CYGOOL: HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN BOSNIA-

UNCLASSIFIED LIMITED OFFICIAL USE SECTION 01 OF 06 ZAGREB 02544 SIPDIS DIA WASHDC JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-5/J-2// LIMITED OFFICIAL USE SECTION 01 OF 06 ZAGREB 02544 DEPT FOR EUR, L, IO, HA/MLA/POMETTO - USVIENNA FOR USDEL CSCE - E.O. 12356: N/A TAGS: PREF PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR BK SUBJECT: CYGOOL: HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN BOSNIA- - HERCEGOVINA - CASE OF S.V., MUSLIM MALE, 42 -------------- INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (U) THIS IS ONE IN A SERIES OF REPORTS ON SPECIFIC AND GROSS HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN BOSNIA AND HERCEGOVINA (B-H) BASED ON PERSONAL INTERVIEWS WITH THE SUBJECTS NAMED. THE SUBJECT IN THIS REPORT AGREED TO SPEAK ONLY AFTER RECEIVING ASSURANCES THAT HIS NAME WOULD NOT/NOT BE USED PUBLICLY FOR FEAR THAT THAT WOULD ENDANGER RELATIVES STILL UNDER SERBIAN DETENTION IN B-H. ¶2. (LOU) SERIF VELIC (PROTECT) IS A 42-YEAR-OLD MUSLIM METALWORKER FROM KEVLJANI. HE WAS INTERNED LN THE SERBIAN-RUN OMARSKA CAMP FROM MAY 27 UNTIL AUGUST LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 03 ZAGREB 02544 01 OF 06 011240Z 28 WHEN HE WAS TAKEN TO MANJACA CAMP. HE WAS HELD THERE UNTIL HIS RELEASE ON NOV. 14 TO THE KARLOVAC TRANSIT CENTER FOR EX-DETAINEES. VELIC WAS ABLE TO DESCRIBE IN GRAPHIC DETAIL THE SEVERE BEATINGS HE RECEIVED IN OMARSKA. HE WAS INTERVIEWED IN KARLOVAC ON NOV. 23 AND 25 AND WAS JUDGED CREDIBLE. VELIC IS IDENTIFIED BELOW AS "S.V." END INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY. -------------- DETAILS OF THE CASE -------------- ¶3. (U) S.V. IS A 42-YEAR-OLD BOSNIAN MUSLIM METALWORKER FROM A MUSLIM VILLAGE OF KEVLJANI, NEAR PRIJEDOR. HE WAS INTERNED IN THE SERBIAN-RUN OMARSKA CAMP FOR THREE MONTHS AND IN MANJACA CAMP FOR THREE MONTHS. S.V. WAS THE HEAD OF THE TERITORIJALNE - ODBRANA (TO) IN KEVLJANI BEFORE THE WAR. THE TERRITORIAL DEFENSE GROUP WAS COMPOSED OF MUSLIMS, CROATS, AND SERBS. THE GROUP HAD 7 AUTOMATIC RIFLES, 4 M48 RIFLES, AND 2 PISTOLS. THE TO IN KEVLJANI COMBINED WITH THE VILLAGES OF HADZICI, JAKUPOVICI, AND GORNJI PETROV GAJ. THE GROUP HAD 23 GUNS TOTAL, SAID S.V. ¶4. (U) ON MAY 26, SERBS ATTACKED HIS VILLAGE. THE VILLAGERS FLED TO THE WOODS, BUT AFTER SPENDING THE NIGHT IN THE WOODS UNDER HEAVY SHELLING, MANY WOMEN WANTED TO SURRENDER. S.V. AND AN IMAM LED A GROUP OF LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 04 ZAGREB 02544 01 OF 06 011240Z WOMEN AND CHILDREN UNDER A WHITE FLAG TO THE SCHOOL LIMITED OFFICIAL USE NNNN LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 01 ZAGREB 02544 02 OF 06 011241Z ACTION EUR-01 INFO LOG-00 AID-01 AMAD-01 CA-02 CIAE-00 HA-09 INRE-00 INR-01 IO-19 ADS-00 NSAE-00 OIC-02 RP-10 SR-00 /046W -------------- 