This 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 03 ZAGREB 001222 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
STATE FOR EUR/EE, L, HA, IO 
VIENNA ALSO FOR BOSNIA 
 
E.O. 12356:  N/A 
TAGS: 
SUBJECT:  TFSROL:  SEVERE HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN BOSNIA- 
          HERZEGOVINA:  VICTIM'S REPORT OF BEATINGS AND 
          RAPE AT NOVI IZVOR PRISON. 
 
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PAGE 02        ZAGREB  01222  01 OF 03  280721Z 
REF:  ZAGREB 0945 AND PREVIOUS 
 
------------ 
INTRODUCTION 
------------ 
 
¶1.  (U) THIS IS ONE IN A SERIES OF REPORTS OF INTERVIEWS 
WITH WAR CRIMES VICTIMS CONDUCTED IN LATE 1993 IN MAOCA, 
BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA BY AN OFDA (DART/ZAGREB) FIELD 
REPRESENTATIVE AND AN AMCIT IRC REPRESENTATIVE WHILE THEY 
WERE IN THE AREA ASSESSING HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE NEEDS. 
THIS REPORT, LIKE THE OTHERS, NAMES  VICTIMS AND, IN SOME 
CASES, PERPETRATORS AND THE DETAILS OF SPECIFIC CRIMES. 
 
------------------- 
WITNESS INFORMATION 
------------------- 
 
¶2.  (LOU)  THE WITNESS, AJKUNA MUMINOVIC (STRICTLY 
PROTECT), WAS BORN SEPTEMBER 26, 1952.  SHE WAS A RESIDENT 
OF VLASENICA, A SMALL TOWN ABOUT 60 MILES BY ROAD 
NORTHEAST OF SARAJEVO, FROM 1964 TO JUNE, 1992. SHE WAS 
EMPLOYED IN A BANK AS AN OFFICE CLEANER AND MESSENGER. 
 
--------------------- 
THE WITNESS'S ACCOUNT 
--------------------- 
 
¶3.  (U)  ON JUNE 11, 1992 THE WITNESS AND HER HUSBAND 
ESCAPED FROM VLASENICA AND WENT TO CERSKA.  THERE SHE 
WORKED AS A COOK FOR THE BOSNIAN ARMY UNTIL AUGUST 21, 
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PAGE 03        ZAGREB  01222  01 OF 03  280721Z 
¶1992.  ON THAT DAY SHE CONVINCED HER HUSBAND TO COME WITH 
HER AND WALK TO THE VILLAGE OF SUCESKA, NEAR SREBRENICA, 
WHERE, SHE HAD HEARD, HER SON, DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AND 
GRANDCHILD WERE LIVING.  SHE AND HER HUSBAND LEFT ON FOOT, 
ACCOMPANIED BY THREE OTHERS.  ON THE WAY, THEY CAME UPON A 
"CHETNIK" (SERBIAN ARMY) BARRICADE AND WERE FIRED ON.  THE 
WITNESS WAS SHOT IN BOTH LEGS.  HER HUSBAND AND THE THREE 
OTHERS RAN AWAY.  SHE COULD HEAR THE FIRING CONTINUING FOR 
SOME TIME.  AFTER IT STOPPED, SHE ATTEMPTED TO MOVE BUT 
COULD NOT, AND NOTICED SHE WAS LYING IN A POOL OF BLOOD. 
NIGHT WAS FALLING AND SHE WAS AFRAID DOGS MIGHT COME AND 
ATTACK HER.  SHE CALLED FOR HELP THREE OR FOUR TIMES, BUT 
THEN PASSED OUT. 
 
