HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES - SREBRENICA

UNCLASSIFIED LIMITED OFFICIAL USE SECTION 01 OF 04 ZAGREB 002953 SIPDIS BRUSSELS ALSO FOR USEU LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 02 ZAGREB 02953 01 OF 04 031520Z USVIENNA ALSO FOR USDEL CSCE E.O. 12356: N/A TAGS: SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES - SREBRENICA REF: A) GENEVA 5948 B) ZAGREB 2788 (NOTAL) -------------- INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. DECONTROL ON RECEIPT. SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - TREAT ACCORDINGLY. ¶2. (U) DRL A/S SHATTUCK TRAVELED TO TUZLA AND ZENICA JULY 31-AUGUST 1 TO ASCERTAIN THE DIMENSION OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS CRIMES COMMITTED DURING THE BOSNIAN SERB ARMY'S ATTACK AND OCCUPATION OF TWO UN SAFE AREAS, SREBRENICA AND ZEPA. THE FOLLOWING IS A FIRST-HAND ACCOUNT OF A DISPLACED TEENAGER FROM THE SREBRENICA ENCLAVE WHO SURVIVED A MASS EXECUTION OF MUSLIM MEN BY THE BSA. THE SUBJECT AGREED TO SPEAK ONLY ON THE CONDITION THAT HIS NAME OR DESCRIPTION NOT BE REVEALED PUBLICLY OR DISSEMINATED FOR FEAR THAT THAT WOULD ENDANGER RELATIVES STILL UNDER SERBIAN DETENTION IN B-H. END SUMMARY. ¶3. (LOU) NEDJAD AVDIC IS A TALL, UNDERNOURISHED SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLD BOY FROM THE VILLAGE OF SEBIOCINA, NEAR VLASENICA IN SERB-OCCUPIED EASTERN BOSNIA. HE FLED THIS VILLAGE IN MID-1992 WITH HIS PARENTS AND THREE YOUNGER LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 03 ZAGREB 02953 01 OF 04 031520Z SISTERS AFTER THE BSA ATTACKED IT. AFTER A YEAR IN KONJEVIC POLJE, THE FAMILY MOVED AGAIN TO SLAPOVICA, NEAR SREBRENICA. AVDIC HAD ONLY FINISHED SEVENTH GRADE WHEN HE WAS FIRST DISPLACED IN 1992, AND HAD HAD NO FORMAL SCHOOLING SINCE THAT TIME, ONLY SOME INFORMAL CLASSES. AVDIC IS REFERRED TO AS N.A. THROUGHOUT THIS MESSAGE. HE SAID HE WAS SAVED BY OSMAN HALILOVIC, (O.H.) A THIRTY-FIVE YEAR OLD MUSLIM, WHOSE STORY WAS REPORTED IN REF B. -------------- FLIGHT FROM SREBRENICA AND SURRENDER -------------- ¶4. (U) ON JULY 6, N.A. HEARD THE FIRST DETONATIONS OF THE BSA SHELLING OF THE SREBRENICA ENCLAVE. HE AND HIS FAMILY FLED TO UNDERGROUND SHELTERS WHERE THEY HID FOR THREE DAYS. WHEN DUTCH UNPROFOR TROOPS PULLED BACK INTO THE TOWN OF SREBRENICA, MANY CIVILIANS FLED, HE SAID, SOME TO THE WOODS, SOME TOWARDS THE TOWN. N.A. AND HIS FATHER FLED INTO THE WOODS, AND HIS MOTHER AND SISTERS SOUGHT SHELTER IN THE UNPROFOR CAMP IN POTOCARI. THE WOODS WERE FILLED WITH MILITARY AND CIVILIAN MEN AND SOME WOMEN AND CHILDREN, N.A. SAID. DURING THE COURSE OF BSA SHELLING, HE AND HIS FATHER, A SOLDIER, WERE SEPARATED. AFTER ONE DAY OF HIDING, THE SERB SOLDIERS SURROUNDED THE AREA AND CALLED OUT OVER A MEGAPHONE FOR THE PEOPLE TO SURRENDER. N.A. SAID THE CALL PROMISED THE MUSLIMS THEY WOULD BE ACCORDED ALL THE RIGHTS OF THE GENEVA CONVENTION IF THEY SURRENDERED. ¶5. (U) N.A. CLAIMED THAT 1000-2000 MEN AND BOYS LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 04 ZAGREB 02953 