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 05 ZAGREB 00903 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
AMEMBASSY LONDON 
AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA 
AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE 
CINCUSAFE RAMSTEIN AB GE//DO/LG/XP/IN/POLAD// 
AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST 
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 
AMEMBASSY BONN 
AMEMBASSY BELGRADE 
AMEMBASSY ATHENS 
USMISSION USVIENNA 
AMEMBASSY ANKARA 
WHITEHOUSE WASHDC 
USEC BRUSSELS 
HQ JTF PP NAPLES IT//CA/POLAD// 
 
 
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE SECTION 01 OF 05 ZAGREB 000930 
 
 
VIENNA ALSO FOR BOSNIA 
 
E.O. 12356: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM PREL MOPS HR BK PREL MOPS HR BK PREL MOPS HR BK PREL MOPS HR BK PREL MOPS HR BK
SUBJECT:  TFSROL: SEVERE HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN B-H: 
          EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT OF MURDERS, MISTREATMENT 
          OF CIVILIANS, AND OTHER ABUSES 
 
REF: (A) ZAGREB 827; (B) ZAGREB 872; (C) ZAGREB 919 
 
¶1.  (U) SUMMARY:  THIS IS ONE IN A SERIES OF REPORTS 
(REFTELS) OF INTERVIEWS WITH WAR CRIMES VICTIMS 
CONDUCTED IN LATE 1993 IN MAOCA, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, 
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PAGE 03        ZAGREB  00930  01 OF 05  071400Z 
BY A DART/ZAGREB FIELD REP AND AN AMCIT IRC REP WHILE 
THEY WERE IN THE AREA ASSESSING HUMANITARIAN NEEDS. 
THIS REPORT NAMES VICTIMS AND, IN SOME CASES, 
PERPETRATORS AND DETAILS SPECIFIC CRIMES.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
----------- 
THE WITNESS 
----------- 
 
¶2.  (LOU) HASIB BEGIC IS A BOSNIAN MUSLIM FROM THE 
BRCKO MUNICIPALITY.  HE WAS BORN MAY 9, 1946, AND WAS 
A CIVILIAN FACTORY FOREMAN AT THE TIME OF HIS ARREST 
BY BOSNIAN SERB FORCES ON MAY 6, 1992.  (NOTE: THE 
WITNESS FREELY AGREED TO OPEN USE OF HIS NAME; FOR 
CONSISTENCY, HOWEVER, WE HAVE IN THE FOLLOWING REPORT 
REFERRED TO HIM AS "THE WITNESS." END NOTE.) 
 
--------------------- 
THE WITNESS'S ACCOUNT 
--------------------- 
 
¶3.  (U) AT THE TIME OF HIS ARREST, THE WITNESS WAS 
HIDING WITH NEIGHBORS IN HIS HOME.  HE SAID SERB 
NEIGHBORS WOULD WARN THEM WHEN "CETNIK" SOLDIERS WERE 
NEARBY, BUT COULD NOT HELP THEM, BECAUSE THEY WERE 
AFRAID OF THE SOLDIERS COMMANDED BY ARKAN AND CESA. 
ON MAY 6, 1992, SERBIAN SOLDIERS CAME TO THE 
WITNESS'S NEIGHBORHOOD WITH A TRUCK, SAYING THEY WERE 
TO TAKE EVERYONE TO A FACTORY CALLED "LASER."  AT 
FIRST, THEY LOADED MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN, BUT WHEN 
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PAGE 04        ZAGREB  00930  01 OF 05  071400Z 
IT BECAME APPARENT THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH ROOM FOR 
EVERYONE, THEY HAD THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN GET OFF AND 
TOOK ONLY THE MEN.  THE MEN WERE TAKEN TO THE 
RESTAURANT AT THE "LASER" FACTORY, WHERE THERE WERE 
ALREADY ABOUT 200 MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN.  SERB 
NEIGHBORS IN UNIFORM TOLD THEM THEY WOULD BE TAKEN TO 
CELIC AND BREZOVO POLJE THE NEXT DAY.  ON MAY 7, TWO 
BUSES CAME BUT TOOK ONLY THE WOMEN, CHILDREN AND 
ELDERLY.  ONE BUS DEPARTED TOWARD CELIC AND THE OTHER 
WENT IN THE DIRECTION OF BREZOVO POLJE.  THE MEN WERE 
TOLD THEY WOULD BE TRANSPORTED ON MAY 8. 
 
