HEIGHTENED FEARS OF "SECTOR WEST" SERBS AFTER

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ZAGREB 001909

SIPDIS


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PAGE 02 ZAGREB 01909 01 OF 02 171640Z
BAKU FOR DCM FINN

E.O. 12356: DECL: 05/17/00
TAGS: PHUM PREL PREL HR
SUBJECT: HEIGHTENED FEARS OF "SECTOR WEST" SERBS AFTER
BEATINGS IN DETENTION CENTERS


1. CONFIDENTIAL - ENTIRE TEXT.


2. SERBS LIVING AROUND PAKRAC, IN SECTOR WEST, ARE
INCREASINGLY CONCERNED OVER WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS IN STORE
FOR THEM, ESPECIALLY AFTER HEARING STORIES AND SEEING
EVIDENCE OF MISTREATMENT OF FELLOW SERBS IN CROATIAN
DETENTION CENTERS. DURING A MAY 16 VISIT TO THE AREA,
SERBS WHO HAD BEEN HELD IN THE VARAZDIN DETENTION CENTER
TOLD POLOFFS STORIES OF RANDOM BEATINGS AND HARASSMENT.
DETAINEES WERE REPORTEDLY FORCED TO SIT FOR HOURS IN
CRAMPED POSITIONS, SING CROATIAN PATRIOTIC SONGS, AND
ORDERED UP AND DOWN THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT MAKING IT
IMPOSSIBLE TO SLEEP. PEOPLE AVOIDED USING THE TOILET
FACILITIES FOR FEAR OF BEING BEATEN.


3. ONE MAN TOLD OF HAVING TO KNEEL WITH HIS HANDS BEHIND
HIS HEAD AND BEING QUESTIONED ABOUT HIS FAMILY BACKGROUND.
WHEN, IN RESPONSE TO A QUESTION, HE SAID HE HAD BEEN A
PARTISAN IN WWII, HE WAS PUNCHED IN THE RIBS. ANOTHER MAN
WAS KICKED FOR FAILING TO EAT THE HALF LOAF OF BREAD HE
WAS GIVEN (HE HAD NO WATER WITH WHICH TO WASH IT DOWN).


4. BOTH MEN RAISED THEIR SHIRTS TO SHOW THEIR TORSOS,
ARMS AND LEGS STILL COVERED WITH LARGE BRUISES. OTHER MEN
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WE SPOKE WITH CLAIMED TO HAVE BEEN BEATEN, BUT TO A FAR
LESSER DEGREE. SEVERAL OTHERS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THEY HAD
NOT BEEN BEATEN AT ALL. THE BEATINGS APPEARED TO HAVE
FOLLOWED NO PATTERN AND WERE SOLELY TO INTIMIDATE.


5. THERE WAS GENERAL AGREEMENT AMONG THOSE WITH WHOM WE
SPOKE THAT THE TREATMENT DETAINEES IN BJELOVAR HAD BEEN
"CORRECT." HOWEVER, THEY TOLD US THAT THERE HAD BEEN
SEVERE BEATINGS AND MISTREATMENT OF PRISONERS ON ONE OF
THE TWO BUSES WHICH HAD BROUGHT PRISONERS BACK TO PAKRAC
FROM BJELOVAR EARLY THAT MORNING. WE WERE UNABLE TO SPEAK
TO ANY OF THESE INDIVIDUALS TO OBTAIN DETAILS OR CONFIRM
THE STORY.


6. SERB LEADER VELJKO DZAKULA TOLD US HE BELIEVED THAT,
"IF IT WERE NOT FOR VARAZDIN," MANY OF THE SERBS REMAINING
IN "SECTOR WEST" WOULD BE INCLINED TO STAY IN CROATIA. HE
HAD BEEN TRYING TO PERSUADE PEOPLE TO STAY BUT NOW WAS
BEGINNING TO THINK THAT "THE CROATS DO NOT WANT THE SERBS
TO REMAIN." HE FELT THAT A GUARANTEE THAT A SIZEABLE UN
FORCE (PREFERABLY ONE INCLUDING AMERICANS) WOULD REMAIN IN
AREA WAS KEY.