807D27 011241Z /38 P 011036Z DEC 92 FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2889 INFO AMEMBASSY BELGRADE AMEMBASSY ANKARA AMEMBASSY ATHENS AMEMBASSY BONN AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST AMEMBASSY LONDON AMEMBASSY MADRID AMEMBASSY MOSCOW AMEMBASSY PARIS AMEMBASSY ROME AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE AMEMBASSY VIENNA USMISSION GENEVA USMISSION USNATO USMISSION USUN NEW YORK USMISSION USVIENNA USIA WASHDC 2523 USEC BRUSSELS WHITE HOUSE WASHDC 1135 LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 02 ZAGREB 02544 02 OF 06 011241Z DIA WASHDC JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-5/J-2// LIMITED OFFICIAL USE SECTION 02 OF 06 ZAGREB 02544 DEPT FOR EUR, L, IO, HA/MLA/POMETTO - USVIENNA FOR USDEL CSCE - E.O. 12356: N/A TAGS: PREF PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR BK SUBJECT: CYGOOL: HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN BOSNIA- - HERCEGOVINA - CASE OF S.V., MUSLIM MALE, 42 TO SURRENDER. A SERBIAN OFFICER NICKNAMED CIGO TOLD THE GROUP THE WHOLE VILLAGE HAD TWO HOURS TO SURRENDER. CIGO WAS THE HEAD OF THE TANK REGIMENT WHICH ATTACKED KEVLJANI. S.V. SAID HE SURRENDERED TO CIGO ALL THE WEAPONS THE GROUP HAD, IN HOPES THAT THE VILLAGE WOULD BE SPARED. HOWEVER, THE SERBIAN ARMY BURNED MOST HOUSES TO THE GROUND, AND SENT ALL MUSLIMS AND CROATIANS IN BUSES TO PRIJEDOR. AT 4:00 P.M, THE MEN WERE TAKEN TO THE KERATERM FACTORY ON THE EDGE OF TOWN, AND THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN WERE TAKEN TO THE YOUTH CENTER IN TOWN. S.V. SAID 24 BUSES PULLED UP TO KERATERM. HOWEVER, THE CAMP WAS FULL AND THE PRISONERS COULD NOT UNLOAD. THE CONVOY CONTINUED ONWARD IN A LOW-PROFILE, ROUND-ABOUT WAY THROUGH TOMASICA TO OMARSKA CAMP. THEY ARRIVED ABOUT 11:00 P.M. LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 03 ZAGREB 02544 02 OF 06 011241Z ¶5. (U) S.V. SAID HE WAS IN BUILDING NUMBER 11, IN A ROOM 15 BY 15 METERS LARGE. HE BELIEVES OVER 450 MEN WERE FORCED INTO THE ROOM. THE ROOM WAS TOO SMALL FOR EVERYONE TO LIE DOWN, SO THEY TOOK TURNS SITTING AND STANDING. S.V. SLEPT HERE FOR 22 DAYS. ONLY AFTER 3 DAYS DID THE MEN RECEIVE ANY WATER, ABOUT 10 LITERS TO DRINK FOR 450 MEN. THE PRISONERS WERE MADE TO RUN A TYPE OF OBSTACLE COURSE WHEN THEY WERE FED. ENTERING AND EXITING THE CAFETERIA, THEY HAD TO PASS SINGLE FILE BETWEEN SERBIAN GUARDS, WHO TRIPPED AND BEAT ALMOST EACH PRISONER AS HE RAN BY. BENCHES AND TABLES BLOCKED THEIR PATH, AND, IF THE PRISONERS STUMBLED OVER THESE, THEY WERE BEATEN EVEN MORE. A MEAL CONSISTED OF 90 G. OF BREAD AND MAYBE SOME SOUP BROTH OR A CABBAGE LEAF. OFTEN, S.V. SAID, 24 TO 60 HOURS WOULD PASS BETWEEN MEALS. ¶6. (U) ON HIS 22ND DAY AT THE CAMP (AROUND JUNE 18-19),S.V. WAS CALLED OUT OF THE ROOM AT 2 A.M. HE WAS INTERROGATED BY ZDRAVKO GOVEDARICA, A SERBIAN