¶4.  (U) DURING THE NIGHT OF MAY 7, BETWEEN 8:00 AND 
10:00 PM, TWO RUFFIANS FROM THE BAND OF THE NOTORIOUS 
SERBIAN WAR CRIMINAL "ARKAN" -- GORAN (NICKNAMED 
"ADOLF") AND "CUPO" (SO-CALLED BECAUSE OF HIS LONG 
HAIR) -- TOGETHER WITH AN UNNAMED SERB FROM BRCKO, 
CAME INTO THE RESTAURANT.  GORAN ORDERED THE SERB 
FROM BRCKO TO POINT HIS RIFLE AT THE PRISONERS AND 
 
 
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PAGE 01        ZAGREB  00930  02 OF 05  071401Z 
ACTION SS-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   AID-01   AMAD-01  CIAE-00  C-01     OASY-00  DOEE-00 
      EB-01    EUR-01   HA-09    H-01     IMMC-01  TEDE-00  INR-00 
      IO-16    LAB-01   L-01     ADS-00   NSAE-00  OIC-02   OMB-01 
      PA-01    PM-01    PRS-01   P-01     RPCS-01  SB-00    SCT-03 
      SNP-00   SP-00    SR-00    SSO-00   STR-01   TRSE-00  T-00 
      RPE-01   SNIS-00  NISC-02  PMB-00     /049W 
                  ------------------2CCFC8  072206Z /38 
R 071352Z MAR 94 
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 1099 
INFO AMCONSUL MUNICH 
USMISSION USNATO 
CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK//N2/N22// 
COM SIXTHFLT//N2// 
AMEMBASSY VIENNA 
JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J5-PMA/J2I// 
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 
USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ3/ECJ4/ECJ5/ECPOLAD// 
USIA WASHDC 4312 
SECDEF WASHDC//ISA/ISP// 
CINCUSAREUR HEIDELBERG GE//J3/J4/J5/POLAD// 
USMISSION GENEVA 
AMEMBASSY ROME 
AMEMBASSY PARIS 
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 
AMEMBASSY MADRID 
                   LIMITED OFFICIAL USE 
 
 
                   LIMITED OFFICIAL USE 
 
PAGE 02        ZAGREB  00930  02 OF 05  071401Z 
AMEMBASSY LONDON 
AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA 
AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE 
CINCUSAFE RAMSTEIN AB GE//DO/LG/XP/IN/POLAD// 
AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST 
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 
AMEMBASSY BONN 
AMEMBASSY BELGRADE 
AMEMBASSY ATHENS 
USMISSION USVIENNA 
AMEMBASSY ANKARA 
WHITEHOUSE WASHDC 
USEC BRUSSELS 
HQ JTF PP NAPLES IT//CA/POLAD// 
 
 
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE SECTION 02 OF 05 ZAGREB 000930 
 
 
VIENNA ALSO FOR BOSNIA 
 
E.O. 12356: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM PREL MOPS HR BK PREL MOPS HR BK PREL MOPS HR BK PREL MOPS HR BK PREL MOPS HR BK
SUBJECT:  TFSROL: SEVERE HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN B-H: 
          EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT OF MURDERS, MISTREATMENT 
          OF CIVILIANS, AND OTHER ABUSES 
 
THEN BEGAN SWEARING AND HITTING THE TABLE WITH A 
STICK.  THE THREE THEN TOOK FOUR PRISONERS OUTSIDE, 
BEAT THEM SEVERELY, AND STOLE THEIR VALUABLES.  ONE 
OF THOSE BEATEN WAS THE WITNESS'S NEIGHBOR FROM 
BRCKO, OSMAN ZAHIROVIC.  AFTER ABOUT 30 MINUTES, THE 
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PAGE 03        ZAGREB  00930  02 OF 05  071401Z 
SERBS LEFT. 
 
