSION USNATO USIA WASHDC 2221 LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 02 ZAGREB 02038 02 OF 09 161554Z USEC BRUSSELS DIA WASHDC JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-5/J-2// WHITE HOUSE WASHDC 0963 LIMITED OFFICIAL USE SECTION 02 OF 09 ZAGREB 02038 DEPT FOR EUR, L, IO, HA . USVIENNA FOR USDEL CSCE . E.O. 12356: DECL: N/A TAGS: PREF PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR BK SUBJECT: CYGOOL: HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN BOSNIA- - HERCEGOVINA - CASES OF X., F.B., AND A.V.; - THE PERSONNEL STRUCTURE AT OMARSKA CAMP -------------- THE SUBJECTS -------------- ¶5. (U) X., F.B., AND A.V. ARE FROM DIFFERENT VILLAGES IN THE VICINITY OF PRIJEDOR, BOSNIA. THEY WERE TAKEN CAPTIVE BY SERBIAN FORCES IN LATE MAY 1992 AND CONFINED, EACH FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE MONTHS, IN OMARSKA CAMP. X. SAID SHE WAS ONE OF THIRTY-EIGHT WOMEN DETAINED AT THE CAMP DURING THIS PERIOD. (NOTE: THE SERBS HAVE CONSISTENTLY DENIED THAT ANY WOMEN WERE HELD AT OMARSKA CAMP.) X. SAID MANY OF THE WOMEN ARRIVED ON MAY 26, WHEN THE CAMP WAS OPENED. LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 03 ZAGREB 02038 02 OF 09 161554Z ¶6. (U) X., F.B., AND A.V. PROVIDED THE LISTS AND DESCRIPTIONS BELOW OF OMARSKA CAMP'S PERSONNEL STRUCTURE. AFTER REPEATED QUESTIONING BY THE INTERVIEWER, TOGETHER AND INDIVIDUALLY, X., F.B., AND A.V. (OR AT LEAST TWO OF THE THREE OF THEM) PERSONALLY IDENTIFIED EVERY OMARSKA CAMP OFFICIAL LISTED IN THIS REPORT. -------------- MAJOR PRIJEDOR AREA CAMPS -------------- ¶7. (U) OMARSKA IS ONE OF FOUR VERY LARGE CAMPS IN THE PRIJEDOR AREA. IT WAS AN ALUMINUM MINE BEFORE THE WAR. THE OTHER THREE CAMPS ARE KERATERM, TRNOPOLJE, AND MANJACA. CIVILIANS WERE INTERNED AT ALL FOUR CAMPS, WHILE MOST ALLEGED POWS WERE SENT TO MANJACA. MANY PRISONERS DESCRIBED OMARSKA AS THE WORST OF THE FOUR. MANY PRISONERS WERE MOVED AMONG THE CAMPS DURING THEIR INTERNMENT. -------------- COMMANDERS AT OMARSKA -------------- ¶8. (U) OMARSKA CAMP WAS COMMANDED BY DRAGO PRCAC, A RETIREE FROM PRIJEDOR. HIS ADMINISTRATIVE DEPUTY WAS A MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN NAMED NADA BALABAN. BALABAN KEPT THE CAMP RECORDS, I.E., THE PAYROLL LEDGER OF THE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 04 ZAGREB 02038 02 OF 09 161554Z GUARDS AND OFFICERS, THE GUARD SHIFT SCHEDULE, ETC. (NOTE: X. COMMENTED THAT IF THESE LEDGERS COULD BE FOUND, THEY WOULD HAVE COMPLETE DETAILS OF WHO WORKED LIMITED OFFICIAL USE NNNN LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 01 ZAGREB 02038 03 OF 09 161651Z ACTION EUR-01 INFO LOG-00 AID-01 AMAD-01 CIAE-00 C-01 CISA-02 EB-01 HA-09 H-01 INRE-00 INR-01 IO-19 LAB-04 L-03 ADS-00 NSAE-00 OIC-02 PA-01 PRS-01 P-01 RP-10 SDEL-01 SIL-01 SP-01 SR-01 SS-01 STR-18 TRSE-00 /082W -------------- 6ED3DE 161653Z /38 P 161553Z OCT 92 FM AMCONSUL ZAGREB TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2375 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 USUN NEW YORK USMISSION USVIENNA USMISSION USNATO USIA WASHDC 2222 LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 02 ZAGREB 02038 03 OF 09 161651Z USEC BRUSSELS DIA WASHDC JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-5/J-2// WHITE HOUSE WASHDC 0964 LIMITED OFFICIAL USE SECTION 03 OF 09 ZAGREB 02038 DEPT FOR EUR, L, IO, HA . USVIENNA FOR USDEL CSCE . E.O. 12356: DECL: N/A TAGS: PREF PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR BK SUBJECT: CYGOOL: HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN BOSNIA- - HERCEGOVINA - CASES OF X., F.B., AND A.V.; - THE PERSONNEL STRUCTURE AT OMARSKA CAMP IN WHAT POSITION, AND WHEN.) ¶9. (U) THE COMMANDER OF SECURITY AT OMARSKA (OBEZBJEDJENJA) WAS ZELJKO MEAKIC (29),AN INSPECTOR FIRST-CLASS IN THE BOSNIAN SERBIAN POLICE BEFORE THE WAR. MEAKIC CAME FROM THE VILLAGE OF PETROV GAJ, NEAR PRIJEDOR. BECAUSE.OF MEAKIC'S POSITION AND THE AMOUNT OF TIME HE SPENT AT THE CAMP, MANY PRISONERS CONCLUDED, INCORRECTLY, THAT HE WAS THE OVERALL COMMANDER AT OMARSKA. WHEN PRISONERS BEGAN ARRIVING AT OMARSKA IN LATE MAY, MEAKIC'S DEPUTY WAS MIROSLAV KVOCKA (30),A SERB FROM THE NEARBY VILLAGE OF LAMOVITA. KVOCKA HAD MUSLIM BROTHERS-IN-LAW WHOM HE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 03 ZAGREB 02038 03 OF 09 161651Z TRIED TO HIDE IN HIS HOUSE. WHEN THIS WAS FOUND OUT, HE WAS REPLACED AS MEAKIC'S DEPUTY BY A MAN NICKNAMED BRK. THIS CHANGE OF DEPUTIES