Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
94ZAGREB827
1994-02-28 16:20:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Zagreb
Cable title:
TFSROL: SEVERE HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN B-H:
how-toThis 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 04 ZAGREB 00827
SIPDIS
AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN
AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
AMEMBASSY BONN
AMEMBASSY ANKARA
AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK//N2/N22//
USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ3/ECJ5//
CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK//N2/N22//
SECDEF WASHDC//ISA/ISP//
CINCUSAFE RAMSTEIN AB GE//J3/J4/J5/POLAD//
WHITE HOUSE WASHDC
JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J5-PMA/J2I//
AMEMBASSY ATHENS
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE SECTION 01 OF 04 ZAGREB 000827
STATE FOR EUR/EE, L, HA, IO
USMISSION USVIENNA ALSO FOR USDEL CSCE
E.O. 12356: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREF HR PREF HR PREF HR PREF HR BK
SUBJECT: TFSROL: SEVERE HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN B-H:
EYE-WITNESS DESCRIBES TORTURE/EXECUTIONS IN
LUKA AND BATKOVIC CAMPS, NAMES PERPETRATORS
------------
INTRODUCTION
------------
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE
PAGE 03 ZAGREB 00827 01 OF 04 281646Z
UNCLASSIFIED LIMITED OFFICIAL USE SECTION 01 OF 04 ZAGREB 00827
SIPDIS
AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN
AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
AMEMBASSY BONN
AMEMBASSY ANKARA
AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK//N2/N22//
USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ3/ECJ5//
CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK//N2/N22//
SECDEF WASHDC//ISA/ISP//
CINCUSAFE RAMSTEIN AB GE//J3/J4/J5/POLAD//
WHITE HOUSE WASHDC
JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J5-PMA/J2I//
AMEMBASSY ATHENS
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE SECTION 01 OF 04 ZAGREB 000827
STATE FOR EUR/EE, L, HA, IO
USMISSION USVIENNA ALSO FOR USDEL CSCE
E.O. 12356: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREF HR PREF HR PREF HR PREF HR BK
SUBJECT: TFSROL: SEVERE HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN B-H:
EYE-WITNESS DESCRIBES TORTURE/EXECUTIONS IN
LUKA AND BATKOVIC CAMPS, NAMES PERPETRATORS
--------------
INTRODUCTION
--------------
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE
PAGE 03 ZAGREB 00827 01 OF 04 281646Z
1. (U) THIS IS THE FIRST IN A SERIES OF REPORTS OF
INTERVIEWS OF WAR CRIMES VICTIMS CONDUCTED IN LATE
1993 IN MAOCA, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, BY A DART/ZAGREB
FIELD REP AND AN AMCIT IRC REP WHILE THEY WERE IN THE
AREA ASSESSING HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE NEEDS. THIS
REPORT NAMES VICTIMS AND, IN SOME CASES, PERPETRATORS
AND DETAILS SPECIFIC CRIMES. THE PERSONS INTERVIEWED
FOR THESE REPORTS SEEMED TO THE AMCIT INTERVIEWERS TO
BE A REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE OF HUNDREDS OF VICTIMS AND
EYEWITNESSES NOW LIVING IN THE TUZLA POCKET, MANY OF
WHOM ALREADY HAVE SWORN STATEMENTS ON FILE WITH LOCAL
WAR CRIMES COMMISSIONS.
--------------
THE FIRST WITNESS
--------------
2. (LOU) MEHMED ARNAVTOVIC (STRICTLY PROTECT),
HEREAFTER REFERRED TO AS THE WITNESS, IS A BOSNIAN
MUSLIM FROM THE BRCKO MUNICIPALITY. HE WAS BORN
JANUARY 1, 1964, AND WAS A CIVILIAN AT THE TIME OF
HIS ARREST BY BOSNIAN SERB FORCES ON MAY 10, 1992.
-
--------------
ARREST AND INCARCERATION IN BRCKO
--------------
3. (U) AT THE TIME OF HIS ARREST, THE WITNESS WAS
AT HOME WITH HIS WIFE, PARENTS, SISTER IN LAW AND HER
HUSBAND, AND SIX NEIGHBORS. THEY HAD ALL BEEN HIDING
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PAGE 04 ZAGREB 00827 01 OF 04 281646Z
IN HIS HOUSE FOR TEN DAYS. ON MAY 10, BOSNIAN SERB
SOLDIERS CAME TO THE HOUSE AND ARRESTED THE WITNESS,
HIS FATHER, AND ANOTHER ADULT MALE RELATIVE AND TOOK
THEM TO A TEMPORARY PRISON CAMP KNOWN AS "LUKA" IN
THE PORT AREA OF BRCKO. THE WOMEN IN THE HOUSE WERE
SET FREE BUT REQUIRED TO STAY IN ASSIGNED PLACES IN
BRCKO.
4. (U) UPON ARRIVING AT LUKA, THE WITNESS WAS
ORDERED INTO ONE OF A SERIES OF CONNECTED WAREHOUSES
EACH OF WHICH WAS APPROXIMATELY 20 BY 50 METERS IN
SIZE. THERE WERE ALREADY APPROXIMATELY 100 PRISONERS
IN "HIS" WAREHOUSE WHEN THE WITNESS ENTERED. FOR THE
FIRST 15 MINUTES, THE WITNESS AND THE OTHERS WERE
FORCED TO SIT WITH THEIR HEADS DOWN WHILE SERBIAN
SOLDIERS HIT THEM WITH RIFLE BUTTS. SEVERAL OF THE
MEN WERE EXECUTED ON THE SPOT BY GUNSHOTS TO THE HEAD.