¶4.  (U)  WHEN THE WITNESS REGAINED CONSCIOUSNESS, SHE 
COULD HEAR THE "CHETNIKS" TALKING ABOUT HER.  THEY THOUGHT 
SHE WAS A MAN.  SHE TOLD THEM SHE WAS A WOMAN; THEY ASKED 
HER WHY SHE HAD NOT SURRENDERED, SINCE THEY WOULD NOT HAVE 
SHOT AT A WOMAN.  THEY SAID THEY HAD MISTAKEN HER FOR A 
SCOUT, OR SPY.  SHE INFORMED THEM SHE WAS ONLY TRYING TO 
FIND HER SON.  AFTER SOME DISCUSSION THEY TOOK HER TO THE 
ROAD, WHERE HER WOUNDS WERE BANDAGED.  SOME TIME LATER SHE 
WAS TAKEN BY CAR TO THE LOCAL CLINIC IN KRAVICA, NEAR 
BRATUNAC.  SHE WAS GIVEN INJECTIONS AND REBANDAGED AND 
TAKEN ONWARD TO A HOSPITAL IN BRATUNAC, WHERE SHE WAS 
ADMITTED AND GIVEN A BLOOD TRANSFUSION. 
 
¶5. (U)  AN HOUR OR SO AFTER SHE ARRIVED AT THE BRATUNAC 
HOSPITAL A SOLDIER CAME TO INTERROGATE HER.  HE ASKED 
WERE SHE WAS GOING AND WHAT SHE WAS DOING.  HE TOLD HER 
THAT IF SHE DID NOT TELL THE TRUTH HE WOULD TAKE OUT THE 
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PAGE 04        ZAGREB  01222  01 OF 03  280721Z 
TRANSFUSION AND SHE WOULD DIE.  SHE TOLD HIM WHAT SHE 
KNEW.  LATER, SHE WAS TAKEN BY AMBULANCE TO ZVORNIK 
HOSPITAL, WHERE SHE WAS TREATED BY DR. ZORAN LAZAREVIC, A 
PHYSICIAN SHE KNEW FROM VLASENICA.  HE TREATED HER VERY 
KINDLY.  SHE WAS IN THE HOSPITAL FOR SEVEN MONTHS, FROM 
AUGUST 21, 1992 TO MARCH 23, 1993. 
 
¶6. (U)  ON MARCH 23 SHE WAS TAKEN FROM THE HOSPITAL BY 
SERBIAN POLICE, WHO TOLD HER SHE WAS BEING TAKEN TO GIVE A 
STATEMENT REGARDING THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF HER INJURY. 
HOWEVER, NO STATEMENT WAS TAKEN.  INSTEAD SHE WAS TAKEN TO 
A PRISON AT NOVI IZVOR.  FIVE MEN AND FOUR OTHER WOMEN 
WERE HELD WITH HER ON THE GROUND FLOOR IN SEPARATE ROOMS. 
THEY WERE GUARDED BUT WERE ALLOWED TO USE THE TOILET, WERE 
FED, AND HAD BLANKETS AND FOAM BLOCKS FOR BEDS. FROM TIME 
TO 
 TIME OTHER "CHETNIKS" WOULD COME AND ASK TO SEE THE 
MUSLIMS.  THEY WOULD BEAT THE MEN; THE WOMEN COULD HEAR 
SCREAMS IN THE NEXT ROOM. 
 
¶7.  (U)  THE OTHER WOMEN IN THE ROOM WITH THE WITNESS WERE 
A 73-YEAR-OLD WOMAN, FATA (NFI), 65-YEAR-OLD HATA KARIC 
AND HER 11-YEAR-OLD HALF-SERBIAN GRANDDAUGHTER, ALMA.  A 
 
 
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PAGE 01        ZAGREB  01222  02 OF 03  280722Z 
ACTION SS-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   AID-01   AMAD-01  CIAE-00  C-01     OASY-00  DODE-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  NSCE-00  OIC-02 
      PA-01    PM-01    PRS-01   P-01     RP-10    RPCS-01  SCT-03 
      SP-00    SR-00    SSO-00   STR-01   TRSE-00  USIE-00  RPE-01 
      SNIS-00  NISC-02  PMB-00     /058W 
                  ------------------34FCAA  280723Z /38 
R 280716Z MAR 94 
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 1351 
INFO USMISSION GENEVA 
AMEMBASSY VIENNA 
AMCONSUL MUNICH 
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 
 
 
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE SECTION 02 OF 03 ZAGREB 001222 
 
 
STATE FOR EUR/EE, L, HA, IO 
VIENNA ALSO FOR BOSNIA 
 
E.O. 12356:  N/A 
TAGS: 
SUBJECT:  TFSROL:  SEVERE HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN BOSNIA- 
          HERZEGOVINA:  VICTIM'S REPORT OF BEATINGS AND 
          RAPE AT NOVI IZVOR PRISON. 
 