¶5.  (U) ON MAY 8, THE MEN WERE GIVEN THE CHOICE OF 
GOING TO CELIC OR BREZOVO POLJE.  MOST CHOSE CELIC, 
SINCE IT WAS IN FREE TERRITORY.  THE BUS CAME TWICE. 
THE WITNESS MANAGED TO BOARD THE BUS FOR THE SECOND 
TRIP, BUT BECAME WORRIED WHEN THEY HEADED INTO BRCKO, 
INSTEAD OF TOWARD CELIC.  THE BUSES TOOK THEM TO THE 
UKA WAREHOUSE AREA NEAR THE BRIDGE OVER THE SAVA 
RIVER.  THE WITNESS NOTICED ALL THE WINDOWS IN THE 
WAREHOUSES HAD BEEN BLOWN OUT, HE ASSUMED AS A RESULT 
OF DEMOLITION OF THE BRIDGE.  AS THE DETAINEES GOT 
OFF THE BUS, THE MEN WERE ORDERED TO THROW ALL 
PERSONAL DOCUMENTS INTO A LARGE CRATE AT THE 
ENTRANCE.  THE WITNESS SAW THREE OR FOUR SERB 
SOLDIERS AND A SERB GIRL. THE GIRL SAID SHE HAD BEEN 
SHOT IN THE CHEST BY MUSLIMS, ALTHOUGH SHE LOOKED 
PERFECTLY HEALTHY.  THERE WERE ALREADY 600 TO 700 
PRISONERS IN THE WAREHOUSES. 
 
¶6.  (U) ABOUT TWO HOURS LATER, GORAN ENTERED WITH 
DOCUMENTS IN HIS HAND AND ANNOUNCED, "EVERYONE WHOSE 
NAME I READ NOW WILL BE TAKEN TO BE SHOT."  HE THEN 
READ ABOUT 150 NAMES, ABOUT HALF OF THOSE IN THE 
WAREHOUSE.  THEN, LAUGHING, HE ANNOUNCED THEY WERE 
NOT TO BE SHOT BUT WERE TO BE SENT HOME.  THOSE WHOSE 
NAMES HE READ WERE THEN RELEASED. 
 
¶7.  (U) A SHORT TIME LATER, GORAN DISCOVERED THE 
IDENTIFICATION CARDS OF TWO YOUNG MEN WHO WERE NOT 
FROM THE BRCKO AREA.  HE ASKED THEM WHY THEY WERE IN 
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PAGE 04        ZAGREB  00930  02 OF 05  071401Z 
BRCKO, AND THEY REPLIED THAT THEY WERE VISITING 
FRIENDS.  GORAN SHOUTED, "YOU CAME TO FIGHT AGAINST 
US."  HE TOOK THE TWO MEN OUTSIDE AND SHOT THEM. 
 
¶8.  (U) ON THE FOURTH DAY, THE WITNESS WAS INCLUDED 
IN A GROUP THAT WAS TO BE RELEASED, BUT THE SOLDIERS 
SAID THEY HAD RUN OUT OF THE PROPER FORMS, SO HE WAS 
MOVED TO ANOTHER WAREHOUSE AT LUKA. 
 