01 OF 04 031520Z SURRENDERED BY MID-AFTERNOON. THEY WERE FORCED BY THE SERBS TO STAND SINGLE FILE ON THE ROAD WITH THEIR HANDS BEHIND THEIR BACKS. THE WOUNDED WERE GIVEN NO MEDICAL AID. N.A. SAID THAT SEVERAL TANKS WERE STOPPED ALONG THE ROAD AND THE COLUMN WAS FORCED TO FILE PAST A CHECKPOINT TOWARDS SOME TRUCKS AND BUSES. THE SERB GUARD VIOLENTLY THREATENED THE GROUP WITH HIS RIFLE, AND INSISTED THEY SURRENDER ALL THEIR MONEY, GOLD AND OTHER VALUABLES, OR THEY WOULD BE SHOT. N.A. HAD A BAG WITH SOME CLOTHING AND HE SURRENDERED IT. ¶6. (U) THE BUSES, OVERLOADED WITH WOMEN AND CHILDREN, DROVE PAST THE GROUP ON THE ROAD TOWARDS VLASENICA. THE BSA FORCED THE MEN, INCLUDING THE WOUNDED, TO RUN SINGLE FILE IN THE OTHER DIRECTION WITH HANDS LIFTED, SHOWING THE SERB THREE-FINGER SYMBOL. N.A. SAID THEY RAN UNTIL THEY REACHED THE VILLAGE OF SANDIC, ORIGINALLY A MUSLIM VILLAGE. THE MEN, HELD IN A SMALL FIELD, WERE APPROACHED BY BSA SOLDIERS WHO VERBALLY ASSAULTED THEM. N.A. SAID THEY SHOUTED AT THE GROUP, "WE ARE FROM SERBIA. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE YOU TO A HANGAR IN BRATUNAC AND HOLD YOU FOR LIMITED OFFICIAL USE NNNNPTQ9484 LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PTQ9484 PAGE 01 ZAGREB 02953 02 OF 04 031520Z ACTION EUR-01 INFO LOG-00 AID-00 AMAD-01 CIAE-00 OASY-00 SRPP-00 EB-01 OIGO-01 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-06 L-01 ADS-00 NSAE-00 OIC-02 PA-01 PRS-01 P-01 SP-00 SSO-00 SS-00 STR-01 TRSE-00 USIE-00 PRM-10 PRME-01 DRL-09 G-00 /038W -------------- DFE719 031520Z /38 O 031610Z AUG 95 FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6711 INFO JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-5PMA/J21// SECDEF WASHDC//ISA/ISP// NSC WASHDC DIA WASHDC USMISSION GENEVA AMCONSUL MUNICH USLO SKOPJE AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO AMEMBASSY BELGRADE NATO EU COLLECTIVE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE SECTION 02 OF 04 ZAGREB 002953 BRUSSELS ALSO FOR USEU LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 02 ZAGREB 02953 02 OF 04 031520Z USVIENNA ALSO FOR USDEL CSCE E.O. 12356: N/A TAGS: SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES - SREBRENICA A PRISONER EXCHANGE. IF YOU START ANY TROUBLE, YOU WILL BE KILLED." THE SERBS FORCED THEM TO LIE ON THEIR STOMACHS, CLAP THEIR HANDS BEHIND THEIR BACKS AND SHOUT "LONG LIVE SERBIA, LONG LIVE THE KING." SOME SOLDIERS WALKED AMONG THE PRONE MEN, KICKING THEM AND HITTING THEM WITH RIFLE BUTTS. N.A. SAW SOME SOLDIERS FIRING INTO A BURNING HOUSE ABOUT 100 METERS AWAY. HE DID NOT KNOW IF ANYONE WAS INSIDE. A SERBIAN COMMANDER LECTURED THEM OVER A MEGAPHONE. N.A. SAID THAT BOTH UNIFORMED ARMY AND POLICE WERE PRESENT. SOME POLICE WORE FIELD BLUE UNIFORMS, HE SAID. ¶7. (U) N.A. SAID HE LAY THERE FOR OVER TWO HOURS. AT DUSK, THE MEN WERE FORCED ONTO LARGE TRUCKS THAT HAD ARRIVED. HE SAW DEAD BODIES ALONG THE ROAD AS HE RAN TO THE TRUCKS. HE BELIEVED HE SAW 5-7 TRUCKS IN ALL. HE RODE ON THE LAST ONE, CLOSED WITH A CANVAS COVER SO THE