FROM THE VILLAGE OF MRKONJIC GRAD, NEAR JAJCE, WHOM HE KNEW BEFORE THE WAR. THE MAN WAS AN OFFICER, WITH THREE CHEVRON MARKS ON HIS UNIFORM, S.V. SAID. S.V. WAS REPEATEDLY QUESTIONED ABOUT THE LOCATION OF A LARGE GUN CALLED A MITRALJEZ BREDA. S.V. DENIED ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THIS GUN, AND CLAIMED THAT THE TO IN KEVLJANI NEVER OWNED SUCH A GUN. THE KEVLJANI TO HAD SURRENDERED ALL THEIR WEAPONS TO CIGO, DURING THE SERBIAN ATTACK ON THEIR VILLAGE. LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 04 ZAGREB 02544 02 OF 06 011241Z ¶7. (U) S.V. WAS TAKEN TO BUILDING 10, TO A ROOM LIMITED OFFICIAL USE NNNN LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 01 ZAGREB 02544 03 OF 06 011243Z ACTION EUR-01 INFO LOG-00 AID-01 AMAD-01 CA-02 CIAE-00 HA-09 INRE-00 INR-01 IO-19 ADS-00 NSAE-00 OIC-02 RP-10 SR-00 /046W -------------- 807D65 011243Z /38 P 011036Z DEC 92 FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2890 INFO AMEMBASSY BELGRADE AMEMBASSY ANKARA AMEMBASSY ATHENS AMEMBASSY BONN AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST AMEMBASSY LONDON AMEMBASSY MADRID AMEMBASSY MOSCOW AMEMBASSY PARIS AMEMBASSY ROME AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE AMEMBASSY VIENNA USMISSION GENEVA USMISSION USNATO USMISSION USUN NEW YORK USMISSION USVIENNA USIA WASHDC 2524 USEC BRUSSELS WHITE HOUSE WASHDC 1136 LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 02 ZAGREB 02544 03 OF 06 011243Z DIA WASHDC JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-5/J-2// LIMITED OFFICIAL USE SECTION 03 OF 06 ZAGREB 02544 DEPT FOR EUR, L, IO, HA/MLA/POMETTO - USVIENNA FOR USDEL CSCE - E.O. 12356: N/A TAGS: PREF PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR BK SUBJECT: CYGOOL: HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN BOSNIA- - HERCEGOVINA - CASE OF S.V., MUSLIM MALE, 42 WITH FOUR SOLDIERS. S.V. WAS MADE TO UNDRESS TO HIS UNDERWEAR, AND TOLD TO LIE DOWN ON HIS STOMACH ON THE TILE FLOOR. ONE GUARD TOOK AN IRON CHAIR, PUT IT ON S.V.'S BACK AND SAT DOWN. ANOTHER GUARD TOOK A LARGE CALIBER AUTOMATIC RIFLE AND BEAT S.V. ON HIS SPINE WITH THE BUTT OF THE RIFLE, POUNDING EACH VERTEBRA TWICE. A THIRD GUARD CONTINUALLY KICKED S.V. ALONG HIS LEGS AND GROIN. ONE GUARD POUNDED HIS RIB CAGE CONTINUALLY. S.V. NOW HAS 4 BROKEN RIBS ON HIS LEFT SIDE. THE INSPECTOR GOVEDARICA ENTERED THE ROOM DURING S.V.'S BEATING. S.V. SCREAMED FOR THE GUARDS TO STOP, BUT THEY CONTINUED. ONE GAVE HIM A SHEET OF MEDICAL PILLS PACKAGED IN A METAL AND PLASTIC, POP-THROUGH SHEET TO BITE ONTO TO PREVENT HIM FROM SCREAMING. THIS METAL/PLASTIC SHEET ONLY CUT UP S.V.'S MOUTH, LEAVING SCARS WHICH HE SHOWED TO LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 03 ZAGREB 02544 03 OF 06 011243Z EMBOFF, AND MADE HIM ALMOST UNABLE TO EAT FOR WEEKS. - ¶8. (U) S.V. LOST CONSCIOUSNESS, BUT