¶9.  (U) THE WITNESS SAID THAT BETWEEN MAY 8-18 
DETAINEES, MOSTLY YOUNGER MEN, WERE SELECTED AT 
RANDOM, LINED UP AGAINST A WALL AND SHOT.  ON MAY 9, 
GORAN ("ADOLF") BROUGHT IN A VERY FAT MAN, ALLEGEDLY 
A CROAT CAPTURED IN BRCKO.  THE MAN'S RIGHT EAR HAD 
BEEN CUT OFF, HE WAS CARRYING IT IN HIS RIGHT HAND. 
HE HAD A HANDKERCHIEF IN HIS LEFT HAND WITH WHICH HE 
WAS WIPING BLOOD OFF HIS HEAD.  GORAN ORDERED THE MAN 
TO SQUAT AND ASKED THE PRISONERS WHICH OF THEM WAS 
WILLING TO KILL HIM, PROFFERING A LARGE PISTOL.  NO 
 
 
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PAGE 01        ZAGREB  00930  03 OF 05  071402Z 
ACTION SS-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   AID-01   AMAD-01  CIAE-00  C-01     OASY-00  DOEE-00 
      EB-01    EUR-01   HA-09    H-01     IMMC-01  TEDE-00  INR-00 
      IO-16    LAB-01   L-01     ADS-00   NSAE-00  OIC-02   OMB-01 
      PA-01    PM-01    PRS-01   P-01     RPCS-01  SB-00    SCT-03 
      SNP-00   SP-00    SR-00    SSO-00   STR-01   TRSE-00  T-00 
      RPE-01   SNIS-00  NISC-02  PMB-00     /049W 
                  ------------------2CCFDC  072206Z /38 
R 071352Z MAR 94 
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 1100 
INFO AMCONSUL MUNICH 
USMISSION USNATO 
CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK//N2/N22// 
COM SIXTHFLT//N2// 
AMEMBASSY VIENNA 
JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J5-PMA/J2I// 
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 
USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ3/ECJ4/ECJ5/ECPOLAD// 
USIA WASHDC 4313 
SECDEF WASHDC//ISA/ISP// 
CINCUSAREUR HEIDELBERG GE//J3/J4/J5/POLAD// 
USMISSION GENEVA 
AMEMBASSY ROME 
AMEMBASSY PARIS 
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 
AMEMBASSY MADRID 
                   LIMITED OFFICIAL USE 
 
 
                   LIMITED OFFICIAL USE 
 
PAGE 02        ZAGREB  00930  03 OF 05  071402Z 
AMEMBASSY LONDON 
AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA 
AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE 
CINCUSAFE RAMSTEIN AB GE//DO/LG/XP/IN/POLAD// 
AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST 
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 
AMEMBASSY BONN 
AMEMBASSY BELGRADE 
AMEMBASSY ATHENS 
USMISSION USVIENNA 
AMEMBASSY ANKARA 
WHITEHOUSE WASHDC 
USEC BRUSSELS 
HQ JTF PP NAPLES IT//CA/POLAD// 
 
 
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE SECTION 03 OF 05 ZAGREB 000930 
 
 
VIENNA ALSO FOR BOSNIA 
 
E.O. 12356: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM PREL MOPS HR BK PREL MOPS HR BK PREL MOPS HR BK PREL MOPS HR BK PREL MOPS HR BK
SUBJECT:  TFSROL: SEVERE HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN B-H: 
          EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT OF MURDERS, MISTREATMENT 
          OF CIVILIANS, AND OTHER ABUSES 
 