MEN COULD NOT SEE OUT. THROUGH A SMALL HOLE, N.A. SAW A BSA VOLKSWAGEN GOLF FOLLOW THE CONVOY. HE ESTIMATED THERE WERE ABOUT 150 MEN PACKED ONTO HIS TRUCK. N.A. SAID THE CONVOY DROVE TO BRATUNAC, WHERE THEY SPENT THE NIGHT IN THE TRUCKS. THEY WERE GIVEN NO FOOD OR WATER, AND WERE CONTINUOUSLY INSULTED AND JEERED AT BY SOLDIERS. IN THE MORNING, THE CONVOY CONTINUED TOWARD KRAVICA. THROUGH THE HOLE, N.A. SAW BUSES OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN FOLLOWING THE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 03 ZAGREB 02953 02 OF 04 031520Z CONVOY. N.A. SAID THAT SOME MEN CLAIMED THEY SAW UNPROFOR VEHICLES ALONG THE WAY. AT THE BRATUNAC TOWN BORDER, THE CONVOY AGAIN STOPPED FOR TWO TO THREE HOURS. STILL THEY RECEIVED NO WATER. WHEN THE TRUCKS STARTED UP AGAIN, SOMEONE CALLED OUT THAT THEY WOULD BE REUNITED WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND EXCHANGED. N.A. SAID THEY DROVE IN THE DIRECTION OF KARAKAJ. HE ESTIMATED THAT THERE WERE 100- 150 PEOPLE ON EACH TRUCK. -------------- AT THE SCHOOL -------------- ¶8. (U) AFTER A SHORT TIME, THE TRUCKS TURNED OFF AND STOPPED IN FRONT OF A SCHOOL. THE BUSES BEHIND FILLED WITH WOMEN LEFT THE CONVOY. THE MEN WERE FORCED TO FILE INTO THE SCHOOL WHERE A SERB GUARD AT THE ENTRANCE HIT EACH WITH THE BUTT OF HIS RIFLE. N.A. ENTERED THE LAST OF 4-5 ROOMS WITH MANY OTHERS. WHEN SOMEONE CALLED OUT FOR WATER, A SHOT WAS FIRED THROUGH THE GLASS ABOVE THE DOOR, RICOCHETED OFF THE CEILING AND WOUNDED FIVE MEN IN HIS ROOM. THEY SPENT THE DAY WITHOUT ANY FOOD OR WATER. AT DARK, GROUPS OF TWO-THREE MEN WERE CALLED OUT FOR INTERROGATION. N.A. HEARD SHOTS FIRED IN THE CORRIDORS, AND OUTSIDE THE BUILDING. HE ALSO HEARD LOTS OF MOANING AND YELLING BUT HE DID NOT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. N.A WAS BROUGHT TO A SMALL ROOM WHERE HE WAS FORCED TO TAKE OFF HIS SHIRT AND SHOES, AND A SOLDIER TIED HIS HANDS BEHIND HIS BACK. HE THEN FILED OUT OF THE SCHOOL WHERE, IN THE DIM MOONLIGHT, HE SAW MANY DEAD BODIES IN THE YARD. HE COULD NOT SAY HOW THE DEAD HAD BEEN KILLED. LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 04 ZAGREB 02953 02 OF 04 031520Z -------------- AT THE KILLING FIELD -------------- ¶9. (U) THE MEN WERE FORCED ONTO TRUCKS AGAIN AND ORDERED TO SIT. THEY WERE PACKED TOO TIGHTLY AND COULD NOT MOVE. A VOICE ORDERED THEM TO SIT AGAIN AND SOMEONE FIRED A BURST OF MACHINE GUN FIRE INTO THE SIDE OF THE TRUCK, WOUNDING SEVERAL PEOPLE. THE TRUCKS DROVE OFF AND AFTER FIVE MINUTES TURNED ONTO A DIRT ROAD. AFTER ANOTHER FIVE MINUTES, THEY STOPPED. N.A. SAID HE HEARD ROUNDS FIRED INTO THE GROUND. ABOUT THREE MINUTES LATER, THE BACK OF THE TRUCKS WERE OPENED AND MEN ORDERED OFF IN GROUPS OF FIVE. N.A. SAID HE WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LAST TRUCK. AFTER EACH GROUP LEFT, THE MEN HEARD GUNFIRE. N.A. HEARD ONE MUSLIM SAY TO A SERB SOLDIER, "WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO INNOCENT PEOPLE? I SAVED YOUR WIFE AND CHILD IN OUR APARTMENT." THE SERB REPLIED, "SHUT