7. EXCEPT FOR DZAKULA, NONE OF THE DOZEN OR SO SERBS WITH
WHOM WE SPOKE WAS INCLINED TO STAY BEHIND. IN MANY CASES,
THEY HELD BACK ONLY BECAUSE THEY HAD RELATIVES WHO WERE
STILL MISSING AND WERE UNCERTAIN OF WHAT PROPERTY THEY
WOULD BE ALLOWED TO TAKE WITH THEM. A FARMER FROM PAKRAC
WHO HAD LOST ALL OF HIS STOCK AND FARM BUILDINGS DURING
THE 1991 WAR SAID HE AND HIS FAMILY WOULD BE PREPARED TO
LEAVE CROATIA IMMEDIATELY IF HE THOUGHT HE COULD TAKE HIS
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TRACTOR (WHICH HAD NEVER BEEN PROPERLY REGISTERED) WITH
HIM.


8. A YOUNG MAN, WHO HAD BEEN HELD IN VARAZDIN BUT NOT
BEATEN, DESCRIBED WHAT HE FELT WERE EXTREMELY BLEAK CAREER
PROSPECTS IN CROATIA FOR PEOPLE LIKE HIMSELF (HE HAD
RECEIVED TECHNICAL SCHOOL TRAINING IN ELECTROMECHANICS).
ONE OF THE MEN SEVERELY BEATEN IN VARAZDIN WAS STILL
WAITING FOR WORD OF HIS SON WHO HAD YET TO BE RELEASED.
PEOPLE HAD LIVED IN THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE SECTOR BEFORE
THE 1991 WAR SAW NO POINT IN RETURNING TO HOMES THAT WERE
NOW RUBBLE AND AN UNCERTAIN RECEPTION FROM THEIR FORMER
NEIGHBORS.


9. COMMENT: WE ARE INCLINED TO THINK THAT THE BEATINGS
AND MISTREATMENT DESCRIBED ABOVE WERE CARRIED OUT
INDEPENDENTLY AND IN CONTRAVENTION OF THE WISHES AND
INSTRUCTIONS OF THE GOC. NEVERTHELESS, THEY GIVE SERIOUS
CAUSE FOR CONCERN, ESPECIALLY FOR THE WELFARE OF DETAINEES
WHOSE WHEREABOUTS ARE UNKNOWN AND WHOM THE CROATS MAY
SUSPECT OF HAVING COMMITTED WAR CRIMES. FROM OUR
CONVERSATIONS, IT IS CLEAR THAT THE GOC WILL HAVE TO DO
MORE THAN JUST PROMISE SECURITY AND EQUAL TREATMENT UNDER








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PAGE 01 ZAGREB 01909 02 OF 02 171641Z
ACTION EUR-01

INFO LOG-00 AID-00 AMAD-01 CIAE-00 SMEC-00 OASY-00 EB-01
FBIE-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-08 L-01 ADS-00
M-00 NSAE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 PA-01 PM-00 PRS-01
P-01 SCT-00 SP-00 SR-00 SS-00 STR-01 TRSE-00
T-00 USIE-00 SNIS-00 NISC-01 PMB-00 PRME-01 PRMC-01
DRL-09 G-00 /032W
-------------- C695D6 171641Z /38
P 171736Z MAY 95
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5813
INFO HQ JTF PP NAPLES IT//CA/POLAD//
SECDEF WASHDC//ISA/ISP//
AMCONSUL MUNICH
USLO SKOPJE
AMEMBASSY BAKU
AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA
USMISSION USVIENNA
USMISSION GENEVA
AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
NATO EU COLLECTIVE
NSC WASHDC
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 02 ZAGREB 001909

SIPDIS


VIENNA ALSO FOR BOSNIA; USVIENNA ALSO FOR USDEL CSCE
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PAGE 02 ZAGREB 01909 02 OF 02 171641Z
BAKU FOR DCM FINN

E.O. 12356: DECL: 05/17/00
TAGS: PHUM PREL PREL HR
SUBJECT: HEIGHTENED FEARS OF "SECTOR WEST" SERBS AFTER
BEATINGS IN DETENTION CENTERS

THE LAW IF IT TRULY WISHES "SECTOR WEST" SERBS TO REMAIN
IN CROATIA. GUARANTEES THAT THEY CAN RETURN TO THEIR OLD
JOBS AND A PROGRAM OF ASSISTANCE TO REBUILD THEIR HOMES
(ALONG THE LINES OF WHAT WILL CERTAINLY BE OFFERED
CROATIAN DISPLACED RETURNING TO THE SECTOR) MIGHT BE A
START.

GALBRAITH
















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