ONE ACCEPTED.  THE MAN BEGAN BEGGING THE PRISONERS TO 
KILL HIM SAYING, "DON'T LET THE 'CETNIKS' KILL ME." 
ALL REFUSED.  CALLING THEM ALL COWARDS, GORAN STARTED 
PUSHING THE FAT MAN OUT THE DOOR.  A SERB SOLDIER AT 
THE DOOR HIT THE MAN IN THE BACK WITH A DULL SWORD 
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PAGE 03        ZAGREB  00930  03 OF 05  071402Z 
AND HE FELL.  NEXT, THE WITNESS HEARD TWO SHOTS, 
WHEREAFTER THE "CETNIKS ASKED FOR FOUR VOLUNTEERS TO 
REMOVE THE BODY. 
- 
¶10.  (U) THE CORPSES OF MURDERED DETAINEES WERE TAKEN 
TO TWO LOCATIONS IN LUKA, THE WITNESS SAID.  ONE WAS 
A SHED NEAR THE ENTRANCE TO THE TOWN.  TRUCKS WOULD 
COME TO REMOVE THESE BODIES DURING THE NIGHT.  THE 
WITNESS HIMSELF CARRIED TWO BODIES TO THIS SHED ON 
MAY 10 OR 11, HELPED BY HIS NEIGHBOR, EDHEM RIBIC. 
DETAINEE WORKING PARTIES WERE ALWAYS ACCOMPANIED BY 
SERB GUARDS.  THERE WERE ALREADY FIVE OR SIX BODIES 
IN THE SHED, HE SAID.  THE OTHER PLACE WAS ALONG THE 
RAILWAY TRACK NEAR THE WAREHOUSES.  BODIES COLLECTED 
THERE WERE LATER THROWN INTO THE SAVA RIVER.  THE 
WITNESS HELPED THREE OTHER PRISONERS CARRY ONE BODY 
TO THE SECOND COLLECTION POINT, ALSO ON MAY 10 OR 
¶11.  THERE WERE ALREADY TWO BODIES THERE.  ONE WAS 
STILL ALIVE AND GROANING.  THE OTHER THREE DETAINEES 
WERE SENT BACK TO THE WAREHOUSE, BUT THE WITNESS WAS 
KEPT BEHIND WITH A BUCKET TO CLEAN UP THE BLOOD. 
WHILE HE WAS DOING THIS,  ANOTHER BODY WAS CARRIED IN 
AND HE WAS ORDERED TO CLEAN UP THE BLOOD FROM THAT 
ONE AS WELL. 
 
¶11.  (U) ONE NIGHT THE SOLDIERS PAIRED OFF THE 
YOUNGER AND OLDER MEN AND FORCED THEM TO PUNCH EACH 
OTHER.  A SERB SOLDIER STOOD BEHIND EACH PRISONER TO 
MAKE SURE THEY PUNCHED HARD.  WHEN IT BECAME APPARENT 
THEY WOULD BE BEATEN NO MATTER WHAT THEY DID, THE 
WITNESS REFUSED TO PUNCH HARD.  EVENTUALLY, HE 
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PAGE 04        ZAGREB  00930  03 OF 05  071402Z 
FAINTED.  HE WAS LATER TOLD THIS WENT ON FOR 
ONE-AND-A-HALF HOURS. 
 
¶12.  (U) AT NIGHT "SOLDIERS" FROM ARKAN'S AND CESA'S 
GROUPS WOULD REGULARLY ENTER THE WAREHOUSE, AND BY 
THE GLARE OF AUTOMOBILE HEADLIGHTS WOULD SELECT AND 
BEAT MEN.  THE VICTIMS WERE TAKEN OUT IN GROUPS; 
LATER THEY WOULD CALL FOR FOUR MEN TO CARRY THE 
BODIES AWAY.  OFTEN ONLY THRE 
E OF THE FOUR 
"VOLUNTEERS" WOULD RETURN, HE SAID, THE OTHER HAVING 
BEEN KILLED. 
 
¶13.  (U) ON MAY 12, "ADOLF" ASKED FOR A VOLUNTEER TO 
CLEAN HIS OFFICE.  THE WITNESS VOLUNTEERED.  HE 
CLEANED UP THE REMAINS OF A MEAL AND WAS ABOUT TO 
LEAVE WHEN THE SERB BROUGHT TWO YOUNG MEN TO THE 
FRONT (OUTSIDE) OF THE OFFICE.  HE HAD ONE LIE DOWN 
WITH HIS HEAD OVER THE DRAIN PIPE;  PLACING HIS FOOT 
 