OCCURRED IN LATE JUNE. -------------- GUARD TEAM SHIFT LEADERS -------------- ¶10. (U) OMARSKA CAMP HAD THREE REGULAR GUARD TEAMS. THE TEAMS WORKED TWELVE-HOUR SHIFTS, FROM SEVEN AM TO SEVEN PM. THEY ROTATED CONSECUTIVELY, ONE AFTER THE OTHER. THE THREE SHIFT LEADERS WERE: -- MLADO RADIC, NICKNAMED KRKAN -- MILOJICA KOS, NICKNAMED KRLE -- MOMCILO GRUBAN, NICKNAMED CKALJA ¶11. (U) RADIC IS A FORTY-YEAR-OLD ACTIVE POLICEMAN FROM LAMOVITA. RADIC WAS IDENTIFIED AS THE MOST BRUTAL OF THE SHIFT LEADERS. THE MOST HEINOUS TORTURES AND BEATINGS, AND THE LARGEST NUMBER OF DEATHS, TOOK PLACE DURING RADIC'S SHIFTS. KOS IS A MIDDLE-AGED WAITER WHO USED TO WORK AT THE HOTEL EUROPA IN OMARSKA BEFORE THE WAR. KOS WAS IDENTIFIED AS A GENERALLY LESS BRUTAL SHIFT LEADER. GRUBAN IS ABOUT THIRTY, FROM THE VILLAGE OF MARICKI. HE IS IN . THE POLICE RESERVE. HE WORKED IN THE OMARSKA MINE BEFORE THE WAR. GRUBAN WAS IDENTIFIED AS LESS BRUTAL THAN RADIC OR KOS. EACH SHIFT TEAM COMPRISED FIFTEEN TO TWENTY GUARDS. . LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 04 ZAGREB 02038 03 OF 09 161651Z -------------- INSPECTORS LIMITED OFFICIAL USE NNNN LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 01 ZAGREB 02038 04 OF 09 161652Z ACTION EUR-01 INFO LOG-00 AID-01 AMAD-01 CIAE-00 C-01 CISA-02 EB-01 HA-09 H-01 INRE-00 INR-01 IO-19 LAB-04 L-03 ADS-00 NSAE-00 OIC-02 PA-01 PRS-01 P-01 RP-10 SDEL-01 SIL-01 SP-01 SR-01 SS-01 STR-18 TRSE-00 /082W -------------- 6ED427 161655Z /38 P 161553Z OCT 92 FM AMCONSUL ZAGREB TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2376 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 USUN NEW YORK USMISSION USVIENNA USMISSION USNATO USIA WASHDC 2223 LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 02 ZAGREB 02038 04 OF 09 161652Z USEC BRUSSELS DIA WASHDC JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-5/J-2// WHITE HOUSE WASHDC 0965 LIMITED OFFICIAL USE SECTION 04 OF 09 ZAGREB 02038 DEPT FOR EUR, L, IO, HA . USVIENNA FOR USDEL CSCE . E.O. 12356: DECL: N/A TAGS: PREF PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR BK SUBJECT: CYGOOL: HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN BOSNIA- - HERCEGOVINA - CASES OF X., F.B., AND A.V.; - THE PERSONNEL STRUCTURE AT OMARSKA CAMP -------------- ¶12. (U) OMARSKA HAD VARIOUS INSPECTORS WHO REGULARLY INTERROGATED THE PRISONERS. X. AND F.B. NAMED SIX THEY COULD REMEMBER: -- DRAGAN RADAKOVIC - DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL PARK - OF KOZARAC -- RATKO MILOSAVLJEVIC - DIRECTOR OF THE FIRM - AGROUNIJA, FROM PRIJEDOR -- DRAGO MEAKIC - A RETIREE, UNCLE OF THE CAMP - SECURITY COMMANDER -- MILAN ZORIC - REGULAR BLUE-COLLAR WORKER LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 03 ZAGREB 02038 04 OF 09 161652Z -- (FNU) LAKIC - WORKED IN THE OMARSKA SUP (POLICE SECURITY) AS AN INSPECTOR -- JELENKO (LNU) - A BJELOVAR LAWYER -------------- GUARDS -------------- ¶13. (U) AS NOTED ABOVE, AS LEAST TWO OF THE THREE SUBJECTS, X., F.B., AND A.V., PERSONALLY IDENTIFIED EACH INDIVIDUAL NAMED ON THE FOLLOWING LIST OF OMARSKA GUARDS: -- MIRKO BABIC -- (FNU) BAKALJ (SEE PARAGRAPH 25 BELOW) -- BRANKO BERIC (SEE PARAGRAPH 27 BELOW) -- MILOJICA BERIC (SEE PARAGRAPH 27 BELOW) -- ZORAN DELIC -- DRASKO GRUBAN -- GORAN GRUBAN -- RADE GRUBAN (NICKNAMED VOJVODA) -- NENAD JANJIC (NICKNAMED NESO) -- SRETO JASNIC -- DUSAN JOKIC -- RANKO KRIVAJA -- STANKO KRIVAJA -- MILOJICA KVOCKA -- ZORAN KVOCKA -- DZORDJE LATINCIC -- (FNU) MAMUZO (NICKNAMED CIGO, SEE PARA 28 BELOW) -- ZIRKO MARMAT LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 04 ZAGREB 02038 04 OF 09 161652Z -- RANKO MILUNOVIC -- ZORAN MIODROGORIC -- GORAN PASPALJ LIMITED OFFICIAL USE NNNN LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 01 ZAGREB 02038 05 OF 09 161652Z ACTION EUR-01 INFO LOG-00 AID-01 AMAD-01 CIAE-00 C-01 CISA-02 EB-01 HA-09 H-01 INRE-00 INR-01 IO-19 LAB-04 L-03 ADS-00 NSAE-00 OIC-02 PA-01 PRS-01 P-01 RP-10 SDEL-01 SIL-01 SP-01 SR-01 SS-01 STR-18 TRSE-00 /082W -------------- 6ED40D 161654Z /38 P 161553Z OCT 92 FM AMCONSUL ZAGREB TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2377 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 USUN NEW YORK USMISSION USVIENNA USMISSION USNATO USIA WASHDC 2224 LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 02 ZAGREB 02038 05 OF 09 161652Z USEC BRUSSELS DIA WASHDC JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-5/J-2// WHITE HOUSE WASHDC 0966 