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ACTION SS-00
INFO LOG-00 AID-01 AMAD-01 CIAE-00 C-01 OASY-00 EB-01
EUR-01 OIGO-01 HA-09 H-01 IMMC-01 TEDE-00 INR-00
IO-16 L-01 ADS-00 NSAE-00 OIC-02 PA-01 PRS-01
P-01 RP-10 RPCS-01 SB-00 SP-00 SR-00 SSO-00
STR-01 TRSE-00 USIE-00 RPE-01 SNIS-00 NISC-02 /054W
-------------- 2A15BA 281909Z /38
R 281620Z FEB 94
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 1012
INFO HQ JTF PP NAPLES IT//CA/POLAD//
CINCUSAREUR HEIDELBERG GE//J3/J4/J5/POLAD//
COM SIXTHFLT//N2//
USEC BRUSSELS
AMCONSUL MUNICH
USMISSION USVIENNA
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USMISSION USNATO
USMISSION GENEVA
AMEMBASSY VIENNA
AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
AMEMBASSY ROME
AMEMBASSY PRAGUE
AMEMBASSY PARIS
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
AMEMBASSY MADRID
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE
PAGE 02 ZAGREB 00827 02 OF 04 281646Z
AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN
AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
AMEMBASSY BONN
AMEMBASSY ANKARA
AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK//N2/N22//
USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ3/ECJ5//
CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK//N2/N22//
SECDEF WASHDC//ISA/ISP//
CINCUSAFE RAMSTEIN AB GE//J3/J4/J5/POLAD//
WHITE HOUSE WASHDC
JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J5-PMA/J2I//
AMEMBASSY ATHENS
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE SECTION 02 OF 04 ZAGREB 000827
STATE FOR EUR/EE, L, HA, IO
USMISSION USVIENNA ALSO FOR USDEL CSCE
E.O. 12356: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREF HR PREF HR PREF HR PREF HR BK
SUBJECT: TFSROL: SEVERE HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN B-H:
EYE-WITNESS DESCRIBES TORTURE/EXECUTIONS IN
LUKA AND BATKOVIC CAMPS, NAMES PERPETRATORS
5. (LOU) AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES, THE GUARDS CALLED
THE WITNESS'S NAME FOR A "HEARING." A FEW MINUTES
EARLIER, A RELATIVE OF THE WITNESS, AKIB HADZAJLIC
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PAGE 03 ZAGREB 00827 02 OF 04 281646Z
(STRICTLY PROTECT),HEREAFTER REFERRED TO AS A.H.,
HAD BEEN CALLED. UPON ENTERING THE "HEARING ROOM,"
THE WITNESS SAW A.H. LYING ON THE FLOOR IN A POOL OF
BLOOD HOLDING A CLOTH PRESSED AGAINST HIS HEAD. THE
WITNESS WAS IMMEDIATELY HIT FROM BEHIND BY A MAN WITH
A RUBBER TRUNCHEON, CAUSING HIM TO FALL ON TOP OF
A.H. THE WITNESS WAS THEN ASKED IF HE KNEW WHERE
A.H. HAD HIDDEN A VIDEO CAMERA WITH WHICH HE
ALLEGEDLY WAS FILMING EVENTS IN BRCKO FOR CROATIAN
TELEVISION. WHEN THE WITNESS SAID THAT A.H. NEVER
HAD SUCH A CAMERA, THE WITNESS WAS KICKED AND BEATEN
BY THE SERB INTERROGATORS, ALL OF WHOM WERE F
ROM
BIJELJINA. BOTH MEN WERE THEN ASKED WHERE THEY HAD
HIDDEN ARMS, AND WHEN THEY SAID THEY HAD NEVER HAD
ANY WEAPONS, THEY WERE KICKED AND BEATEN UNTIL THE
WITNESS WAS BLEEDING FROM HIS EARS.
6. (U) THE WITNESS WAS THEN ORDERED TO MAKE THE
ORTHODOX CATHOLIC SIGN OF THE CROSS. THE WITNESS
ASKED TO BE SHOWN THE PROPER WAY TO DO THIS, AND THEN
PROCEEDED TO GENUFLECT 20 TO 30 TIMES BEFORE MAKING A
MISTAKE FOR WHICH THE WITNESS WAS AGAIN KICKED AND
BEATEN, LOSING A TOOTH. THE WITNESS WAS THEN LED OUT
OF THE ROOM AS THREE MORE PRISONERS WERE BROUGHT IN.
THESE WERE ADAM ZELEZIC AND HIS SON MLADEN, AND AN
ELDERLY MAN, HAZIM KARAHASANOVIC, WHO WAS BORN IN
1908. OUTSIDE THE HEARING ROOM, THE WITNESS WAS TOLD
TO WAIT NEXT TO A.H., WHO WAS COMPLETELY COVERED IN
BLOOD. BELIEVING THEY WOULD BE KILLED, THE WITNESS
RAN BACK TO THE WAREHOUSE. A.H., WHO WAS UNABLE TO
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PAGE 04 ZAGREB 00827 02 OF 04 281646Z
WALK, WAS, INDEED, KILLED. AFTER 20 MINUTES, THE
THREE OTHER PRISONERS RETURNED TO THE WAREHOUSE.
ADAM AND MLADEN WERE INJURED BUT ABLE TO WALK. THE
OLD MAN, HAZIM, HAD TO BE CARRIED IN.
7. (U) SOME TIME LATER A POLICEMAN FROM BIJELJINA
CAME TO THE WAREHOUSE AND ORDERED THE PRISONERS TO
PAIR OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROOM AND TO PUNCH EACH
OTHER IN THE FACE. AFTERWARD, TWO OTHER POLICEMEN
ENTERED. THEY STOOD BEHIND THE PRISONERS AND BEAT
ANYONE WHO DID NOT STRIKE HIS PARTNER HARD ENOUGH.