WHEN HE AWOKE, THE FOUR GUARDS WERE STANDING AROUND HIM, AND BEGAN TO BEAT HIM AGAIN, ON HIS LEGS, SHOULDERS, AND HEAD. HE SAID HE HEARD A VOICE SAY SEVERAL TIMES "NOT ON HIS HEAD|" ONE GUARD TOOK A POLICE BATON, STRADDLED S.V.'S BACK, AND BEAT HIS BACK AND RIBS CONTINUALLY. S.V. SAID HE FELT THE PAIN OF ONLY THE FIRST TEN BLOWS, THEN FELT NO MORE. ANOTHER GUARD PULLED OUT A KNIFE AND SAID HE WOULD CIRCUMCIZE S.V. THE GUARD THEN CUT S.V.'S KNEE CAP, BUT S.V. SAID HE DID NOT EVEN FEEL THE KNIFE AS HE WATCHED BLOOD POUR OUT OF HIS LEG. ¶9. (U) THE GUARDS MADE HIM STAND UP, BUT S.V. PRETENDED TO FAINT. THE GUARDS DID NOT BELIEVE HE FAINTED, AND FORCED S.V. UP AGAIN. ON HIS THIRD ATTEMPT TO STAND, S.V. DID LOSE CONSCIOUSNESS AS HE FELL ON HIS LEFT SIDE, WITH THE BROKEN RIBS. THE GUARDS THREW WATER ON HIM TO WAKEN HIM. THEY RETURNED HIS CLOTHES, AND S.V. WAS ABLE TO PULL ON HIS PANTS AND BOOTS BEFORE THEY WALKED HIM BACK TO A ROOM. S.V. SAID HE WAS THE FIRST PRISONER IN OMARSKA TO BE RETURNED TO THE ROOMS AFTER A BEATING, AND NOT KILLED OR TAKEN TO THE SO-CALLED WHITE HOUSE. S.V. WAS TO BE AN EXAMPLE TO THE OTHERS OF WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN TO THEM. IT WAS 5:00 A.M. S.V. WAS BEATEN FOR THREE HOURS. HE SAID HE WAS SO BLACK AND BLUE THAT THERE WAS NOT ONE WHITE SPOT AS LARGE AS A FINGERTIP ON HIS ENTIRE BODY. LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 04 ZAGREB 02544 03 OF 06 011243Z LIMITED OFFICIAL USE NNNN LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 01 ZAGREB 02544 04 OF 06 011243Z ACTION EUR-01 INFO LOG-00 AID-01 AMAD-01 CA-02 CIAE-00 HA-09 INRE-00 INR-01 IO-19 ADS-00 NSAE-00 OIC-02 RP-10 SR-00 (ADS) -------------- 813337 022145Z /38 P 011036Z DEC 92 FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2891 INFO AMEMBASSY BELGRADE AMEMBASSY ANKARA AMEMBASSY ATHENS AMEMBASSY BONN AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST AMEMBASSY LONDON AMEMBASSY MADRID AMEMBASSY MOSCOW AMEMBASSY PARIS AMEMBASSY ROME AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE AMEMBASSY VIENNA USMISSION GENEVA USMISSION USNATO USMISSION USUN NEW YORK USMISSION USVIENNA USIA WASHDC 2525 LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 02 ZAGREB 02544 04 OF 06 011243Z USEC BRUSSELS WHITE HOUSE WASHDC 1137 DIA WASHDC JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-5/J-2// LIMITED OFFICIAL USE SECTION 04 OF 06 ZAGREB 02544 DEPT FOR EUR, L, IO, HA/MLA/POMETTO - USVIENNA FOR USDEL CSCE - E.O. 12356: N/A TAGS: PREF PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR BK SUBJECT: CYGOOL: HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN BOSNIA- - HERCEGOVINA - CASE OF S.V., MUSLIM MALE, 42 ¶10. (U) S.V. TOOK ONE STEP INTO THE ROOM AND FAINTED. HE LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF HIS MUSCLES AND HAD A DIARRHEA ATTACK THERE. HE