LIMITED OFFICIAL USE SECTION 05 OF 09 ZAGREB 02038 DEPT FOR EUR, L, IO, HA . USVIENNA FOR USDEL CSCE . E.O. 12356: DECL: N/A TAGS: PREF PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR BK SUBJECT: CYGOOL: HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN BOSNIA- - HERCEGOVINA - CASES OF X., F.B., AND A.V.; - THE PERSONNEL STRUCTURE AT OMARSKA CAMP -- MLADEN POPOVIC -- MARINKO POSPALJ -- DRAZENKO PREDOJERIC -- MILOS (LNU, THOUGHT TO BE "SESTIC") FROM NISEVICI -- NEDELJKO SOSKAN -- (FNU) SOSKAN -- DRAGOJA STAKIC -- MILOMIR STAKIC -- MIROSLAV STOJNIC -- STEVAN TERANOVIC -- MLADEN TIMOROC -- RANKO TOPIC -- VULETA UROS LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 03 ZAGREB 02038 05 OF 09 161652Z -- MILENKO VELANKA -- NENAD VRHOVAC -- BORO VUCENOVIC -- NOVAK VUCETA -- RAJKO VUCETA -------------- INFORMER -------------- ¶14. (U) X. AND A.V. IDENTIFIED HAKIJA PIDIC AS AN INFORMER. PIDIC WAS A MUSLIM FROM THE PRIJEDOR AREA. HE VISITED ALL THE CAMPS REGULARLY AND IDENTIFIED PEOPLE WHOM HE CLAIMED WERE INVOLVED IN ANTI-SERB ACTIVITE. MOST OF THESE PEOPLE WERE LED AWAY AND NEVER SEEN AGAIN. AT FIRST HE CAME EVERY TWO OR THREE DAYS, BUT TOWARDS THE END OF THE SUMMER HE CAME ABOUT ONCE A WEEK. -------------- DRIVERS -------------- ¶15. (U) X., F.B., AND A.V., AS WELL AS OTHER PRISONERS FROM OMARSKA, SAID THAT EACH DAY TEN TO FIFTEEN NEW CORPSES LAY IN THE FIELD NEXT TO ONE OF THE "DORMITORIES." THESE CORPSES, AS WELL AS OTHERS, WERE DRIVEN AWAY BY SMALL TRUCKS. THE TRUCKS OFTEN HAD BLOOD STAINS ALL OVER THEM. X. AND A.V. PROVIDED THE FOLLOWING NAMES OF DRIVERS OF THE TRUCKS: LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 04 ZAGREB 02038 05 OF 09 161652Z -- ZDRAVKO BJELOBRK -- MILAN DARDA -- VLADO KOBAS LIMITED OFFICIAL USE NNNN LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 01 ZAGREB 02038 06 OF 09 161651Z ACTION EUR-01 INFO LOG-00 AID-01 AMAD-01 CIAE-00 C-01 CISA-02 EB-01 HA-09 H-01 INRE-00 INR-01 IO-19 LAB-04 L-03 ADS-00 NSAE-00 OIC-02 PA-01 PRS-01 P-01 RP-10 SDEL-01 SIL-01 SP-01 SR-01 SS-01 STR-18 TRSE-00 /082W -------------- 6ED3F6 161654Z /38 P 161553Z OCT 92 FM AMCONSUL ZAGREB TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2378 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 USUN NEW YORK USMISSION USVIENNA USMISSION USNATO USIA WASHDC 2225 LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 02 ZAGREB 02038 06 OF 09 161651Z USEC BRUSSELS DIA WASHDC JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-5/J-2// WHITE HOUSE WASHDC 0967 LIMITED OFFICIAL USE SECTION 06 OF 09 ZAGREB 02038 DEPT FOR EUR, L, IO, HA . USVIENNA FOR USDEL CSCE . E.O. 12356: DECL: N/A TAGS: PREF PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR BK SUBJECT: CYGOOL: HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN BOSNIA- - HERCEGOVINA - CASES OF X., F.B., AND A.V.; - THE PERSONNEL STRUCTURE AT OMARSKA CAMP -- DRAGO PESEVIC -- MILENKO RADIC -- MIRKO VIDOVIC (NOTE: X. AND A.V. OBSERVED THAT THESE DRIVERS WOULD KNOW WHERE THEY HAD DELIVERED THE CORPSES AND WOULD PROBABLY ALSO KNOW HOW THEY HAD BEEN DISPOSED OF.) -------------- WOMEN'S QUARTERS AT OMARSKA -------------- ¶16. (U) X. SAID THE THIRTY-EIGHT WOMEN IN THE CAMP LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 03 ZAGREB 02038 06 OF 09 161651Z SLEPT IN TWO ROOMS NEAR THE COMMANDER'S HEADQUARTERS. THE ROOM NUMBERS ON THE DOORS WERE 102 AND 103. MOST OF THE WOMEN WERE SINGLE, DIVORCED, OR WIDOWED. THEY SLEPT ON THE FLOOR WITH ONE BLANKET FOR EVERY TWO WOMEN. AS THEY TRIED TO SLEEP, THE WOMEN INVARIABLY HEARD THE SCREAMS OF PRISONERS BEING TORTURED NEXT DOOR. THIS WAS THE "INTERROGATION" ROOM. EACH MORNING THE WOMEN WERE WOKEN UP AT SIX, AND TWO WERE CHOSEN RANDOMLY TO CLEAN THE "INTERROGATION" ROOM. IT WAS COVERED WITH FRESH BLOOD EACH MORNING. THE "INTERROGATION" ROOM HAD THREE TABLES PUSHED AGAINST THE WALLS, AND WHIPS MADE FROM HEAVY WIRE CABLE. UNDER THREAT OF DEATH, THE WOMEN HAD TO PUT EVERYTHING BACK IN EXACTLY THE PLACE THEY HAD FOUND IT IN THE ROOM. ¶17. (U) ON OCCASION THE WOMEN ALSO CLEANED THE OFFICES OF THE COMMANDERS. THE WOMEN PRISONERS WERE ALWAYS HIDDEN FROM JOURNALISTS. X. SAID SHE KNEW OF NO RAPES OR EXTREME BEATINGS OF THE WOMEN AT OMARSKA, ALTHOUGH THEY WERE TERRORIZED AND USED AS FORCED LABOR. -------------- MEN'S QUARTERS -------------- ¶18. (U) OMARSKA HAD TWO BUILDINGS USED EXCLUSIVELY AS TORTURE CENTERS, THE "WHITE HOUSE" AND THE "RED HOUSE." ACCORDING TO