UP. I'LL CHOSE WHO I WANT TO DO WHAT TO." LIMITED OFFICIAL USE NNNNPTQ9486 LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PTQ9486 PAGE 01 ZAGREB 02953 03 OF 04 031521Z ACTION EUR-01 INFO LOG-00 AID-00 AMAD-01 CIAE-00 OASY-00 SRPP-00 EB-01 OIGO-01 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-06 L-01 ADS-00 NSAE-00 OIC-02 PA-01 PRS-01 P-01 SP-00 SSO-00 SS-00 STR-01 TRSE-00 USIE-00 PRM-10 PRME-01 DRL-09 G-00 /038W -------------- DFE728 031521Z /38 O 031610Z AUG 95 FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6712 INFO JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-5PMA/J21// SECDEF WASHDC//ISA/ISP// NSC WASHDC DIA WASHDC USMISSION GENEVA AMCONSUL MUNICH USLO SKOPJE AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO AMEMBASSY BELGRADE NATO EU COLLECTIVE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE SECTION 03 OF 04 ZAGREB 002953 BRUSSELS ALSO FOR USEU LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 02 ZAGREB 02953 03 OF 04 031521Z USVIENNA ALSO FOR USDEL CSCE E.O. 12356: N/A TAGS: SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES - SREBRENICA ¶10. (U) WHEN N.A. WAS FORCED TO GET OFF, STILL WITH HIS HANDS TIED BEHIND HIM, HE SAW IN THE MOONLIGHT AN OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF DEAD BODIES, COMPLETELY COVERING A SMALL FIELD. HE WOULD NOT ESTIMATE HOW MANY BODIES HE SAW. THERE WERE MANY MORE BODIES, HE SAID, THAN COULD HAVE POSSIBLY FIT INTO THE TRUCKS THERE. A SERB VOICE CALLED OUT AND TOLD THEM TO "CHOOSE A PLACE" TOGETHER IN A LINE. HE STOOD WITH THE OTHER FOUR MEN IN A LINE. THEN A VOICE ORDERED THEM TO FALL FORWARD. AT THE SAME TIME, N.A. FELT A SHARP PAIN IN HIS RIGHT ELBOW AND RIGHT SIDE. HE FELL FORWARD IN EXTREME PAIN, AS HE THOUGHT HE WAS DEAD. A SERB CALLED OUT, "THIS IS ALLAH'S STYLE OF WAR. WE'RE GOING TO EXCHANGE YOUR BODIES FOR THAT OF SILAJDIC." HE LAY IN SEMI-CONSCIOUSNESS, HEARING PEOPLE SCREAMING WITH PAIN. THE SERBS CONTINUED TO SHOOT PEOPLE. AS HE LAY ALMOST DEAD, A STONE FROM THE GROUND RICOCHETED INTO HIS LEFT FOOT. HE HEARD A SERB ORDER AN OLD MAN TO SAY ALLAH AL AKBAR, THEN SHOOT HIM WITH SEVERAL ROUNDS AS THE OLD MAN SPOKE. WHEN THE SHOOTING FINALLY STOPPED, A SERB YELLED, "LOOK AT ALL THESE WELL-FATTED RABBITS. IT'S BEEN A GOOD HUNT." SOMEONE ORDERED THAT THE CORPSES BE CHECKED TO SEE IF THEY WERE ALIVE. ALTHOUGH SOLDIERS WALKED AMONG THE GROUP, NO ONE TOUCHED N.A. AFTER A WHILE, THE TRUCKS STARTED UP AND LEFT. LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 03 ZAGREB 02953 03 OF 04 031521Z -------------- ESCAPE -------------- ¶11. (U) N.A. LIFTED HIS HEAD AND SAW A BODY MOVE ABOUT FIVE METERS AWAY. THE VOICE CALLED OUT TO UNTIE HIM. N.A. ROLLED OVER SEVERAL DEAD BODIES TO REACH HIM. THE MAN BIT THROUGH THE CORD TYING N.A.'S HANDS, THEN N.A. TRIED TO BITE THROUGH THE FOUR CORDS OF ROPE BINDING THE OTHER. AFTER HE HAD BROKEN TWO, THEY HEARD VEHICLES COMING BACK. THE OTHER MAN, O.H., ONLY SLIGHTLY GRAZED, HELPED N.A., TO RUN TO THE WOOD. THEY HID IN A SMALL WOODED CREEK