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PAGE 02        ZAGREB  01222  02 OF 03  280722Z 
16-YEAR-OLD, SUADA, WAS EXCHANGED AFTER FIVE DAYS.  HATA 
AND ALMA WERE ALLOWED VISITORS AND WERE GIVEN FAVORABLE 
TREATMENT.  THEY OFTEN DRANK COFFEE WITH THE GUARDS AND 
USED THEIR INFLUENCE TO HAVE THE WITNESS TREATED MORE 
SEVERELY. 
 
¶8.  (U)  THE WITNESS SAID SHE BECAME FRIENDS WITH ONE MAN, 
HASSAN (NFI), BEING DETAINED ON THE SAME FLOOR.  HATA DID 
NOT APPROVE, AND TOLD THE GUARDS HE WAS AN EXTREMIST.  AS 
A RESULT, THE WITNESS SAID, HASSAN WAS VERY BADLY BEATEN. 
HE HAD FOOTPRINTS ON HIS BODY FROM BEING STOMPED ON AND 
WAS VERY SWOLLEN  AFTER THE BEATING HASSAN WAS 
TRANSFERRED TO THE FLOOR ABOVE. 
 
¶9.  (U)  WHILE IMPRISONED AT NOVI IZVOR, THE WITNESS WAS 
ORDERED TO CLEAN ROOMS AND MAKE COFFEE.  WHEN SHE PLEADED 
WITH HER CAPTORS NOT TO FORCE SUCH WORK UPON HER BECAUSE 
OF PAINS IN HER WOUNDED LEGS, SHE WAS BEATEN.  SHE WAS 
INSULTED AND TOLD SHE WAS BEING TREATED WELL IN COMPARISON 
TO THE TREATMENT A SERB WOULD RECEIVE AT THE HANDS OF 
MUSLIMS. 
¶10. (U)  AFTER ABOUT THREE MONTHS THE WITNESS WAS PLACED 
IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT.  SHE BLAMED THIS ON HATA'S 
CONTINUAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT HER.  SHE WAS HELD IN SOLITARY 
CONFINEMENT FOR ONE WEEK;  DURING THAT TIME SHE WAS GIVEN 
ONLY ONE MEAL.  SHE WAS TRANSFERRED BACK TO THE COMMON 
ROOM FOR A SHORT TIME, THEN SENT BACK TO SOLITARY 
CONFINEMENT AGAIN.  AT THE TIME OF HER ARRIVAL AT THE 
PRISON, THE PRINCIPAL GUARD WAS ONE "DUSAN" (NFI).  WHEN 
HE LEFT, HE WAS REPLACED BY "MIRKO" AND "RATKO." 
 