X., F.B., AND A.V., AS WELL AS OTHER EX-DETAINEES, THE WHITE HOUSE WAS TERRIBLE, BUT LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 04 ZAGREB 02038 06 OF 09 161651Z ON OCCASION PEOPLE RETURNED FROM IT. NO ONE SENT TO THE RED HOUSE EVER CAME BACK. THREE SPIRAL WATER TRANSPORTERS EXTENDED OUT OF THE RED HOUSE. X. AND LIMITED OFFICIAL USE NNNN LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 01 ZAGREB 02038 07 OF 09 161659Z ACTION EUR-01 INFO LOG-00 AID-01 AMAD-01 CIAE-00 C-01 CISA-02 EB-01 HA-09 H-01 INRE-00 INR-01 IO-19 LAB-04 L-03 ADS-00 NSAE-00 OIC-02 PA-01 PRS-01 P-01 RP-10 SDEL-01 SIL-01 SP-01 SR-01 SS-01 STR-18 TRSE-00 /082W -------------- 6ED5C2 161703Z /40 P 161553Z OCT 92 FM AMCONSUL ZAGREB TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2379 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 USUN NEW YORK USMISSION USVIENNA USMISSION USNATO USIA WASHDC 2226 LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 02 ZAGREB 02038 07 OF 09 161659Z USEC BRUSSELS DIA WASHDC JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-5/J-2// WHITE HOUSE WASHDC 0968 LIMITED OFFICIAL USE SECTION 07 OF 09 ZAGREB 02038 DEPT FOR EUR, L, IO, HA . USVIENNA FOR USDEL CSCE . E.O. 12356: DECL: N/A TAGS: PREF PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR BK SUBJECT: CYGOOL: HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN BOSNIA- - HERCEGOVINA - CASES OF X., F.B., AND A.V.; - THE PERSONNEL STRUCTURE AT OMARSKA CAMP F.B. DESCRIBED THE WATER AS A STRANGE RUST RED COLOR. EDUCATED PRISONERS TENDED TO BE SENT TO THE RED HOUSE. (SEE SEPTEL - CASE OF S.H., OMARSKA SURVIVOR.) ¶19. (U) F.B. SAID HE WAS CONFINED ALONG WITH ABOUT 470 OTHERS IN A ROOM WITH A SIMPLE CEMENT FLOOR ON THE SECOND-STORY OF A "FACTORY" BUILDING. FROM A WINDOW IN THE ROOM, PRISONERS COULD SEE DIRECTLY INTO ONE ROOM OF THE "WHITE HOUSE" AND COULD SEE PRISONERS BEING TORTURED. ¶20. (U) F.B. SAID BEATINGS OFTEN WERE GIVEN NOT BY THE SHIFT GUARDS, BUT BY INDIVIDUALS FROM TOWN WHO LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 03 ZAGREB 02038 07 OF 09 161659Z WERE ALLOWED INTO THE CAMP AFTER DARK TO GAIN REVENGE ON SPECIFIC PRISONERS (SEE PARA. 21 BELOW). SANITARY FACILITIES WERE VIRTUALLY NON-EXISTENT. EACH PRISONER WAS OCCASIONALLY ALLOWED TO USE A TOILET FOR TWO MINUTES OR LESS. MOST PRISONERS WERE COVERED WITH LICE AND SUFFERED FROM DYSENTERY. FOR LACK OF SPACE IN SOME ROOMS, PRISONERS HAD TO SLEEP IN A SITTING POSITION. IN AT LEAST ONE SEVERELY CRAMPED ROOM, PRISONERS HAD TO TAKE TURNS SLEEPING; TWO- THIRDS OF THE PRISONERS WOULD STAND FOR AN HOUR WHILE ONE-THIRD SLEPT. THESE SLEEPING SHIFT CHANGES WOULD CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT. -------------- SPECIFIC INCIDENTS OF EXTREME BRUTALITY -------------- ¶21. (U) F.B. SAID THAT A MUSLIM FRIEND NAMED MIR KARABASIC WAS TORTURED REGULARLY. ONE DAY EMIR RETURNED TO THE SLEEPING ROOM WITH HIS BACK SEVERELY BURNED BY A GUARD. THE PRISONERS HAD BEEN GIVEN SOME PORK LARD, AND F.B. RUBBED SOME OF THIS ON EMIR'S CHARRED BACK. TWO DAYS LATER, TWO SERBIAN BROTHERS WERE LET INTO THE CAMP AFTER FIVE O'CLOCK. THEY WERE DUSKO TADIC (NICKNAME DULE) AND LJUBO TADIC. THEY OFTEN VISITED THE CAMP AT NIGHT. ¶22. (U) THE TADIC BROTHERS ENTERED THE SLEEPING QUARTERS CARRYING PISTOLS AND AUTOMATIC RIFLES. THEY CALLED FOR EMIR, JASMIN HRMIC, AND (FNU) ALIC TO COME FORWARD. THE THREE WERE BEATEN WITH RIFLE BUTTS AND LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 04 ZAGREB 02038 07 OF 09 161659Z POLICE BATONS IN FULL VIEW OF THE OTHER PRISONERS, INCLUDING F.B. THE TADIC BROTHERS FORCED ALIC FIRST TO DRINK A GLASS OF MOTOR OIL AND THEN TO DRINK THE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE NNNN LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 01 ZAGREB 02038 08 OF 09 161657Z ACTION EUR-01 INFO LOG-00 AID-01 AMAD-01 CIAE-00 C-01 CISA-02 EB-01 HA-09 H-01 INRE-00 INR-01 IO-19 LAB-04 L-03 ADS-00 NSAE-00 OIC-02 PA-01 PRS-01 P-01 RP-10 SDEL-01 SIL-01 SP-01 SR-01 SS-01 STR-18 TRSE-00 /082W -------------- 6ED4E8 161658Z /38 P 161553Z OCT 92 FM AMCONSUL ZAGREB TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2380 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 USUN NEW YORK USMISSION USVIENNA USMISSION USNATO USIA WASHDC 2227 LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 02 ZAGREB 02038 08 OF 09 161657Z USEC BRUSSELS DIA WASHDC JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-5/J-2// WHITE