THE WITNESS SAID HE WAS SEVERELY BEATEN BY HIS
PARTNER, WHO WAS MUCH YOUNGER AND VERY STRONG. THIS
LASTED ABOUT TWO HOURS, UNTIL ALL THE PAIRS WERE
FINISHED. THEY WERE THEN FORCED TO HAVE BOXING
MATCHES. DURING THIS PHASE, THE WITNESS' FATHER, WHO
WAS 70 YEARS OLD, WAS FORCED TO BOX A MAN OF 20. FOR
THE REST OF THE EVENING SERBS WOULD ENTER THE
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PAGE 01 ZAGREB 00827 03 OF 04 281646Z
ACTION SS-00
INFO LOG-00 AID-01 AMAD-01 CIAE-00 C-01 OASY-00 EB-01
EUR-01 OIGO-01 HA-09 H-01 IMMC-01 TEDE-00 INR-00
IO-16 L-01 ADS-00 NSAE-00 OIC-02 PA-01 PRS-01
P-01 RP-10 RPCS-01 SB-00 SP-00 SR-00 SSO-00
STR-01 TRSE-00 USIE-00 RPE-01 SNIS-00 NISC-02 /054W
-------------- 2A15C9 281917Z /38
R 281620Z FEB 94
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 1013
INFO HQ JTF PP NAPLES IT//CA/POLAD//
CINCUSAREUR HEIDELBERG GE//J3/J4/J5/POLAD//
COM SIXTHFLT//N2//
USEC BRUSSELS
AMCONSUL MUNICH
USMISSION USVIENNA
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USMISSION USNATO
USMISSION GENEVA
AMEMBASSY VIENNA
AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
AMEMBASSY ROME
AMEMBASSY PRAGUE
AMEMBASSY PARIS
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
AMEMBASSY MADRID
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE
PAGE 02 ZAGREB 00827 03 OF 04 281646Z
AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN
AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
AMEMBASSY BONN
AMEMBASSY ANKARA
AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK//N2/N22//
USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ3/ECJ5//
CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK//N2/N22//
SECDEF WASHDC//ISA/ISP//
CINCUSAFE RAMSTEIN AB GE//J3/J4/J5/POLAD//
WHITE HOUSE WASHDC
JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J5-PMA/J2I//
AMEMBASSY ATHENS
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE SECTION 03 OF 04 ZAGREB 000827
STATE FOR EUR/EE, L, HA, IO
USMISSION USVIENNA ALSO FOR USDEL CSCE
E.O. 12356: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREF HR PREF HR PREF HR PREF HR BK
SUBJECT: TFSROL: SEVERE HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN B-H:
EYE-WITNESS DESCRIBES TORTURE/EXECUTIONS IN
LUKA AND BATKOVIC CAMPS, NAMES PERPETRATORS
DARKENED WAREHOUSE AND BEAT PEOPLE RANDOMLY. AT
ABOUT 2200, FOUR SERBS ENTERED AND TOOK ALL VALUABLES
FROM THE PRISONERS.
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PAGE 03 ZAGREB 00827 03 OF 04 281646Z
8. (U) THE NEXT DAY WAS MUCH THE SAME ROUTINE, BUT
THAT NIGHT AND FOR THE REST OF THE TIME THE WITNESS
WAS IN LUKA, SERBS CAME IN WITH FLASHLIGHTS AND TOOK
20 TO 30 PRISONERS EACH NIGHT. THE OTHER PRISONERS
WOULD THEN HEAR SHOTS AND SCREAMS. THE NEXT DAY,
FOUR MEN WOULD BE TAKEN EITHER TO LOAD BODIES INTO
REFRIGERATOR TRUCKS OR TO THROW THEM INTO THE SAVA
RIVER.
9. (U) ONE PRISONER, MIRSAD MUJAGIC, WHO WAS A
POLICEMAN BEFORE THE WAR, WAS BEATEN BY TWELVE
BLACK-CLAD SERBS WITH BASEBALL BATS. THEY
SYSTEMATICALLY BROKE HIS FINGERS, ARMS, AND KNEES.
THEN, RANKO CESIC, ONE OF THE MAIN SERBS FROM BRCKO,
KILLED MUGAJIC WITH A PISTOL. WITH CESIC WAS MIODRAG
CAJEVIC, ALSO FROM BRCKO.
10. (U) TWO DAYS LATER, A SERBIAN CAPTAIN, DRAGAN
KABLINOVIC, WHO WORKED IN THE SAME FACTORY AS THE
WITNESS, CAME INTO THE WAREHOUSE LOOKING FOR SEVEN
YOUNG MEN TO CLEAN UP GLASS AT THE MEDICAL CLINIC.
THE WITNESS ASKED TO BE TAKEN AS WELL, AND HIS REQUEST
WAS GRANTED. AT THE CLINIC, THEY WERE GREETED BY
ABOUT 70 SERBS STANDING IN TWO ROWS WAITING TO BEAT
THE SEVEN MEN TO DEATH. ONE OF THE SERBS, HOWEVER, A
MAN NAMED MICIN, REFUSED TO ALLOW THEM TO HIT THE MEN
MORE THAN ONCE. AN EARLIER GROUP OF VICTIMS WAS NOT
SO LUCKY, AS THEY WERE LYING ON THE GROUND COVERED IN
BLOOD AND UNABLE TO STAND. TWO DAYS LATER, THE
WITNESS LEARNED THAT MICIN TOOK ADAM ZELEZIC AND HIS
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PAGE 04 ZAGREB 00827 03 OF 04 281646Z
SON MLADEN TO THE WITNESS' HOUSE WHERE ADAM'S WIFE
WAS STAYING. THEY TOLD MICIN THAT THE WITNESS WAS
ALSO IN LUKA AND ASKED HIM TO GET HIM. THE NEXT DAY,
MAY 14, MICIN RETRIEVED THE WITNESS FROM LUKA AND
TOOK HIM TO THE WITNESS' HOUSE. THEY STAYED IN THEIR
LARGE APARTMNT TWO MONTHS UNDER HOUSE ARREST, UNTIL,
ON JULY 14, ALL THE MUSLIM MEN FROM THAT AREA WERE
TAKEN IN THREE BUSSES TO THE PRISON CAMP "BATKOVIC"
NEAR BIJELJINA.