 
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PAGE 01        ZAGREB  00930  04 OF 05  071402Z 
ACTION SS-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   AID-01   AMAD-01  CIAE-00  C-01     OASY-00  DOEE-00 
      EB-01    EUR-01   HA-09    H-01     IMMC-01  TEDE-00  INR-00 
      IO-16    LAB-01   L-01     ADS-00   NSAE-00  OIC-02   OMB-01 
      PA-01    PM-01    PRS-01   P-01     RPCS-01  SB-00    SCT-03 
      SNP-00   SP-00    SR-00    SSO-00   STR-01   TRSE-00  T-00 
      RPE-01   SNIS-00  NISC-02  PMB-00     /049W 
                  ------------------2CCFED  072207Z /38 
R 071352Z MAR 94 
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 1101 
INFO AMCONSUL MUNICH 
USMISSION USNATO 
CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK//N2/N22// 
COM SIXTHFLT//N2// 
AMEMBASSY VIENNA 
JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J5-PMA/J2I// 
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 
USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ3/ECJ4/ECJ5/ECPOLAD// 
USIA WASHDC 4314 
SECDEF WASHDC//ISA/ISP// 
CINCUSAREUR HEIDELBERG GE//J3/J4/J5/POLAD// 
USMISSION GENEVA 
AMEMBASSY ROME 
AMEMBASSY PARIS 
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 
AMEMBASSY MADRID 
                   LIMITED OFFICIAL USE 
 
 
                   LIMITED OFFICIAL USE 
 
PAGE 02        ZAGREB  00930  04 OF 05  071402Z 
AMEMBASSY LONDON 
AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA 
AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE 
CINCUSAFE RAMSTEIN AB GE//DO/LG/XP/IN/POLAD// 
AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST 
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 
AMEMBASSY BONN 
AMEMBASSY BELGRADE 
AMEMBASSY ATHENS 
USMISSION USVIENNA 
AMEMBASSY ANKARA 
WHITEHOUSE WASHDC 
USEC BRUSSELS 
HQ JTF PP NAPLES IT//CA/POLAD// 
 
 
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE SECTION 04 OF 05 ZAGREB 000930 
 
 
VIENNA ALSO FOR BOSNIA 
 
E.O. 12356: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM PREL MOPS HR BK PREL MOPS HR BK PREL MOPS HR BK PREL MOPS HR BK PREL MOPS HR BK
SUBJECT:  TFSROL: SEVERE HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN B-H: 
          EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT OF MURDERS, MISTREATMENT 
          OF CIVILIANS, AND OTHER ABUSES 
 
ON THE MAN'S NECK, GORAN SHOT HIM TWICE IN THE HEAD. 
THEN HE DID THE SAME WITH THE SECOND.  GORAN THEN 
SAID TO THE WITNESS, "WE WON'T KILL YOU.  GO BACK TO 
THE WAREHOUSE."  THE WITNESS SAID "ADOLF" ALSO TOLD 
HIM THAT HE HAD KILLED 88 PEOPLE, AND "PLANNED TO 
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PAGE 03        ZAGREB  00930  04 OF 05  071402Z 
KILL MORE."  UNTIL MAY 18, GORIC SAID, THE "CETNIKS" 
WOULD ALWAYS CLAIM THAT THOSE WHO WERE SUMMARILY 
EXECUTED OR KILLED BY THESE BEATINGS HAD BEEN "SHOT 
BY SNIPERS." 
 
¶14. (LOU) THE WITNESS CREDITS ONE SERB, A "MAJOR 
VOJKAN" (STRICTLY PROTECT), WITH SAVING MANY 
PRISONERS' LIVES AT THE LUKA WAREHOUSE.  THIS SERB 
OFFICER TOLD THE PRISONERS HE FELT SORRY FOR THE 
MUSLIMS AND CROATS AND WOULD FIGHT TO TRY TO PROTECT 
THEM AND "EVEN DIE WITH THEM IF NECESSARY."  WHENEVER 
HE WAS IN CHARGE, NO ONE FROM ARKAN OR CESA'S GROUPS 
WAS ALLOWED TO ENTER THE WAREHOUSE.  THIS OFFICER WAS 
LATER REMOVED FROM BEING IN CHARGE, BUT TOLD THE 
PRISONERS HE WOULD CONTINUE TO CHECK ON THEM.  HE 
DID, INDEED, COME TO VISIT EVERY THREE TO FOUR DAYS. 
 