HOUSE WASHDC 0969 LIMITED OFFICIAL USE SECTION 08 OF 09 ZAGREB 02038 DEPT FOR EUR, L, IO, HA . USVIENNA FOR USDEL CSCE . E.O. 12356: DECL: N/A TAGS: PREF PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR BK SUBJECT: CYGOOL: HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN BOSNIA- - HERCEGOVINA - CASES OF X., F.B., AND A.V.; - THE PERSONNEL STRUCTURE AT OMARSKA CAMP URINE OF THE OTHER TWO PRISONERS. ALIC WAS NEXT BEATEN UNTIL HE WAS UNCONSCIOUS AND THEN AWAKENED WITH COLD WATER. AFTER FURTHER BEATINGS, ALIC WAS FORCED TO TAKE HIS PANTS OFF. THE TADIC BROTHERS THEN FORCED EMIR AND JASMIN TO BITE OFF ALIC'S TESTICLES. ALIC DIED OF HIS WOUNDS THAT NIGHT. ACCORDING TO F.B., THESE CRIMES WERE COMMITTED ON THE SHIFT OF MLADO RADIC. ¶23. (LOU) F.B. AND X. DESCRIBED THE BRUTAL DEATH OF ANOTHER PRISONER, SILVIJE SARIC (STRICTLY PROTECT), IDENTIFIED BELOW AS "Y." Y. WAS THE PRESIDENT OF THE HDZ IN PRIJEDOR AND A LAWYER FOR THE POST LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 03 ZAGREB 02038 08 OF 09 161657Z OFFICE/TELEPHONE COMPANY (PTT). ¶24. (U) F.B. REGULARLY SLEPT RIGHT NEXT TO Y. Y. WAS TAKEN FOR QUESTIONING TO THE INSPECTORS ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT REPORTEDLY GAVE THEM NO INFORMATION. THIS QUESTIONING TOOK PLACE IN THE ROOM NEXT TO THE WOMEN'S SLEEPING QUARTERS. ON THE LAST OCCASION, X. HEARD HIM BEGGING AND SCREAMING ALL NIGHT. SHE RECOGNIZED HIS VOICE THROUGH THE WALL. SHE HEARD HIM BEG THE GUARDS TO STOP BEATING HIM. AT ONE POINT SHE HEARD HIM EXCLAIM, "OH HOLY MOTHER, LOOK WHAT IS HAPPENING TO ME." THERE WAS QUIET AND A VOICE FINALLY SAID, "GET SOME WATER." THEN HIS SCREAMS STARTED AGAIN. Y. WAS BROUGHT BACK TO THE SLEEPING AREA, WHERE F.B. TRIED TO TAKE CARE OF HIM. F.B. SAID Y. LIVED IN A SEMI-CONSCIOUS STATE FOR TEN DAYS BUT THEN DIED. F.B. BELIEVES THIS INCIDENT ALSO TOOK PLACE ON RADIC'S SHIFT. ¶25. (U) F.B. TOLD OF AN INCIDENT INVOLVING A PRISONER WHO WAS A MUSLIM HODJA, OR HOLY MAN. ONE DAY IN MAY CLOSE TO BAJREM, THE MUSLIM HOLY DAY, A GUARD NAMED (FNU) BAKAJ CALLED FOR "THE HODJA" TO GO WITH HIM. THE GUARD WAS YOUNG, WITH TWO LARGE PLASTIC SURGERY MARKS ON HIS FACE. THE HODJA RETURNED AFTER SEVERAL HOURS, LOOKING VIOLENTLY ILL. HE WAS FORCED TO WALK AROUND THE PRISONERS' ROOM SAYING, "I ATE PORK AND IT WAS DELICIOUS." HE LAY NEAR F.B. AND TRIED TO KEEP FROM VOMITING AS HE SHOOK FROM CONVULSIONS. HE TOLD F.B. HE HAD BEEN BEATEN AND FORCED AT GUNPOINT TO EAT HEAVY PORK MEAT (ON A LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 04 ZAGREB 02038 08 OF 09 161657Z STOMACH THAT HAD BEEN EMPTY FOR WEEKS). HE DID NOT WANT TO VOMIT FOR FEAR THE GUARDS WOULD FORCE HIM TO REPEAT THE EXERCISE. LIMITED OFFICIAL USE NNNN LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 01 ZAGREB 02038 09 OF 09 161657Z ACTION EUR-01 INFO LOG-00 AID-01 AMAD-01 CIAE-00 C-01 CISA-02 EB-01 HA-09 H-01 INRE-00 INR-01 IO-19 LAB-04 L-03 ADS-00 NSAE-00 OIC-02 PA-01 PRS-01 P-01 RP-10 SDEL-01 SIL-01 SP-01 SR-01 SS-01 STR-18 TRSE-00 /082W -------------- 6ED5A6 161703Z /40 P 161553Z OCT 92 FM AMCONSUL ZAGREB TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2381 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 USUN NEW YORK USMISSION USVIENNA USMISSION USNATO USIA WASHDC 2228 LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 02 ZAGREB 02038 09 OF 09 161657Z USEC BRUSSELS DIA WASHDC JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-5/J-2// WHITE HOUSE WASHDC 0970 LIMITED OFFICIAL USE SECTION 09 OF 09 ZAGREB 02038 DEPT FOR EUR, L, IO, HA . USVIENNA FOR USDEL CSCE . E.O. 12356: DECL: N/A TAGS: PREF PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR BK SUBJECT: CYGOOL: HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN BOSNIA- - HERCEGOVINA - CASES OF X., F.B., AND A.V.; - THE PERSONNEL STRUCTURE AT OMARSKA CAMP ¶26. F.B. AND SEVERAL OTHER PRISONERS WITNESSED THE SENSELESS BEATING AND DEATH OF RIZA HADJALIC. RIZA HAD RECEIVED HIS DAILY SLICE OF BREAD AND WAS WALKING AWAY, WHEN A GUARD SAID "DOBAR TEK" (GOOD APPETITE). RIZA REPLIED SPONTANEOUSLY "BUJUM," THE MULSIM DIALECT EQUIVALENT. SEVERAL GUARDS IMMEDIATLEY SET UPON RIZA AND BEAT HIM SENSELESS. AFTERWARDS RIZA LAY ON HIS BACK AND VOMITTED. NO ONE WAS ALLOWED TO TURN HIM OVER. RIZA SUFFOCATED ON HIS VOMIT IN FRONT OF THE OTHERS. ¶27. (U) X., F.B., AND A.V. CONSIDERED CIGO MAMUZO LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 03 ZAGREB 02038 09 OF 09 161657Z