--------------
BATKOVIC PRISON CAMP
--------------
11. (U) THE WITNESS SAID THAT THE PRISONERS WERE
BEATEN AT LEAST TEN TIMES A DAY AT BATKOVIC. THE
WITNESS BELIEVED THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 1,600
PRISONERS. THE WITNESS LIVED IN A 14 METER BY 20
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PAGE 01 ZAGREB 00827 04 OF 04 281647Z
ACTION SS-00
INFO LOG-00 AID-01 AMAD-01 CIAE-00 C-01 OASY-00 EB-01
EUR-01 OIGO-01 HA-09 H-01 IMMC-01 TEDE-00 INR-00
IO-16 L-01 ADS-00 NSAE-00 OIC-02 PA-01 PRS-01
P-01 RP-10 RPCS-01 SB-00 SP-00 SR-00 SSO-00
STR-01 TRSE-00 USIE-00 RPE-01 SNIS-00 NISC-02 /054W
-------------- 2A15D7 281925Z /38
R 281620Z FEB 94
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 1014
INFO HQ JTF PP NAPLES IT//CA/POLAD//
CINCUSAREUR HEIDELBERG GE//J3/J4/J5/POLAD//
COM SIXTHFLT//N2//
USEC BRUSSELS
AMCONSUL MUNICH
USMISSION USVIENNA
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USMISSION USNATO
USMISSION GENEVA
AMEMBASSY VIENNA
AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
AMEMBASSY ROME
AMEMBASSY PRAGUE
AMEMBASSY PARIS
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
AMEMBASSY MADRID
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA
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LIMITED OFFICIAL USE
PAGE 02 ZAGREB 00827 04 OF 04 281647Z
AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN
AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
AMEMBASSY BONN
AMEMBASSY ANKARA
AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK//N2/N22//
USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ3/ECJ5//
CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK//N2/N22//
SECDEF WASHDC//ISA/ISP//
CINCUSAFE RAMSTEIN AB GE//J3/J4/J5/POLAD//
WHITE HOUSE WASHDC
JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J5-PMA/J2I//
AMEMBASSY ATHENS
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE SECTION 04 OF 04 ZAGREB 000827
STATE FOR EUR/EE, L, HA, IO
USMISSION USVIENNA ALSO FOR USDEL CSCE
E.O. 12356: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREF HR PREF HR PREF HR PREF HR BK
SUBJECT: TFSROL: SEVERE HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN B-H:
EYE-WITNESS DESCRIBES TORTURE/EXECUTIONS IN
LUKA AND BATKOVIC CAMPS, NAMES PERPETRATORS
METER WAR
EHOUSE WHERE PRISONERS WERE FORCED TO SIT
WITH THEIR HEADS DOWN AND WERE BEATEN AT RANDOM. THE
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PAGE 03 ZAGREB 00827 04 OF 04 281647Z
WITNESS SAID AT
LEAST 13 PRISONERS DIED OF BEATINGS, BUT HE WAS
UNABLE TO PROVIDE ANY NAMES. THE WITNESS WAS ABLE TO
IDENTIFY ONE AS THE OWNER OF A JEWELRY STORE AND
ANOTHER AS A COLLEGE PROFESSOR. THE WITNESS SAID
THAT EKREM CUDIC FROM BRCKO WAS FORCED TO WORK EVEN
THOUGH VERY ILL AND WAS BADLY BEATEN FOR NOT BEING
ABLE TO WORK HARDER. ONE DAY, EKREM CUDIC TOOK AWAY
A GUARD'S RIFLE AND SLAPPED HIM. THE OTHER GUARDS
SHOT AND KILLED HIM.
12. (U) ACCORDING TO THE WITNESS, THE MOST CRUEL
GUARDS AT THE BATKOVIC CAMP WERE GLIGOR BEGOVIC AND
DZEMAL ("SPAJZER") ZAHIROVIC , A GYPSY FROM ZENICA
WHO WAS LIKE A TRUSTEE OR KAPO. THE DIRECTOR OF THE
CAMP WAS VELIBOR ("VELJO") STOJANOVIC; HIS SUPERIOR
WAS A JNA COLONEL NAMED PETAR DMITROVIC.
13. (U) THE WITNESS SAID THAT CONDITIONS WERE VERY
DIFFICULT FOR THE FIRST MONTH IN THE BATKOVIC CAMP,
UNTIL A VISIT FROM ICRC WAS ANNOUNCED. UNTIL THEN,
PRISONERS HAD ONLY ONE BLANKET APIECE TO COVER THE
BARE CONCRETE FLOOR. AFTERWARDS, THEY WERE GIVEN
STRAW FOR THE FLOOR. BEFORE THE ICRC ARRIVED, A CORN
CRIB WAS EMPTIED AND SOME OF THE MEN WERE MOVED
THERE. THE ICRC WAS TOLD THESE MEN WERE REFUGEES,
NOT PRISONERS. ALSO, ABOUT 15 REGULAR PRISONERS WERE
TAKEN AWAY TO A BUNKER EVERY TIME THE ICRC VISITED.