¶15.  (U) ON MAY 18, MAJOR VOJKAN, GORAN ("ADOLF") AND 
A "CAPTAIN WITH BLACK HAIR" ASSEMBLED THE WAREHOUSE 
DETAINEES AND READ THEM A DECREE.  IT SAID THAT 
CROATIA AND THE WORLD HAD HEARD WHAT WAS GOING ON AT 
LUKA AND THAT THERE WOULD BE NO MORE KILLINGS.  THE 
DETAINEES WOULD, HOWEVER, CONTINUE TO BE BEATEN.  FOR 
THE REST OF THE TIME THE WITNESS WAS AT LUKA, THERE 
WERE NO MORE KILLINGS.  HE WORKED MOST DAYS, 
PRIMARILY CLEANING BARRACKS, APARTMENTS, AND HOSPITAL 
ROOMS.  CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS WERE STILL REGULARLY 
BEATEN AT NIGHT. 
 
¶16.  (LOU) ON JUNE 23, THE WITNESS WAS TAKEN FROM 
LUKA BY AN ETHNIC CROAT NAMED IVICA STANJEC (STRICTLY 
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PAGE 04        ZAGREB  00930  04 OF 05  071402Z 
PROTECT), THE CANTEEN MANAGER AT HIS FACTORY 
"BIMAL."  THIS MAN'S WIFE WAS A SERB, SO HE WAS 
ALLOWED TO GO HOME AND TO TAKE ONE OLDER PRISONER 
WITH HIM.  HE TOOK THE WITNESS TO HIS APARTMENT IN 
THE "S" SETTLEMENT.  AFTER 10 OR 12 DAYS, THE WITNESS 
AND A FRIEND WERE ABLE TO ARRANGE SHELTER WITH 
ANOTHER FRIEND IN GRCICA WHERE THEY REMAINED UNTIL 
JULY 14. 
 
¶17.  (U) ON JULY 14, TWO LOCAL SERB SOLDIERS CAME TO 
THE WITNESS'S FRIEND'S HOUSE AND TOLD THE MEN TO GET 
ON A BUS.  THEY WERE TOLD NOT TO TAKE ANYTHING, 
BECAUSE THEY WOULD "BE COMING BACK IN 15 MINUTES." 
THERE WERE ONLY CROAT AND MUSLIM MEN ON THE BUS AND, 
ONCE ON BOARD, THEY WERE TOLD THEY WERE BEING TAKEN 
TO WORK AT THE "INTERPLET" CLOTHING FACTORY IN 
BIJELJINA.  WHEN THE BUSES GOT TO BIJELJINA, HOWEVER, 
THEY KEPT ON GOING TO BATKOVIC. 
 
 
 
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PAGE 01        ZAGREB  00930  05 OF 05  071403Z 
ACTION SS-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   AID-01   AMAD-01  CIAE-00  C-01     OASY-00  DOEE-00 
      EB-01    EUR-01   HA-09    H-01     IMMC-01  TEDE-00  INR-00 
      IO-16    LAB-01   L-01     ADS-00   NSAE-00  OIC-02   OMB-01 
      PA-01    PM-01    PRS-01   P-01     RPCS-01  SB-00    SCT-03 
      SNP-00   SP-00    SR-00    SSO-00   STR-01   TRSE-00  T-00 
      RPE-01   SNIS-00  NISC-02  PMB-00     /049W 
                  ------------------2CCFF9  072208Z /38 
R 071352Z MAR 94 
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 1102 
INFO AMCONSUL MUNICH 
USMISSION USNATO 
CINCUSNAVEUR LONDON UK//N2/N22// 
COM SIXTHFLT//N2// 
AMEMBASSY VIENNA 
JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J5-PMA/J2I// 
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 
USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ3/ECJ4/ECJ5/ECPOLAD// 
USIA WASHDC 4315 
SECDEF WASHDC//ISA/ISP// 
CINCUSAREUR HEIDELBERG GE//J3/J4/J5/POLAD// 
USMISSION GENEVA 
AMEMBASSY ROME 
AMEMBASSY PARIS 
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 
AMEMBASSY MADRID 
                   LIMITED OFFICIAL USE 
 