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PAGE 03        ZAGREB  01222  02 OF 03  280722Z 
¶11.  (U)  THE WITNESS RECOUNTED HOW SHE HAD BEEN BEATEN ON 
SEVERAL OCCASIONS.  ON ONE OF THESE, SHE SAID, "WHEN I HAD 
MADE COFFEE FOR MIRKO I MOVED HIS GUN SLIGHTLY TO PUT THE 
COFFEE DOWN.  HE YELLED AT ME AND PUNCHED ME TWICE, HARD. 
THEN HE ORDERED HASSAN BROUGHT DOWN FROM UPSTAIRS.  HE 
GAVE HASSAN A RUBBER STICK AND ORDERED HIM TO BEAT ME ON 
THE BACK.  I WAS FORCED TO STAND AGAINST A WALL.  HASSAN 
DID NOT BEAT ME HARD. THEN MIRKO TOOK THE STICK AND HIT 
HASSAN IN THE NECK HARD, TO SHOW HIM HOW HE SHOULD BEAT 
ME."  AS A RESULT OF THE BLOW, SHE SAID, HASSAN COULD NOT 
SPEAK FOR 3 DAYS AFTERWARDS.  UNDER THIS DURESS, HASSAN 
STRUCK HER VIOLENTLY 12 TIMES IN THE KIDNEY REGION.  AS 
HASSAN WAS ADMINISTERING THE BEATING, MIRKO SAID 
SARCASTICALLY THAT HE WOULD NOT WISH TO SEE HER HARMED, 
AND THAT IT WAS HER OWN PEOPLE WHO WERE BEATING HER. 
 
¶12.  (U)  AFTER THIS INCIDENT THE WITNESS WAS RETURNED TO 
SOLITARY CONFINEMENT.  THREE DAYS LATER, DUSAN REAPPEARED 
AND SPOKE TO MIRKO AND RATKO.  HE CAME TO THE WITNESS'S 
ROOM BRINGING TWO YOUNG BOSNIANS, 17 AND 18 YEARS OLD, WHO 
HAD BEEN CAPTURED FLEEING FROM CERSKA TO TUZLA.  THE TWO 
BOYS WERE VERY FRIGHTENED, THE WITNESS SAID. 
 
¶13.  (U)  THE WITNESS SAID DUSAN ORDERED HER AND THE TWO 
BOYS TO REMOVE ALL THEIR CLOTHES.  HE FORCED HER TO BEND 
OVER AND ORDERED ONE OF THE BOYS TO SODOMIZE HER WHILE 
FORCING HER TO PERFORM ORAL SEX ON THE OTHER.  WHEN SHE 
COMPLAINED OF INTENSE PAIN IN HER INJURED LEGS, DUSAN 
ALLOWED HER TO LIE DOWN BUT CONTINUED TO FORCE THE TWO 
YOUNG BOSNIANS TO VIOLATE HER, BOTH ORALLY AND VAGINALLY. 
AFTER SOME TIME, SHE SAID, DUSAN ASKED THE TWO BOYS IF 
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PAGE 04        ZAGREB  01222  02 OF 03  280722Z 
THEY WERE SATISFIED, AND SAID HE WOULD COME BACK THE NEXT 
DAY WITH TWO OTHER MEN. 
¶14.  (U)  AT ABOUT 1:00 A.M. THAT MORNING MIRKO CAME INTO 
HER ROOM.  HE SAT IN A CHAIR AND ORDERED HER TO PERFORM 
ORAL SEX ON HIM.  WHEN SHE RESISTED HE RAPED HER ANALLY. 
HE TOLD HER NOT TO TELL ANYONE.  SHE BLED A GREAT DEAL AS 
A RESULT OF THIS ASSAULT, THE WITNESS SAID. 
 
¶15.  (U) LATER THAT MORNING MIRKO CAME INTO HER ROOM. 
SEEING THE BLOOD ON THE FLOOR, HE ASKED WHAT IT WAS.  WHEN 
SHE TOLD HIM IT WAS THE RESULT OF HIS ASSAULT ON HER 
EARLIER THAT MORNING, HE ORDERED HE 
R TO CLEAN IT UP AND 
NOT TO TELL ANYONE.  AT THIS POINT THE WITNESS, STILL 
BLOODY FROM MIRKO'S ASSAULT, BEGAN TO MENSTRUATE.  THE 
GUARD RATKO TOLD HER TO TAKE A BATH BUT SHE DEMURRED, 
SAYING SHE COULD NOT BECAUSE OF HER PERIOD.  EVERY DAY 
THEY ORDERED HER TO TAKE A BATH AND EVERY DAY SHE REFUSED 
CLAIMING SHE WAS MENSTRUATING.  AT ONE POINT MIRKO ASKED 
HER WHAT SHE WOULD THINK WHEN DUSAN STARTED SENDING 
"CLIENTS" TO HER.  SHE KNEW MIRKO OWNED A CAFE, SHE SAID, 
AND SUSPECTED HE WOULD FORCE HER INTO PROSTITUTION IF SHE 
WERE TO TAKE A BATH.  THUS SHE CONTINUED TO CLAIM SHE HAD 
 