THE WORST GUARD IN OMARSKA. THEY WITNESSED AND HEARD OF HIS KILLING MORE PRISONERS THAN ANY OTHER GUARD. A.V. SAW MAMUZO KILL AHIL DEDIC ON MAY 28 ON A BUS OUTSIDE THE CAMP GATE WHEN HE WAS FIRST BROUGHT TO OMARSKA. MAMUZO BEAT AHIL ON THE HEAD WITH THE WOODEN BUTT OF A RIFLE UNTIL HIS SKULL BROKE. -------------- ROBBERIES FROM PRISONERS -------------- ¶28. (U) MANY GUARDS TOOK THE PRISONERS PERSONAL PROPERTY. HOWEVER, BRANKO AND MILOJICA BERIC WERE IDENTIFIED BY A.V. AND F.B. AS THE WORST OF THE GUARDS IN THIS RESPECT. BRANKO ESPECIALLY STOLE WATCHES AND JEWELRY AND BOTH STOLE FOREIGN CURRENCY FROM THE PRISONERS. A.V. AND F.B. WITNESSED THESE ROBBERIES SEVERAL TIMES. NEITZKE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE NNNN 1992ZAGREB02038 - Classification: LIMITED OFFICIAL USE v1.6.2 LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 04 ZAGREB 02038 05 OF 09 161652Z -- ZDRAVKO BJELOBRK -- MILAN DARDA -- VLADO KOBAS LIMITED OFFICIAL USE NNNN LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 01 ZAGREB 02038 06 OF 09 161651Z ACTION EUR-01 INFO LOG-00 AID-01 AMAD-01 CIAE-00 C-01 CISA-02 EB-01 HA-09 H-01 INRE-00 INR-01 IO-19 LAB-04 L-03 ADS-00 NSAE-00 OIC-02 PA-01 PRS-01 P-01 RP-10 SDEL-01 SIL-01 SP-01 SR-01 SS-01 STR-18 TRSE-00 /082W -------------- 6ED3F6 161654Z /38 P 161553Z OCT 92 FM AMCONSUL ZAGREB TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2378 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 USUN NEW YORK USMISSION USVIENNA USMISSION USNATO USIA WASHDC 2225 LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 02 ZAGREB 02038 06 OF 09 161651Z USEC BRUSSELS DIA WASHDC JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-5/J-2// WHITE HOUSE WASHDC 0967 LIMITED OFFICIAL USE SECTION 06 OF 09 ZAGREB 02038 DEPT FOR EUR, L, IO, HA . USVIENNA FOR USDEL CSCE . E.O. 12356: DECL: N/A TAGS: PREF PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR BK SUBJECT: CYGOOL: HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN BOSNIA- - HERCEGOVINA - CASES OF X., F.B., AND A.V.; - THE PERSONNEL STRUCTURE AT OMARSKA CAMP -- DRAGO PESEVIC -- MILENKO RADIC -- MIRKO VIDOVIC (NOTE: X. AND A.V. OBSERVED THAT THESE DRIVERS WOULD KNOW WHERE THEY HAD DELIVERED THE CORPSES AND WOULD PROBABLY ALSO KNOW HOW THEY HAD BEEN DISPOSED OF.) -------------- WOMEN'S QUARTERS AT OMARSKA -------------- ¶16. (U) X. SAID THE THIRTY-EIGHT WOMEN IN THE CAMP LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 03 ZAGREB 02038 06 OF 09 161651Z SLEPT IN TWO ROOMS NEAR THE COMMANDER'S HEADQUARTERS. THE ROOM NUMBERS ON THE DOORS WERE 102 AND 103. MOST OF THE WOMEN WERE SINGLE, DIVORCED, OR WIDOWED. THEY SLEPT ON THE FLOOR WITH ONE BLANKET FOR EVERY TWO WOMEN. AS THEY TRIED TO SLEEP, THE WOMEN INVARIABLY HEARD THE SCREAMS OF PRISONERS BEING TORTURED NEXT DOOR. THIS WAS THE "INTERROGATION" ROOM. EACH MORNING THE WOMEN WERE WOKEN UP AT SIX, AND TWO WERE CHOSEN RANDOMLY TO CLEAN THE "INTERROGATION" ROOM. IT WAS COVERED WITH FRESH BLOOD EACH MORNING. THE "INTERROGATION" ROOM HAD THREE TABLES PUSHED AGAINST THE WALLS, AND WHIPS MADE FROM HEAVY WIRE CABLE. UNDER THREAT OF DEATH, THE WOMEN HAD TO PUT EVERYTHING BACK IN EXACTLY THE PLACE THEY HAD FOUND IT IN THE ROOM. ¶17. (U) ON OCCASION THE WOMEN ALSO CLEANED THE OFFICES OF THE COMMANDERS. THE WOMEN PRISONERS WERE ALWAYS HIDDEN FROM JOURNALISTS. X. SAID SHE KNEW OF NO RAPES OR EXTREME BEATINGS OF THE WOMEN AT OMARSKA, ALTHOUGH THEY WERE TERRORIZED AND USED AS FORCED LABOR. -------------- MEN'S QUARTERS -------------- ¶18. (U) OMARSKA HAD TWO BUILDINGS USED EXCLUSIVELY AS TORTURE CENTERS, THE "WHITE HOUSE" AND THE "RED HOUSE." ACCORDING TO X., F.B., AND A.V., AS WELL AS OTHER EX-DETAINEES, THE WHITE HOUSE WAS TERRIBLE, BUT LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 04 ZAGREB 02038 06 OF 09 161651Z ON OCCASION PEOPLE RETURNED FROM IT. NO ONE SENT TO THE RED HOUSE EVER CAME BACK. THREE SPIRAL WATER TRANSPORTERS EXTENDED OUT OF THE RED HOUSE. X. AND LIMITED OFFICIAL USE NNNN LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 01 ZAGREB 02038 07 OF 09 161659Z ACTION EUR-01 INFO LOG-00 AID-01 AMAD-01 CIAE-00 C-01 CISA-02 EB-01 HA-09 H-01 INRE-00 INR-01 IO-19 LAB-04 L-03 ADS-00 NSAE-00 OIC-02 PA-01 PRS-01 P-01 RP-10 SDEL-01 SIL-01 SP-01 SR-01 SS-01 STR-18 TRSE-00 /082W -------------- 6ED5C2 161703Z /40 P 161553Z OCT 92 FM AMCONSUL ZAGREB TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2379 