THESE WERE 14 CIVILIANS AND ONE SOLDIER, A MAN NAMED
NEDIM MOSTAREVIC. BEFORE EACH VISIT THE GUARDS WOULD
ALSO REMOVE ABOUT 150 PEOPLE (CHILDREN AND MEN OVER
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PAGE 04 ZAGREB 00827 04 OF 04 281647Z
55) AND HIDE THEM IN A DISTANT FIELD. THE NAME OF
THE CAMP WAS ALSO CHANGED FROM "CONCENTRATION CAMP
BATKOVIC" TO "COLLECTIVE CENTER BATKOVIC". THIS
BECAME VERY IMPORTANT, SINCE MEN WHO RECEIVED MAIL
FROM THE RED CROSS WITH THE WRONG ADDRESS WERE
SEVERELY BEATEN ONCE THE MEN WERE REGISTERED BY THE
ICRC, THEY WERE CONFIDENT THEY WOULD NOT BE KILLED,
BUT THEY WERE STILL BEATEN REGULARLY.
14. (U) ON OCTOBER 5, 1992, THE WITNESS WAS
RELEASED IN A PRISONER EXCHANGE.
NEITZKE
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NNNN
SIPDIS
AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN
AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
AMEMBASSY BONN
AMEMBASSY ANKARA
AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK//N2/N22//
USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ3/ECJ5//
CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK//N2/N22//
SECDEF WASHDC//ISA/ISP//
CINCUSAFE RAMSTEIN AB GE//J3/J4/J5/POLAD//
WHITE HOUSE WASHDC
JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J5-PMA/J2I//
AMEMBASSY ATHENS
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE SECTION 01 OF 04 ZAGREB 000827
STATE FOR EUR/EE, L, HA, IO
USMISSION USVIENNA ALSO FOR USDEL CSCE
E.O. 12356: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREF HR PREF HR PREF HR PREF HR BK
SUBJECT: TFSROL: SEVERE HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN B-H:
EYE-WITNESS DESCRIBES TORTURE/EXECUTIONS IN
LUKA AND BATKOVIC CAMPS, NAMES PERPETRATORS
--------------
INTRODUCTION
--------------
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE
PAGE 03 ZAGREB 00827 01 OF 04 281646Z
1. (U) THIS IS THE FIRST IN A SERIES OF REPORTS OF
INTERVIEWS OF WAR CRIMES VICTIMS CONDUCTED IN LATE
1993 IN MAOCA, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, BY A DART/ZAGREB
FIELD REP AND AN AMCIT IRC REP WHILE THEY WERE IN THE
AREA ASSESSING HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE NEEDS. THIS
REPORT NAMES VICTIMS AND, IN SOME CASES, PERPETRATORS
AND DETAILS SPECIFIC CRIMES. THE PERSONS INTERVIEWED
FOR THESE REPORTS SEEMED TO THE AMCIT INTERVIEWERS TO
BE A REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE OF HUNDREDS OF VICTIMS AND
EYEWITNESSES NOW LIVING IN THE TUZLA POCKET, MANY OF
WHOM ALREADY HAVE SWORN STATEMENTS ON FILE WITH LOCAL
WAR CRIMES COMMISSIONS.
--------------
THE FIRST WITNESS
--------------
2. (LOU) MEHMED ARNAVTOVIC (STRICTLY PROTECT),
HEREAFTER REFERRED TO AS THE WITNESS, IS A BOSNIAN
MUSLIM FROM THE BRCKO MUNICIPALITY. HE WAS BORN
JANUARY 1, 1964, AND WAS A CIVILIAN AT THE TIME OF
HIS ARREST BY BOSNIAN SERB FORCES ON MAY 10, 1992.
-
--------------
ARREST AND INCARCERATION IN BRCKO
--------------
3. (U) AT THE TIME OF HIS ARREST, THE WITNESS WAS
AT HOME WITH HIS WIFE, PARENTS, SISTER IN LAW AND HER
HUSBAND, AND SIX NEIGHBORS. THEY HAD ALL BEEN HIDING
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PAGE 04 ZAGREB 00827 01 OF 04 281646Z
IN HIS HOUSE FOR TEN DAYS. ON MAY 10, BOSNIAN SERB
SOLDIERS CAME TO THE HOUSE AND ARRESTED THE WITNESS,
HIS FATHER, AND ANOTHER ADULT MALE RELATIVE AND TOOK
THEM TO A TEMPORARY PRISON CAMP KNOWN AS "LUKA" IN
THE PORT AREA OF BRCKO. THE WOMEN IN THE HOUSE WERE
SET FREE BUT REQUIRED TO STAY IN ASSIGNED PLACES IN
BRCKO.
4. (U) UPON ARRIVING AT LUKA, THE WITNESS WAS
ORDERED INTO ONE OF A SERIES OF CONNECTED WAREHOUSES
EACH OF WHICH WAS APPROXIMATELY 20 BY 50 METERS IN
SIZE. THERE WERE ALREADY APPROXIMATELY 100 PRISONERS
IN "HIS" WAREHOUSE WHEN THE WITNESS ENTERED. FOR THE
FIRST 15 MINUTES, THE WITNESS AND THE OTHERS WERE
FORCED TO SIT WITH THEIR HEADS DOWN WHILE SERBIAN
SOLDIERS HIT THEM WITH RIFLE BUTTS. SEVERAL OF THE
MEN WERE EXECUTED ON THE SPOT BY GUNSHOTS TO THE HEAD.