DOWNHILL FROM THE FIELD. BOTH HEARD STRANGE, THUD-LIKE NOISES AND SHOOTING, THOUGH MORE IRREGULAR THAN PREVIOUSLY. N.A. BELIEVED THAT THE SERBS HAD RETURNED TO CART OFF THE BODIES. O.H. WAS NOT ON THE SAME TRUCK AS N.A. HE WAS WEARING A SHIRT, UNLIKE N.A., AND USED IT TO BANDAGE N.A.'S WOUNDS. ¶12. (U) AT DAWN, THE TWO TRIED TO WALK AWAY FROM THE SITE. THEY ATE A FEW APPLES AND MUSHROOMS IN THE FOREST. O.H. HAD TO CARRY N.A. MUCH OF THE WAY BECAUSE HE WAS SO WEAK. AFTER FOUR DAYS, THEY CROSSED INTO MUSLIM-HELD TERRITORY. MOST OF THE TIME THEY WERE LOST, AND WERE GUIDED TO THE FRONT LINE BY GUNFIRE. N.A. HAD EATEN ALMOST NOTHING FOR SIX DAYS AND DRUNK ONLY CREEK WATER. N.A. SAID THE TWO CAME OUT NEAR THE VILLAGE OF SAPNA, WHERE HE WAS HOSPITALIZED FOR A FEW DAYS. THEN HE WAS TAKEN TO GRADINA HOSPITAL IN TUZLA, FROM WHERE HE WAS RELEASED. HE FOUND HIS MOTHER AND SISTERS IN TUZLA, BUT STILL FEARS FOR HIS FATHER. LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 04 ZAGREB 02953 03 OF 04 031521Z ¶13. (LOU) N.A. HAD BEEN DEBRIEFED BY THE GOBH, THOUGH HE WAS UNSURE IF HE HAD SPOKEN TO CIVILIAN OR MILITARY AUTHORITIES. THE EMBASSY DELEGATION WAS THE FIRST FOREIGN GROUP TO WHOM HE HAD SPOKEN. HE APPEARED VERY WEAK AND TIRED. HE SHOWED US HIS ARM AND FOOT WOUNDS WHICH WERE STILL RAW THREE WEEKS AFTER THE INCIDENT. TWO BULLETS HAD PIERCED HIS RIGHT SIDE AND IMMEDIATELY EXITED THROUGH HIS STOMACH, ONE HAD PIERCED HIS MIDDLE RIGHT ARM, AND A SMALL PEBBLE HAD LODGED IN HIS LEFT FOOT. HE ALSO HAD MANY SCARS OVER HIS ARMS WHERE HE WAS NICKED BY OTHER RICOCHETING STONES. N.A. HAS NOT SEEN O.H. SINCE THEY WERE SEPARATED AT THE SAPNA HOSPITAL. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶14. (U) THIS EVENT MAY HAVE TAKEN PLACE AT KONJEVIC POLJE. ALTHOUGH UNNAMED BY THIS WITNESS, OTHER WITNESSES HAVE ASCRIBED THIS NAME TO THIS EVENT. LIMITED OFFICIAL USE NNNNPTQ9487 LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PTQ9487 PAGE 01 ZAGREB 02953 04 OF 04 031521Z ACTION EUR-01 INFO LOG-00 AID-00 AMAD-01 CIAE-00 OASY-00 SRPP-00 EB-01 OIGO-01 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-06 L-01 ADS-00 NSAE-00 OIC-02 PA-01 PRS-01 P-01 SP-00 SSO-00 SS-00 STR-01 TRSE-00 USIE-00 PRM-10 PRME-01 DRL-09 G-00 /038W -------------- DFE72B 031521Z /38 O 031610Z AUG 95 FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6713 INFO JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-5PMA/J21// SECDEF WASHDC//ISA/ISP// NSC WASHDC DIA WASHDC USMISSION GENEVA AMCONSUL MUNICH USLO SKOPJE AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO AMEMBASSY BELGRADE NATO EU COLLECTIVE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE SECTION 04 OF 04 ZAGREB 002953 BRUSSELS ALSO FOR USEU LIMITED OFFICIAL USE LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PAGE 02 ZAGREB 02953 04 OF 04 031521Z USVIENNA ALSO FOR USDEL CSCE E.O. 12356: N/A TAGS: SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES - SREBRENICA ¶15. SARAJEVO MINIMIZE CONSIDERED. 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