 
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PAGE 01        ZAGREB  01222  03 OF 03  280722Z 
ACTION SS-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   AID-01   AMAD-01  CIAE-00  C-01     OASY-00  DODE-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  NSCE-00  OIC-02 
      PA-01    PM-01    PRS-01   P-01     RP-10    RPCS-01  SCT-03 
      SP-00    SR-00    SSO-00   STR-01   TRSE-00  USIE-00  RPE-01 
      SNIS-00  NISC-02  PMB-00     /058W 
                  ------------------34FCA7  280723Z /38 
R 280716Z MAR 94 
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 1352 
INFO USMISSION GENEVA 
AMEMBASSY VIENNA 
AMCONSUL MUNICH 
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 
 
 
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE SECTION 03 OF 03 ZAGREB 001222 
 
 
STATE FOR EUR/EE, L, HA, IO 
VIENNA ALSO FOR BOSNIA 
 
E.O. 12356:  N/A 
TAGS: 
SUBJECT:  TFSROL:  SEVERE HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN BOSNIA- 
          HERZEGOVINA:  VICTIM'S REPORT OF BEATINGS AND 
          RAPE AT NOVI IZVOR PRISON. 
 
                   LIMITED OFFICIAL USE 
 
 
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PAGE 02        ZAGREB  01222  03 OF 03  280722Z 
HER PERIOD AND REFUSED TO BATHE FOR A LONG TIME.  THIS WAS 
IN JUNE 1993. 
 
¶16.  (U) THE WITNESS SAID SHE KNEW MIRKO AND RATKO HAD 
BEEN WOUNDED AS SOLDIERS BEFORE THEY BECAME POLICE PRISON 
GUARDS.  RATKO WAS ON TRANQUILIZERS, FOR WHICH MIRKO 
BLAMED THE MUSLIMS.  ON ONE OCCASION MIRKO TRIED TO FORCE 
THE WITNESS TO TAKE A DOSE OF THESE TRANQUILIZER PILLS; 
WHEN SHE STEPPED BACKWARD TO AVOID THIS, HE PUNCHED HER IN 
THE FACE.  MIRKO STOPPED RATKO FROM CONTINUING TO BEAT 
HER. 
 
¶17.  (U) BEFORE SHE WAS EXCHANGED, THE WITNESS WAS TAKEN 
BACK TO THE HOSPITAL TO HAVE THE PLATES REMOVED FROM HER 
WOUNDED LEGS.  AT THAT TIME, HOWEVER, SHE WAS GREATLY 
DISTRAUGHT, HAVING JUST LEARNED OF THE DEATH OF HER SON. 
DR. LAZAREVIC WAS KIND TO HER AND AGREED NOT TO OPERATE. 
WHEN SHE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE PRISON, DUSAN WAS ANGRY 
BECAUSE THE PLATES HAD NOT BEEN REMOVED FROM HER LEGS.  HE 
THREATENED NEVER TO EXCHANGE HER UNTIL THEY WERE REMOVED, 
BECAUSE  SUCH PLATES WERE BADLY NEEDED BY WOUNDED SERB 
SOLDIERS. IF SHE WAS RELEASED THEY WOULD BE USED ON 
MUSLIMS, HE SAID.  NONETHELESS SHE WAS EXCHANGED, WITH THE 
PLATES STILL IN HER LEGS, ON JULY 21, 1993.  SHE BELIEVES 
SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED IF SHE HAD NOT BEEN RELEASED. 
 
GALBRAITH 
 
 
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