WAS UNABLE TO WASH HIMSELF FOR OVER ONE MONTH, HE SAID. S.V. THOUGHT HE LAY THERE FOR A FEW HOURS, BUT WAS TOLD HE LAY UNCONSCIOUS FOR TWO DAYS. HE CAME TO WHEN HE HEARD HIS NAME CALLED SEVERAL TIMES. THE CAMP GUARDS WERE CALLING FOR HIM TO EXIT THE ROOM. AS S.V. WAS UNABLE TO WALK, SIX OTHER PRISONERS PUT HIM ON A BLANKET, AND CARRIED HIM INTO THE HALLWAY. ONE GUARD ASKED, "WHERE'S YOUR GUN?" THEY WERE LOOKING FOR S.V.'S PERSONAL HUNTING RIFLE FROM HIS HOME, WHICH S.V. HAD TURNED OVER TO CIGO WITH ALL THE OTHER GUNS IN THE TOWN. THE GUARDS EVEN ASKED FOR ALL SEVENTY BULLETS LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 03 ZAGREB 02544 04 OF 06 011243Z THAT S.V. OWNED AT THAT TIME. ¶11. (U) FROM THIS HALLWAY, S.V. WAS CARRIED ON HIS BLANKET TO ANOTHER ROOM OF 36 MEN WHO WERE ALL SICK. S.V. SAID HE OCCUPIED A SPACE BEHIND THE DOOR OF THE ROOM, ABOUT 80 CENTIMETERS LONG. AS HE LAY FOR SEVERAL DAYS IN A FETAL POSITION, HE WAS OCCASIONALLY ABLE TO MOVE HIS HEAD, HANDS, AND FEET, BUT HE RECEIVED ABSOLUTELY NO MEDICAL ATTENTION WHATSOEVER. A COUSIN OF HIS WAS IN THIS ROOM AND TENDED TO HIM. ONE DAY, GUARDS CAME INTO THE ROOM AND BEAT PEOPLE AT RANDOM WITH POLICE BATONS. HIS COUSIN WAS PISTOL-WHIPPED IN THE FACE. S.V. LAY BEHIND THE DOOR, AND SO WAS SPARED MORE INJURY AT THIS TIME. ¶12. (U) S.V. COUGHED DESPERATELY. HE SUCCEEDED IN TURNING ONTO HIS BACK AFTER TWO DAYS OF TRYING. HE HAD JUST A FEW GULPS OF WATER DAILY. HIS WOUNDS BEGAN TO HEAL SLOWLY. HIS COUSIN MANAGED TO BRING A LITTLE FOOD TO HIM DURING THE NEXT FEW DAYS. AFTER A WEEK, S.V. WANTED TO GO TO THE CAFETERIA TO EAT WITH THE OTHERS, BUT HAD TO RUN THE OBSTACLE COURSE JUST LIKE THE REST OF THE PRISONERS. ¶13. (U) TWO WEEKS LATER, THE GUARDS BEGAN SYSTEMATICALLY TO EMPTY OUT SEVERAL ROOMS, INCLUDING THE SICK ROOM S.V. WAS IN. S.V. WAS PUT IN A MUCH LARGER ROOM, IN ROOM 15 WITH SEVERAL HUNDRED MEN. FOR 37 DAYS AFTER HIS BEATING, HE WAS LEFT ALONE. THEN HE WAS SENT A SECOND TIME FOR QUESTIONING TO INSPECTOR DRAGE MEAKIC, WHOSE BROTHER WAS THE CAMP LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 04 ZAGREB 02544 04 OF 06 011243Z COMMANDER. MEAKIC WAS A POLICE CRIMINAL INSPECTOR BEFORE THE WAR WHO WAS KNOWN TO S.V. MEAKIC SHOWED GREAT INTEREST IN A LIST OF 101 MEN FROM KEVLJANI, OF LIMITED OFFICIAL USE NNNN LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 01 ZAGREB 02544 05 OF 06 011244Z ACTION EUR-01 INFO LOG-00 AID-01 AMAD-01 CA-02 CIAE-00 HA-09 INRE-00 INR-01 IO-19 ADS-00 NSAE-00 OIC-02 RP-10 SR-00 /046W -------------- 807D8A 011245Z /38 P 011036Z DEC 92 FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2892 INFO AMEMBASSY BELGRADE AMEMBASSY ANKARA AMEMBASSY ATHENS AMEMBASSY BONN AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST AMEMBASSY LONDON AMEMBASSY MADRID AMEMBASSY MOSCOW AMEMBASSY PARIS AMEMBASSY ROME AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE AMEMBASSY VIENNA USMISSION GENEVA USMISSION USNATO USMISSION USUN NEW YORK USMISSION USVIENNA USIA WASHDC 2526 USEC BRUSSELS WHITE HOUSE WASHDC 1138 LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 02 ZAGREB 02544 05 OF 06 011244Z DIA WASHDC JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-5/J-2// LIMITED OFFICIAL USE SECTION 05 OF 06 ZAGREB 02544 DEPT FOR EUR, L, IO, HA/MLA/POMETTO - USVIENNA FOR USDEL CSCE - E.O. 12356: N/A TAGS: PREF PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR BK SUBJECT: CYGOOL: HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN BOSNIA- - HERCEGOVINA - CASE OF S.V., MUSLIM MALE, 42 ALL THREE ETHNIC GROUPS, WHO WERE IN THE TO THERE. S.V.'S NAME WAS ON THIS LIST. HE UNDERWENT A THIRD QUESTIONING WITHIN THE NEXT FEW DAYS. - ¶14. (U) ROOM 15 HELD ABOUT 300-350 MEN. IT HAD A SMALL BATHROOM AREA, WITH LONG, CEMENT, TROUGH-STYLE SINKS. FOR LACK OF SPACE, MEN SLEPT IN AND UNDER THESE SINKS. THREE FAUCETS WORKED, SO IT WAS THE ONLY ROOM WITH WATER AVAILABLE TO THE PRISONERS. S.V. GOT A PLACE UNDER ONE SINK. THE STENCH WAS TERRIBLE, AS THE SINKS WERE USED AS TOILETS BY THE PRISONERS. HE SLEPT 10 DAYS IN THIS PLACE. THEN HE WAS MOVED ACROSS THE HALL TO THE SHOWER STALLS. TWO PEOPLE SLEPT IN EACH STALL, ONE METER SQUARE. S.V. SAID HE COULD ONLY STRETCH HIS LEGS IF HE EXTENDED THEM UP THE SIDE WALL. HE STAYED HERE UNTIL EARLY LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 03 ZAGREB 02544 05 OF 06 011244Z AUGUST, WHEN THE ICRC AND JOURNALISTS CAME TO THE CAMP. ¶15. (LOU) S.V. NAMED SEVEN OF EIGHT PEOPLE HE SAID WERE TAKEN AWAY FROM THIS SHOWER AREA AND NEVER SEEN AGAIN. THEY WERE: - IBRO PAUNOVIC (PROTECT),FROM PRIJEDOR, WHO WAS THE TECHNICAL DIRECTOR OF THE OMARSKA AND TOMASICA MINES - ESO MEHMEDAGIC (PROTECT),AN ALMOST BLIND MAN - STJEPAN MARIC (PROTECT) - MIROSLAV SOLAJA (PROTECT),DIED FROM WOUNDS INFLICTED DURING A BEATING. - MIROSLAV (FNU) - SAKIB PERVANIC (PROTECT),TAKEN AWAY BY A MAN WHOM S.V. IDENTIFIED AS THE SON OF RADE GRUBAN, A SERB. - SMAJO GARIBOVIC (PROTECT), ¶16. (U) IN EARLY AUGUST, THE GUARDS AT OMARSKA BECAME VERY UNSETTLED AND MOVED MEN FROM ROOM TO ROOM. 184 MEN, INCLUDING S.V. WERE TRANSFERRED TO A GARAGE ABOUT 25 METERS SQUARE. AFTER 3 DAYS, 88 OF THEM, INCLUDING S.V., WERE TAKEN TO THE SOCALLED WHITE HOUSE . THE NEXT DAY, AUGUST 6, 1200 MEN WERE SENT ON A CONVOY TO MANJACA AS S.V. LATER FOUND OUT. THEN 1000 MEN WERE SENT TO TRNOPOLJE CAMP. ONLY THE 184 MEN SINGLED OUT BEFORE WERE LEFT IN OMARSKA. THEY WERE LED TO A LARGE ROOM WHERE THEY HAD TO ASSEMBLE AND MAKE ARMY BEDS. ¶17. (U) S.V. WAS LED AWAY BY FOUR SOLDIERS TO A LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 04 ZAGREB 02544 05 OF 06 011244Z NEARBY ROOM. HE WAS AGAIN BEATEN TERRIBLY. S.V. LIMITED OFFICIAL USE NNNN LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 01 ZAGREB 02544 06 OF 06 011245Z ACTION EUR-01 INFO LOG-00 AID-01 AMAD-01 CA-02 CIAE-00 HA-09 INRE-00 INR-01 IO-19 ADS-00 NSAE-00 OIC-02 RP-10 SR-00 /046W -------------- 807DA1 011245Z /38 P 011036Z DEC 92 FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2893 INFO AMEMBASSY BELGRADE AMEMBASSY ANKARA AMEMBASSY ATHENS AMEMBASSY BONN AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST AMEMBASSY LONDON AMEMBASSY MADRID AMEMBASSY MOSCOW AMEMBASSY PARIS AMEMBASSY ROME AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE AMEMBASSY VIENNA USMISSION GENEVA USMISSION USNATO USMISSION USUN NEW YORK USMISSION USVIENNA USIA WASHDC 2527 USEC BRUSSELS WHITE HOUSE WASHDC 1139 LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 02 ZAGREB 02544 06 OF 06 011245Z DIA WASHDC JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-5/J-2// LIMITED OFFICIAL USE SECTION 06 OF 06 ZAGREB 02544 DEPT FOR EUR, L, IO, HA/MLA/POMETTO - USVIENNA FOR USDEL CSCE - E.O. 12356: N/A TAGS: PREF PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR PHUM HR BK SUBJECT: CYGOOL: HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN BOSNIA- - HERCEGOVINA - CASE OF S.V., MUSLIM MALE, 42 STOOD SPREAD-EAGLE AGAINST THE WALL WITH THE FIRST THREE FINGERS HELD UP OF EACH HAND. (NOTE: THIS IS THE SERBIAN CHETNIK SYMBOL. END NOTE.) HE WAS BEATEN WITH BATONS ON ALL HIS JOINTS, AND HIS LEGS BUCKLED UNDERNEATH HIM. ONE GUARD BROUGHT A COCKROACH AND MADE S.V. EAT IT FROM HIS HAND. THIS GUARD THEN CLAIMED THAT S.V. BIT HIM. THREE OF THE SOLDIERS BEAT S.V. VICIOUSLY ON HIS CHEST, BACK AND LEGS WITH POLICE BATONS. WHEN S.V. FELL, A GUARD STOOD ON HIS FACE AND RUBBED IT WITH HIS BOOT INTO THE FLOOR. WHEN S.V. WAS SENT TO THE BATHROOM TO WASH, A GUARD FOLLOWED, AND BEAT HIM WITH THICK CABLE WIRE ALONG THE WAY. S.V. SAID HE BELIEVES HE WAS THE LAST MAN SEVERELY BEATEN IN OMARSKA CAMP. ¶18. (U) ALTHOUGH THE PRISONERS HAD MADE 120 BEDS, LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 03 ZAGREB 02544 06 OF 06 011245Z THEY WERE NOT ALLOWED TO SLEEP ON THEM, BUT HAD TO SLEEP ON THE FLOOR OF THE HALLWAY IN THAT BUILDING. ON AUGUST 12, INTERNATIONAL JOURNALISTS ARRIVED AT OMARSKA. THE SERBS TOLD THE JOURNALISTS THAT THE PRISONERS THERE HAD BEEN HELD FOR TWO TO THREE WEEKS FOR INTERROGATION. THE JOURNALISTS HAD BROUGHT ICRC REGISTRATION CARDS AND REGISTERED ALL THE PRISONERS. S.V. SAID THE REPORTERS TOLD THEM THAT THEY WERE NOW CITIZENS OF THE U.N. THE PRISONERS WERE ALLOWED TO SLEEP ON THE BEDS FOR THREE NIGHTS. ON AUGUST 21, ALL THE REMAINING PRISONERS IN OMARSKA WERE TAKEN TO MANJACA CAMP. S.V. SAID THAT THE MEN WERE NO LONGER BEATEN REGULARLY AND SEVERELY FROM THAT POINT AND THAT THE ICRC CAME REGULARLY TO CHECK ON THEIR CONDITION AND BRING THEM FOOD. NEITZKE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE NNNN