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ACTION SS-00
INFO LOG-00 AID-01 AMAD-01 CIAE-00 C-01 OASY-00 EB-01
EUR-01 OIGO-01 HA-09 H-01 IMMC-01 TEDE-00 INR-00
IO-16 L-01 ADS-00 NSAE-00 OIC-02 PA-01 PRS-01
P-01 RP-10 RPCS-01 SB-00 SP-00 SR-00 SSO-00
STR-01 TRSE-00 USIE-00 RPE-01 SNIS-00 NISC-02 /054W
-------------- 2A15BA 281909Z /38
R 281620Z FEB 94
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 1012
INFO HQ JTF PP NAPLES IT//CA/POLAD//
CINCUSAREUR HEIDELBERG GE//J3/J4/J5/POLAD//
COM SIXTHFLT//N2//
USEC BRUSSELS
AMCONSUL MUNICH
USMISSION USVIENNA
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USMISSION USNATO
USMISSION GENEVA
AMEMBASSY VIENNA
AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
AMEMBASSY ROME
AMEMBASSY PRAGUE
AMEMBASSY PARIS
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
AMEMBASSY MADRID
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA
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PAGE 02 ZAGREB 00827 02 OF 04 281646Z
AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN
AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
AMEMBASSY BONN
AMEMBASSY ANKARA
AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK//N2/N22//
USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ3/ECJ5//
CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK//N2/N22//
SECDEF WASHDC//ISA/ISP//
CINCUSAFE RAMSTEIN AB GE//J3/J4/J5/POLAD//
WHITE HOUSE WASHDC
JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J5-PMA/J2I//
AMEMBASSY ATHENS
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE SECTION 02 OF 04 ZAGREB 000827
STATE FOR EUR/EE, L, HA, IO
USMISSION USVIENNA ALSO FOR USDEL CSCE
E.O. 12356: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREF HR PREF HR PREF HR PREF HR BK
SUBJECT: TFSROL: SEVERE HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN B-H:
EYE-WITNESS DESCRIBES TORTURE/EXECUTIONS IN
LUKA AND BATKOVIC CAMPS, NAMES PERPETRATORS
5. (LOU) AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES, THE GUARDS CALLED
THE WITNESS'S NAME FOR A "HEARING." A FEW MINUTES
EARLIER, A RELATIVE OF THE WITNESS, AKIB HADZAJLIC
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PAGE 03 ZAGREB 00827 02 OF 04 281646Z
(STRICTLY PROTECT),HEREAFTER REFERRED TO AS A.H.,
HAD BEEN CALLED. UPON ENTERING THE "HEARING ROOM,"
THE WITNESS SAW A.H. LYING ON THE FLOOR IN A POOL OF
BLOOD HOLDING A CLOTH PRESSED AGAINST HIS HEAD. THE
WITNESS WAS IMMEDIATELY HIT FROM BEHIND BY A MAN WITH
A RUBBER TRUNCHEON, CAUSING HIM TO FALL ON TOP OF
A.H. THE WITNESS WAS THEN ASKED IF HE KNEW WHERE
A.H. HAD HIDDEN A VIDEO CAMERA WITH WHICH HE
ALLEGEDLY WAS FILMING EVENTS IN BRCKO FOR CROATIAN
TELEVISION. WHEN THE WITNESS SAID THAT A.H. NEVER
HAD SUCH A CAMERA, THE WITNESS WAS KICKED AND BEATEN
BY THE SERB INTERROGATORS, ALL OF WHOM WERE F
ROM
BIJELJINA. BOTH MEN WERE THEN ASKED WHERE THEY HAD
HIDDEN ARMS, AND WHEN THEY SAID THEY HAD NEVER HAD
ANY WEAPONS, THEY WERE KICKED AND BEATEN UNTIL THE
WITNESS WAS BLEEDING FROM HIS EARS.
6. (U) THE WITNESS WAS THEN ORDERED TO MAKE THE
ORTHODOX CATHOLIC SIGN OF THE CROSS. THE WITNESS
ASKED TO BE SHOWN THE PROPER WAY TO DO THIS, AND THEN
PROCEEDED TO GENUFLECT 20 TO 30 TIMES BEFORE MAKING A
MISTAKE FOR WHICH THE WITNESS WAS AGAIN KICKED AND
BEATEN, LOSING A TOOTH. THE WITNESS WAS THEN LED OUT
OF THE ROOM AS THREE MORE PRISONERS WERE BROUGHT IN.
THESE WERE ADAM ZELEZIC AND HIS SON MLADEN, AND AN
ELDERLY MAN, HAZIM KARAHASANOVIC, WHO WAS BORN IN
1908. OUTSIDE THE HEARING ROOM, THE WITNESS WAS TOLD
TO WAIT NEXT TO A.H., WHO WAS COMPLETELY COVERED IN
BLOOD. BELIEVING THEY WOULD BE KILLED, THE WITNESS
RAN BACK TO THE WAREHOUSE. A.H., WHO WAS UNABLE TO
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WALK, WAS, INDEED, KILLED. AFTER 20 MINUTES, THE
THREE OTHER PRISONERS RETURNED TO THE WAREHOUSE.
ADAM AND MLADEN WERE INJURED BUT ABLE TO WALK. THE
OLD MAN, HAZIM, HAD TO BE CARRIED IN.
7. (U) SOME TIME LATER A POLICEMAN FROM BIJELJINA
CAME TO THE WAREHOUSE AND ORDERED THE PRISONERS TO
PAIR OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROOM AND TO PUNCH EACH
OTHER IN THE FACE. AFTERWARD, TWO OTHER POLICEMEN
ENTERED. THEY STOOD BEHIND THE PRISONERS AND BEAT
ANYONE WHO DID NOT STRIKE HIS PARTNER HARD ENOUGH.