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 USUN NEW YORK USMISSION USVIENNA USMISSION USNATO USIA WASHDC 2226 LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 02 ZAGREB 02038 07 OF 09 161659Z USEC BRUSSELS DIA WASHDC JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-5/J-2// WHITE HOUSE WASHDC 0968 LIMITED OFFICIAL USE SECTION 07 OF 09 ZAGREB 02038 DEPT FOR EUR, L, IO, HA . USVIENNA FOR USDEL CSCE . E.O. 12356: DECL: N/A TAGS: PREF PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR BK SUBJECT: CYGOOL: HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN BOSNIA- - HERCEGOVINA - CASES OF X., F.B., AND A.V.; - THE PERSONNEL STRUCTURE AT OMARSKA CAMP F.B. DESCRIBED THE WATER AS A STRANGE RUST RED COLOR. EDUCATED PRISONERS TENDED TO BE SENT TO THE RED HOUSE. (SEE SEPTEL - CASE OF S.H., OMARSKA SURVIVOR.) ¶19. (U) F.B. SAID HE WAS CONFINED ALONG WITH ABOUT 470 OTHERS IN A ROOM WITH A SIMPLE CEMENT FLOOR ON THE SECOND-STORY OF A "FACTORY" BUILDING. FROM A WINDOW IN THE ROOM, PRISONERS COULD SEE DIRECTLY INTO ONE ROOM OF THE "WHITE HOUSE" AND COULD SEE PRISONERS BEING TORTURED. ¶20. (U) F.B. SAID BEATINGS OFTEN WERE GIVEN NOT BY THE SHIFT GUARDS, BUT BY INDIVIDUALS FROM TOWN WHO LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 03 ZAGREB 02038 07 OF 09 161659Z WERE ALLOWED INTO THE CAMP AFTER DARK TO GAIN REVENGE ON SPECIFIC PRISONERS (SEE PARA. 21 BELOW). SANITARY FACILITIES WERE VIRTUALLY NON-EXISTENT. EACH PRISONER WAS OCCASIONALLY ALLOWED TO USE A TOILET FOR TWO MINUTES OR LESS. MOST PRISONERS WERE COVERED WITH LICE AND SUFFERED FROM DYSENTERY. FOR LACK OF SPACE IN SOME ROOMS, PRISONERS HAD TO SLEEP IN A SITTING POSITION. IN AT LEAST ONE SEVERELY CRAMPED ROOM, PRISONERS HAD TO TAKE TURNS SLEEPING; TWO- THIRDS OF THE PRISONERS WOULD STAND FOR AN HOUR WHILE ONE-THIRD SLEPT. THESE SLEEPING SHIFT CHANGES WOULD CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT. -------------- SPECIFIC INCIDENTS OF EXTREME BRUTALITY -------------- ¶21. (U) F.B. SAID THAT A MUSLIM FRIEND NAMED MIR KARABASIC WAS TORTURED REGULARLY. ONE DAY EMIR RETURNED TO THE SLEEPING ROOM WITH HIS BACK SEVERELY BURNED BY A GUARD. THE PRISONERS HAD BEEN GIVEN SOME PORK LARD, AND F.B. RUBBED SOME OF THIS ON EMIR'S CHARRED BACK. TWO DAYS LATER, TWO SERBIAN BROTHERS WERE LET INTO THE CAMP AFTER FIVE O'CLOCK. THEY WERE DUSKO TADIC (NICKNAME DULE) AND LJUBO TADIC. THEY OFTEN VISITED THE CAMP AT NIGHT. ¶22. (U) THE TADIC BROTHERS ENTERED THE SLEEPING QUARTERS CARRYING PISTOLS AND AUTOMATIC RIFLES. THEY CALLED FOR EMIR, JASMIN HRMIC, AND (FNU) ALIC TO COME FORWARD. THE THREE WERE BEATEN WITH RIFLE BUTTS AND LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 04 ZAGREB 02038 07 OF 09 161659Z POLICE BATONS IN FULL VIEW OF THE OTHER PRISONERS, INCLUDING F.B. THE TADIC BROTHERS FORCED ALIC FIRST TO DRINK A GLASS OF MOTOR OIL AND THEN TO DRINK THE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE NNNN LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 01 ZAGREB 02038 08 OF 09 161657Z ACTION EUR-01 INFO LOG-00 AID-01 AMAD-01 CIAE-00 C-01 CISA-02 EB-01 HA-09 H-01 INRE-00 INR-01 IO-19 LAB-04 L-03 ADS-00 NSAE-00 OIC-02 PA-01 PRS-01 P-01 RP-10 SDEL-01 SIL-01 SP-01 SR-01 SS-01 STR-18 TRSE-00 /082W -------------- 6ED4E8 161658Z /38 P 161553Z OCT 92 FM AMCONSUL ZAGREB TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2380 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 USUN NEW YORK USMISSION USVIENNA USMISSION USNATO USIA WASHDC 2227 LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 02 ZAGREB 02038 08 OF 09 161657Z USEC BRUSSELS DIA WASHDC JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-5/J-2// WHITE HOUSE WASHDC 0969 LIMITED OFFICIAL USE SECTION 08 OF 09 ZAGREB 02038 DEPT FOR EUR, L, IO, HA . USVIENNA FOR USDEL CSCE . E.O. 12356: DECL: N/A TAGS: PREF PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR BK SUBJECT: CYGOOL: HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN BOSNIA- - HERCEGOVINA - CASES OF X., F.B., AND A.V.; - THE PERSONNEL STRUCTURE AT OMARSKA CAMP URINE OF THE OTHER TWO PRISONERS. ALIC WAS NEXT BEATEN UNTIL HE WAS UNCONSCIOUS AND THEN AWAKENED WITH COLD WATER. AFTER FURTHER BEATINGS, ALIC WAS FORCED TO TAKE HIS PANTS OFF. THE TADIC BROTHERS THEN FORCED EMIR AND JASMIN TO BITE OFF ALIC'S TESTICLES. ALIC DIED OF HIS WOUNDS THAT NIGHT. ACCORDING TO F.B., THESE CRIMES WERE COMMITTED ON THE SHIFT OF MLADO RADIC. ¶23. (LOU) F.B. AND X. DESCRIBED THE BRUTAL DEATH