(U) CRIMES IN KRAJINA -- REPORT ON ARRESTS, CHARGES

C O N F I D E N T I A L ZAGREB 004502 SIPDIS USVIENNA ALSO FOR USDEL OSCE E.O. 12958: DECL 11/8/02 TAGS: SUBJECT: (U) CRIMES IN KRAJINA -- REPORT ON ARRESTS, CHARGES ¶1. (U) CLASSIFIED BY ROBERT P. FINN, DCM, PER 1(5)(B). ¶2. (C) SUMMARY: AFTER CONSIDERABLE PRODDING, THE GOC HAS PROVIDED US A REPORT INDICATING THAT AS OF OCTOBER 31, A TOTAL OF 19 PERSONS ARE UNDER CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION FOR MURDERS COMMITTED IN THE "KRAJINA." 1260 PERSONS ARE BEING PROCESSED IN 779 CASES OF LOOTING, AND ELEVEN PERSONS ARE UNDER SUSPECION OF ARSON (THOUGH THERE MAY BE MANY MORE). END SUMMARY. ¶3. (C) ON NOVEMBER 7, A CONTACT AT THE GOC MINISTRY OF INTERIOR PROVIDED US (AFTER TWO WEEKS' DELAY) A REPORT OFFERING DETAILS BEHIND SOME OF THE NUMBERS ANNOUNCED EARLIER FOR JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS INVOLVING CRIMES IN FORMER SECTORS NORTH AND SOUTH. AS THERE WAS APPARENTLY SOME HESITANCY ON THE PART OF OUR CONTACT IN DIVULGING THIS MATERIAL, AND IT IS NOT CLEAR WHETHER IT HAS BEEN MADE PUBLIC, IT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR USG BACKGROUND USE ONLY. ¶4. (C) ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, 19 PERSONS HAVE SO FAR BEEN TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIVE COURT FOR POSSIBLE CHARGES OF MURDER. (NOTE: THE ACTUAL TOTAL APPEARS TO BE 26 BECAUSE SOME INDIVIDUALS WERE INVOLVED IN MORE THAN ONE OF THE CRIMES.) OTHER CASES ARE STILL UNDER "INTENSIVE INVESTIGATION." SPECIFICALLY, THE CASES INVOLVE MURDERS IN: CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 ZAGREB 04502 091836Z KOLARNA (1 PERPETRATOR/L VICTIM) BRIBIRSKE MOSTINE (1/1) JOSANI (1/1) CAKICI (1/1) ZRMAJNJA (2/1) GOSIC (4/7) VARIVODE (4/9) OCESTOVO (3/1) OCESTOVO (1/1 - ATTEMPTED MURDER) RUDELE/TISMA (1/1) STRMICA/DRONJCI (1/2 - POSSIBLE MANSLAUGHTER) STUPNO (1/1) MOSCENICA (1/1 & 2 WOUNDED) BOBOVAC (1/1) PLACE NOT GIVEN (3/2 & 1 WOUNDED; 2 SUSPECTS STILL AT LARGE). ¶5. (C) THE MOI FURTHER STATES THAT AT LEAST 2787 CASES OF "FIRES, MAINLY IN RESIDENCES AND COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS," HAVE BEEN REPORTED, BUT THAT BECAUSE OF THE TIME REQUIRED TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE FIRES WERE CAUSED BY ARSON OR WAR DAMAGE, ONLY 11 PERSONS HAVE SO FAR BEEN CHARGED. THE RECORD IS BETTER ON FELONY THEFT (LOOTING),WHERE 1054 CASES ARE UNDER REVIEW, OF WHICH 779, INVOLVING 1260 SUSPECTED INDIVIDUALS, HAVE BEEN TURNED OVER FOR CRIMINAL PROCESSING (I.E., INVESTIGATION). - ¶6. (C) COMMENT: ALTHOUGH THE MOI HAD EARLIER RELEASED SOME FIGURES ON TOTAL ARRESTS, THIS IS THE FIRST DETAIL TO EMERGE CONCERNING THE NATURE OF THE CHARGES AND CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 04 ZAGREB 04502 091836Z SPECIFICALLY, WHICH REPORTED CASES OF MURDER WERE INVOLVED. THE MOI SAYS IT IS CONTINUING TO INVESTIAGTE ALL LEADS. IN ANY EVENT, THIS REPORT IS THE FIRST CONCRETE EVIDENCE THAT THE GOC IS PROCEEDING, IN AT LEAST SOME CASES, TO TRY TO PROSECUTE SOME OF THE DOCUMENTED MURDERS AND OTHER CRIMES COMMITTED IN THE WAKE OF "OPERATION STORM" IN AUGUST. GALBRAITH CONFIDENTIAL NNNN