THE WITNESS SAID HE WAS SEVERELY BEATEN BY HIS
PARTNER, WHO WAS MUCH YOUNGER AND VERY STRONG. THIS
LASTED ABOUT TWO HOURS, UNTIL ALL THE PAIRS WERE
FINISHED. THEY WERE THEN FORCED TO HAVE BOXING
MATCHES. DURING THIS PHASE, THE WITNESS' FATHER, WHO
WAS 70 YEARS OLD, WAS FORCED TO BOX A MAN OF 20. FOR
THE REST OF THE EVENING SERBS WOULD ENTER THE
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PAGE 01 ZAGREB 00827 03 OF 04 281646Z
ACTION SS-00
INFO LOG-00 AID-01 AMAD-01 CIAE-00 C-01 OASY-00 EB-01
EUR-01 OIGO-01 HA-09 H-01 IMMC-01 TEDE-00 INR-00
IO-16 L-01 ADS-00 NSAE-00 OIC-02 PA-01 PRS-01
P-01 RP-10 RPCS-01 SB-00 SP-00 SR-00 SSO-00
STR-01 TRSE-00 USIE-00 RPE-01 SNIS-00 NISC-02 /054W
-------------- 2A15C9 281917Z /38
R 281620Z FEB 94
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 1013
INFO HQ JTF PP NAPLES IT//CA/POLAD//
CINCUSAREUR HEIDELBERG GE//J3/J4/J5/POLAD//
COM SIXTHFLT//N2//
USEC BRUSSELS
AMCONSUL MUNICH
USMISSION USVIENNA
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USMISSION USNATO
USMISSION GENEVA
AMEMBASSY VIENNA
AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
AMEMBASSY ROME
AMEMBASSY PRAGUE
AMEMBASSY PARIS
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
AMEMBASSY MADRID
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA
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PAGE 02 ZAGREB 00827 03 OF 04 281646Z
AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN
AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
AMEMBASSY BONN
AMEMBASSY ANKARA
AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK//N2/N22//
USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ3/ECJ5//
CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK//N2/N22//
SECDEF WASHDC//ISA/ISP//
CINCUSAFE RAMSTEIN AB GE//J3/J4/J5/POLAD//
WHITE HOUSE WASHDC
JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J5-PMA/J2I//
AMEMBASSY ATHENS
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE SECTION 03 OF 04 ZAGREB 000827
STATE FOR EUR/EE, L, HA, IO
USMISSION USVIENNA ALSO FOR USDEL CSCE
E.O. 12356: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREF HR PREF HR PREF HR PREF HR BK
SUBJECT: TFSROL: SEVERE HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN B-H:
EYE-WITNESS DESCRIBES TORTURE/EXECUTIONS IN
LUKA AND BATKOVIC CAMPS, NAMES PERPETRATORS
DARKENED WAREHOUSE AND BEAT PEOPLE RANDOMLY. AT
ABOUT 2200, FOUR SERBS ENTERED AND TOOK ALL VALUABLES
FROM THE PRISONERS.
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PAGE 03 ZAGREB 00827 03 OF 04 281646Z
8. (U) THE NEXT DAY WAS MUCH THE SAME ROUTINE, BUT
THAT NIGHT AND FOR THE REST OF THE TIME THE WITNESS
WAS IN LUKA, SERBS CAME IN WITH FLASHLIGHTS AND TOOK
20 TO 30 PRISONERS EACH NIGHT. THE OTHER PRISONERS
WOULD THEN HEAR SHOTS AND SCREAMS. THE NEXT DAY,
FOUR MEN WOULD BE TAKEN EITHER TO LOAD BODIES INTO
REFRIGERATOR TRUCKS OR TO THROW THEM INTO THE SAVA
RIVER.
9. (U) ONE PRISONER, MIRSAD MUJAGIC, WHO WAS A
POLICEMAN BEFORE THE WAR, WAS BEATEN BY TWELVE
BLACK-CLAD SERBS WITH BASEBALL BATS. THEY
SYSTEMATICALLY BROKE HIS FINGERS, ARMS, AND KNEES.
THEN, RANKO CESIC, ONE OF THE MAIN SERBS FROM BRCKO,
KILLED MUGAJIC WITH A PISTOL. WITH CESIC WAS MIODRAG
CAJEVIC, ALSO FROM BRCKO.
10. (U) TWO DAYS LATER, A SERBIAN CAPTAIN, DRAGAN
KABLINOVIC, WHO WORKED IN THE SAME FACTORY AS THE
WITNESS, CAME INTO THE WAREHOUSE LOOKING FOR SEVEN
YOUNG MEN TO CLEAN UP GLASS AT THE MEDICAL CLINIC.
THE WITNESS ASKED TO BE TAKEN AS WELL, AND HIS REQUEST
WAS GRANTED. AT THE CLINIC, THEY WERE GREETED BY
ABOUT 70 SERBS STANDING IN TWO ROWS WAITING TO BEAT
THE SEVEN MEN TO DEATH. ONE OF THE SERBS, HOWEVER, A
MAN NAMED MICIN, REFUSED TO ALLOW THEM TO HIT THE MEN
MORE THAN ONCE. AN EARLIER GROUP OF VICTIMS WAS NOT
SO LUCKY, AS THEY WERE LYING ON THE GROUND COVERED IN
BLOOD AND UNABLE TO STAND. TWO DAYS LATER, THE
WITNESS LEARNED THAT MICIN TOOK ADAM ZELEZIC AND HIS
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PAGE 04 ZAGREB 00827 03 OF 04 281646Z
SON MLADEN TO THE WITNESS' HOUSE WHERE ADAM'S WIFE
WAS STAYING. THEY TOLD MICIN THAT THE WITNESS WAS
ALSO IN LUKA AND ASKED HIM TO GET HIM. THE NEXT DAY,
MAY 14, MICIN RETRIEVED THE WITNESS FROM LUKA AND
TOOK HIM TO THE WITNESS' HOUSE. THEY STAYED IN THEIR
LARGE APARTMNT TWO MONTHS UNDER HOUSE ARREST, UNTIL,
ON JULY 14, ALL THE MUSLIM MEN FROM THAT AREA WERE
TAKEN IN THREE BUSSES TO THE PRISON CAMP "BATKOVIC"
NEAR BIJELJINA.