 
                   LIMITED OFFICIAL USE 
 
PAGE 02        ZAGREB  00930  05 OF 05  071403Z 
AMEMBASSY LONDON 
AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA 
AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE 
CINCUSAFE RAMSTEIN AB GE//DO/LG/XP/IN/POLAD// 
AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST 
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 
AMEMBASSY BONN 
AMEMBASSY BELGRADE 
AMEMBASSY ATHENS 
USMISSION USVIENNA 
AMEMBASSY ANKARA 
WHITEHOUSE WASHDC 
USEC BRUSSELS 
HQ JTF PP NAPLES IT//CA/POLAD// 
 
 
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE SECTION 05 OF 05 ZAGREB 000930 
 
 
VIENNA ALSO FOR BOSNIA 
 
E.O. 12356: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM PREL MOPS HR BK PREL MOPS HR BK PREL MOPS HR BK PREL MOPS HR BK PREL MOPS HR BK
SUBJECT:  TFSROL: SEVERE HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN B-H: 
          EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT OF MURDERS, MISTREATMENT 
          OF CIVILIANS, AND OTHER ABUSES 
 
¶18.  (U) UPON DISEMBARKING, THE PRISONERS HAD TO RUN 
BETWEEN TWO ROWS OF "CETNIKS" WHO BEAT THEM WITH 
CLUBS AND RIFLES.  THERE WERE NO SHOOTING DEATHS AT 
THIS CAMP, BUT SOME DIED AS THE RESULT OF BEATINGS. 
THE WITNESS KNEW FOR CERTAIN OF TWO:  A JEWELER AND A 
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BUTCHER FROM BIJELJINA.  THE PRISONERS WORKED EVERY 
DAY AND TRIED TO BE SELECTED TO WORK FOR LOCAL MEN, 
BECAUSE THEY FED THEM WELL.  MANY OF THE LOCAL PEOPLE 
WERE VERY SYMPATHETIC TO THE PRISONERS AND SAID THEY 
WERE UNHAPPY ABOUT WHAT ARKAN'S AND CESA'S SOLDIERS 
HAD DONE. 
 
¶19.  (U) THE WORST ABUSERS AT THE CAMP, BEGIC SAID, 
WERE A SERB NAMED GLIGOR AND TWO PRISONERS: FIKRET 
(AKA PIKLIC) AND "SPAJZER" (NFI) FROM ZENICA.  THE 
WITNESS WAS MORE AFRAID OF THE LATTER TWO THAN OF THE 
SERBS. 
 
¶20.  (U) WHEN THE ICRC CAME TO BATKOVIC, THE SERBS 
WOULD HIDE THE YOUNGEST AND OLDEST PRISONERS.  THEY 
WOULD ALSO HIDE A GROUP OF ABOUT EIGHT PRISONERS WHO 
WERE BEATEN EVERY DAY.  THIS GROUP INCLUDED A "GREEN 
BERET" FROM TUZLA, A MAN FROM BIJELJINA THEY ACCUSED 
OF BEING A SOLDIER, A BUTCHER FROM BIJELJINA, A CROAT 
NAMED ANDRIJA, AND A MAN WHO HAD ESCAPED AND 
 BEEN 
RECAPTURED.  DETAINEES HAD TO LIE TO THE ICRC ABOUT 
THEIR TREATMENT, BECAUSE SERB INFORMERS HAD 
INFILTRATED THE PRISON POPULATION. 
 
¶21.  (U) ON OCTOBER 13, 1992, THE WITNESS WAS 
RELEASED FROM BATKOVIC IN A REGULAR PRISONER 
EXCHANGE.  THE LARGEST NUMBER OF PRISONERS AT 
BATKOVIC DURING HIS TIME THERE WAS AROUND 1,600. 
THERE WERE STILL 500 TO 600 WHEN HE LEFT. 
 
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