OF ANOTHER PRISONER, SILVIJE SARIC (STRICTLY PROTECT), IDENTIFIED BELOW AS "Y." Y. WAS THE PRESIDENT OF THE HDZ IN PRIJEDOR AND A LAWYER FOR THE POST LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 03 ZAGREB 02038 08 OF 09 161657Z OFFICE/TELEPHONE COMPANY (PTT). ¶24. (U) F.B. REGULARLY SLEPT RIGHT NEXT TO Y. Y. WAS TAKEN FOR QUESTIONING TO THE INSPECTORS ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT REPORTEDLY GAVE THEM NO INFORMATION. THIS QUESTIONING TOOK PLACE IN THE ROOM NEXT TO THE WOMEN'S SLEEPING QUARTERS. ON THE LAST OCCASION, X. HEARD HIM BEGGING AND SCREAMING ALL NIGHT. SHE RECOGNIZED HIS VOICE THROUGH THE WALL. SHE HEARD HIM BEG THE GUARDS TO STOP BEATING HIM. AT ONE POINT SHE HEARD HIM EXCLAIM, "OH HOLY MOTHER, LOOK WHAT IS HAPPENING TO ME." THERE WAS QUIET AND A VOICE FINALLY SAID, "GET SOME WATER." THEN HIS SCREAMS STARTED AGAIN. Y. WAS BROUGHT BACK TO THE SLEEPING AREA, WHERE F.B. TRIED TO TAKE CARE OF HIM. F.B. SAID Y. LIVED IN A SEMI-CONSCIOUS STATE FOR TEN DAYS BUT THEN DIED. F.B. BELIEVES THIS INCIDENT ALSO TOOK PLACE ON RADIC'S SHIFT. ¶25. (U) F.B. TOLD OF AN INCIDENT INVOLVING A PRISONER WHO WAS A MUSLIM HODJA, OR HOLY MAN. ONE DAY IN MAY CLOSE TO BAJREM, THE MUSLIM HOLY DAY, A GUARD NAMED (FNU) BAKAJ CALLED FOR "THE HODJA" TO GO WITH HIM. THE GUARD WAS YOUNG, WITH TWO LARGE PLASTIC SURGERY MARKS ON HIS FACE. THE HODJA RETURNED AFTER SEVERAL HOURS, LOOKING VIOLENTLY ILL. HE WAS FORCED TO WALK AROUND THE PRISONERS' ROOM SAYING, "I ATE PORK AND IT WAS DELICIOUS." HE LAY NEAR F.B. AND TRIED TO KEEP FROM VOMITING AS HE SHOOK FROM CONVULSIONS. HE TOLD F.B. HE HAD BEEN BEATEN AND FORCED AT GUNPOINT TO EAT HEAVY PORK MEAT (ON A LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 04 ZAGREB 02038 08 OF 09 161657Z STOMACH THAT HAD BEEN EMPTY FOR WEEKS). HE DID NOT WANT TO VOMIT FOR FEAR THE GUARDS WOULD FORCE HIM TO REPEAT THE EXERCISE. LIMITED OFFICIAL USE NNNN LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 01 ZAGREB 02038 09 OF 09 161657Z ACTION EUR-01 INFO LOG-00 AID-01 AMAD-01 CIAE-00 C-01 CISA-02 EB-01 HA-09 H-01 INRE-00 INR-01 IO-19 LAB-04 L-03 ADS-00 NSAE-00 OIC-02 PA-01 PRS-01 P-01 RP-10 SDEL-01 SIL-01 SP-01 SR-01 SS-01 STR-18 TRSE-00 /082W -------------- 6ED5A6 161703Z /40 P 161553Z OCT 92 FM AMCONSUL ZAGREB TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2381 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 USUN NEW YORK USMISSION USVIENNA USMISSION USNATO USIA WASHDC 2228 LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 02 ZAGREB 02038 09 OF 09 161657Z USEC BRUSSELS DIA WASHDC JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-5/J-2// WHITE HOUSE WASHDC 0970 LIMITED OFFICIAL USE SECTION 09 OF 09 ZAGREB 02038 DEPT FOR EUR, L, IO, HA . USVIENNA FOR USDEL CSCE . E.O. 12356: DECL: N/A TAGS: PREF PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR BK SUBJECT: CYGOOL: HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN BOSNIA- - HERCEGOVINA - CASES OF X., F.B., AND A.V.; - THE PERSONNEL STRUCTURE AT OMARSKA CAMP ¶26. F.B. AND SEVERAL OTHER PRISONERS WITNESSED THE SENSELESS BEATING AND DEATH OF RIZA HADJALIC. RIZA HAD RECEIVED HIS DAILY SLICE OF BREAD AND WAS WALKING AWAY, WHEN A GUARD SAID "DOBAR TEK" (GOOD APPETITE). RIZA REPLIED SPONTANEOUSLY "BUJUM," THE MULSIM DIALECT EQUIVALENT. SEVERAL GUARDS IMMEDIATLEY SET UPON RIZA AND BEAT HIM SENSELESS. AFTERWARDS RIZA LAY ON HIS BACK AND VOMITTED. NO ONE WAS ALLOWED TO TURN HIM OVER. RIZA SUFFOCATED ON HIS VOMIT IN FRONT OF THE OTHERS. ¶27. (U) X., F.B., AND A.V. CONSIDERED CIGO MAMUZO LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 03 ZAGREB 02038 09 OF 09 161657Z THE WORST GUARD IN OMARSKA. THEY WITNESSED AND HEARD OF HIS KILLING MORE PRISONERS THAN ANY OTHER GUARD. A.V. SAW MAMUZO KILL AHIL DEDIC ON MAY 28 ON A BUS OUTSIDE THE CAMP GATE WHEN HE WAS FIRST BROUGHT TO OMARSKA. MAMUZO BEAT AHIL ON THE HEAD WITH THE WOODEN BUTT OF A RIFLE UNTIL HIS SKULL BROKE. -------------- ROBBERIES FROM PRISONERS -------------- ¶28. (U) MANY GUARDS TOOK THE PRISONERS PERSONAL PROPERTY. HOWEVER, BRANKO AND MILOJICA BERIC WERE IDENTIFIED BY A.V. AND F.B. AS THE WORST OF THE GUARDS IN THIS RESPECT. BRANKO ESPECIALLY STOLE WATCHES AND JEWELRY AND BOTH STOLE FOREIGN CURRENCY FROM THE PRISONERS. A.V. AND F.B. WITNESSED THESE ROBBERIES SEVERAL TIMES. NEITZKE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE NNNN

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