--------------
BATKOVIC PRISON CAMP
--------------
11. (U) THE WITNESS SAID THAT THE PRISONERS WERE
BEATEN AT LEAST TEN TIMES A DAY AT BATKOVIC. THE
WITNESS BELIEVED THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 1,600
PRISONERS. THE WITNESS LIVED IN A 14 METER BY 20
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PAGE 01 ZAGREB 00827 04 OF 04 281647Z
ACTION SS-00
INFO LOG-00 AID-01 AMAD-01 CIAE-00 C-01 OASY-00 EB-01
EUR-01 OIGO-01 HA-09 H-01 IMMC-01 TEDE-00 INR-00
IO-16 L-01 ADS-00 NSAE-00 OIC-02 PA-01 PRS-01
P-01 RP-10 RPCS-01 SB-00 SP-00 SR-00 SSO-00
STR-01 TRSE-00 USIE-00 RPE-01 SNIS-00 NISC-02 /054W
-------------- 2A15D7 281925Z /38
R 281620Z FEB 94
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 1014
INFO HQ JTF PP NAPLES IT//CA/POLAD//
CINCUSAREUR HEIDELBERG GE//J3/J4/J5/POLAD//
COM SIXTHFLT//N2//
USEC BRUSSELS
AMCONSUL MUNICH
USMISSION USVIENNA
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
USMISSION USNATO
USMISSION GENEVA
AMEMBASSY VIENNA
AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
AMEMBASSY ROME
AMEMBASSY PRAGUE
AMEMBASSY PARIS
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
AMEMBASSY MADRID
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA
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LIMITED OFFICIAL USE
PAGE 02 ZAGREB 00827 04 OF 04 281647Z
AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN
AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST
AMEMBASSY BONN
AMEMBASSY ANKARA
AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK//N2/N22//
USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ3/ECJ5//
CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK//N2/N22//
SECDEF WASHDC//ISA/ISP//
CINCUSAFE RAMSTEIN AB GE//J3/J4/J5/POLAD//
WHITE HOUSE WASHDC
JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J5-PMA/J2I//
AMEMBASSY ATHENS
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE SECTION 04 OF 04 ZAGREB 000827
STATE FOR EUR/EE, L, HA, IO
USMISSION USVIENNA ALSO FOR USDEL CSCE
E.O. 12356: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREF HR PREF HR PREF HR PREF HR BK
SUBJECT: TFSROL: SEVERE HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN B-H:
EYE-WITNESS DESCRIBES TORTURE/EXECUTIONS IN
LUKA AND BATKOVIC CAMPS, NAMES PERPETRATORS
METER WAR
EHOUSE WHERE PRISONERS WERE FORCED TO SIT
WITH THEIR HEADS DOWN AND WERE BEATEN AT RANDOM. THE
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PAGE 03 ZAGREB 00827 04 OF 04 281647Z
WITNESS SAID AT
LEAST 13 PRISONERS DIED OF BEATINGS, BUT HE WAS
UNABLE TO PROVIDE ANY NAMES. THE WITNESS WAS ABLE TO
IDENTIFY ONE AS THE OWNER OF A JEWELRY STORE AND
ANOTHER AS A COLLEGE PROFESSOR. THE WITNESS SAID
THAT EKREM CUDIC FROM BRCKO WAS FORCED TO WORK EVEN
THOUGH VERY ILL AND WAS BADLY BEATEN FOR NOT BEING
ABLE TO WORK HARDER. ONE DAY, EKREM CUDIC TOOK AWAY
A GUARD'S RIFLE AND SLAPPED HIM. THE OTHER GUARDS
SHOT AND KILLED HIM.
12. (U) ACCORDING TO THE WITNESS, THE MOST CRUEL
GUARDS AT THE BATKOVIC CAMP WERE GLIGOR BEGOVIC AND
DZEMAL ("SPAJZER") ZAHIROVIC , A GYPSY FROM ZENICA
WHO WAS LIKE A TRUSTEE OR KAPO. THE DIRECTOR OF THE
CAMP WAS VELIBOR ("VELJO") STOJANOVIC; HIS SUPERIOR
WAS A JNA COLONEL NAMED PETAR DMITROVIC.
13. (U) THE WITNESS SAID THAT CONDITIONS WERE VERY
DIFFICULT FOR THE FIRST MONTH IN THE BATKOVIC CAMP,
UNTIL A VISIT FROM ICRC WAS ANNOUNCED. UNTIL THEN,
PRISONERS HAD ONLY ONE BLANKET APIECE TO COVER THE
BARE CONCRETE FLOOR. AFTERWARDS, THEY WERE GIVEN
STRAW FOR THE FLOOR. BEFORE THE ICRC ARRIVED, A CORN
CRIB WAS EMPTIED AND SOME OF THE MEN WERE MOVED
THERE. THE ICRC WAS TOLD THESE MEN WERE REFUGEES,
NOT PRISONERS. ALSO, ABOUT 15 REGULAR PRISONERS WERE
TAKEN AWAY TO A BUNKER EVERY TIME THE ICRC VISITED.
THESE WERE 14 CIVILIANS AND ONE SOLDIER, A MAN NAMED
NEDIM MOSTAREVIC. BEFORE EACH VISIT THE GUARDS WOULD
ALSO REMOVE ABOUT 150 PEOPLE (CHILDREN AND MEN OVER
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PAGE 04 ZAGREB 00827 04 OF 04 281647Z
55) AND HIDE THEM IN A DISTANT FIELD. THE NAME OF
THE CAMP WAS ALSO CHANGED FROM "CONCENTRATION CAMP
BATKOVIC" TO "COLLECTIVE CENTER BATKOVIC". THIS
BECAME VERY IMPORTANT, SINCE MEN WHO RECEIVED MAIL
FROM THE RED CROSS WITH THE WRONG ADDRESS WERE
SEVERELY BEATEN ONCE THE MEN WERE REGISTERED BY THE
ICRC, THEY WERE CONFIDENT THEY WOULD NOT BE KILLED,
BUT THEY WERE STILL BEATEN REGULARLY.
14. (U) ON OCTOBER 5, 1992, THE WITNESS WAS
RELEASED IN A PRISONER EXCHANGE.
NEITZKE
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