PHYSICIANS IT HUMAN I A RIGHTS iB^I FORENSIC ......Site 4 was a large city cemetery in an area of Bugojno known as Cipuljic. The site's grid The site's grid coordinate is 33T YJ 943

PHYSICIANS for IT

HUMAN I A RIGHTS iB^I

FORENSIC ASSISTANCE PROJECT

Consultant Report 1999-045

Bugojno III

Republika Srpska Commission on Tracing Prisoners and Missing Persons 17, 19, 25, 26 August 1999

Debra Komar, Ph.D. Forensic Consultant

Forensic Assistance Project Sarajevo, Bosna i Hercegovina

November 1999

Physicians for Human Rights 100 Boylston Street, Suite 702 Boston, MA 02116 USA Tel. (617)695-0041 Fax. (617) 695-0307 Email: [email protected] http://www.phrusa.org

Financed with support of International Commission on Missing Persons

ICMP International Commission

on Missing Persons

Physicians for Human Rights Hasana Kaimije br. 11

71000 Sarajevo Bosna i Hercegovina Tel: 387-71-232-941

Fax:387-71-233-767

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.phrusa.org

BUGOJNO III CONSULTANT REPORT

Summary of Events

On August 17, 25, and 26, 1999, the Republika Srpska (RS) Commission on Tracing Prisoners and Missing Persons exhumed a total of 17 individuals from five sites in or near the city of Bugojno. The bodies were recovered from single and mass graves in the Jajce, Bosanksi Petrovac and Bugojno city cemeteries as well as a single unmarked grave in a rural wooded area.

The RS Commission also carried out a surface collection of the partial skeletal remains of a soldier during a previsit to the area on August 19,1999.

A Forensic Consultant from Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) was present at all the recoveries.

No information regarding postmortem examinations of these remains was available at the time of this report.

(Editor's note: In 1999, it was agreed that the "State Commission on Missing Persons (Bosniak Side)" and the "Federal Commission on Missing Persons - Croat Side" would eventually be referred to as the "Federation Commission on Missing Persons - Bosniak Side" and "Federation Commission on Missing Persons - Croat Side," respectively. For purposes of simplicity and clarity, any reference to either of these commissions in 1999 reports will use the "Federation" names.)

PHYSICIANS/or HUMAN RIGHTS, November 1999


Participants and Observers (not inclusive)

Republika Srpska Commission on Tracing Prisoners and Missing Persons IVANCEVIC Milan Member RADETA Aleksander Secretary MILASINOVIC Slobodan Judge JOVIC Velko Crime Inspector KARAN Dr. Zeljko Forensic Pathologist MARIC Milko Crime Technician

Federation Commission on Missing Persons - Croat Side (August 17 only) RADIC Jerko Member BOGIC Rajko Police Commissioner, Jajce BARIC Nedeljko Crime Inspector SABIC Admir Crime Technician Local police

Federation Commission on Missing Persons - Bosniak Side (August 25, 26) DURATBEGOVIC Sejo Judge, Bugojno Local Police

Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) KOMAR Dr. Debra Forensic Consultant

Office of the High Representative (OHR) CHILVERS Peter Exhumations Officer, Banja Luka GACESA Vladimir Assistant Exhumations Coordinator

Site Descriptions

Site 1 was in an unused portion of a Jajce city cemetery, accessible off a paved service road. The site name is Kravlje Koze and the grid coordinate is 33T XK 813 136, map name Jajce, map number 2583 I, edition 6-DMA, series M709, scale 1:50,000 (Figure 1). The site consisted of two side-by-side recently dug graves, marked with a wooden board inscribed "N/N" (Photo 1).

Site 2 was in a small city cemetery on the outskirts of Bosanksi Petrovac. The site name is Seledi and the grid coordinate is 33T WK 080 345, map name Bosanski Petrovac, map number 2484 III, edition 6-DMA, series M709, scale 1:50,000 (Figure 2). The unmarked mound was along the fence line. A single, marked grave was located approximately 5 meters to the west of the mass grave along the fence line.

Site 3 was a grazed field and barn north of a gravel road. The site name is Zlokuce and the grid coordinate is 33T YJ 059 820, map name Bugojno, map number 2683 III, edition 6-DMA, series M709, scale 1:50,000 (Figure 3). The search extended to the south of the road, including a lightly wooded area adjacent to a stream.

Site 4 was a large city cemetery in an area of Bugojno known as Cipuljic. The site's grid coordinate is 33T YJ 943 808, map name Bugojno, map number 2683 III, edition 6-DMA,

PHYSICIANSybr HUMAN RIGHTS, November 1999 2


series M709, scale 1:50,000 (Figure 3). The site was a well-tended raised grave with a wooden marker (Photo 8).

Site 5 was an unmarked grave adjacent to a stream in a lightly wooded area with dense underbrush at the edge of a farmed field. The site's grid coordinate is 33T YJ 956 857, map name Bugojno, map number 2683 III, edition 6-DMA, series M709, scale 1:50,000 (Figure 3). The site name is Drvetine.

The RS Commission also conducted a surface collection during the previsits to sites 4 and 5. The site name is Prijaci. The grid coordinate of the site is 33T W¥ 004 882, map name Bugojno, map number 2683 III, edition 6-DMA, series M709, scale 1:50,000 (Figure 3). The remains were recovered from a heavily overgrown small rural cemetery.

Site Histories

The nine individuals interred at site 1 had reportedly been stored at the Jajce morgue. In June, 1999, the bodies had been transported to the cemetery and buried. The RS Commission was informed of their whereabouts.

At site 2, the RS Commission was searching for two women, a mother and daugher killed in October, 1995, and buried by the local Red Cross.

The remains of one adult male are believed to be at site 3. According to witness statements, the body was first found in the stream, then moved across the road to a fenced field and barn. Local children told International Police Task Force (IPTF) investigators that the skull of the man had been kicked along the roadway, then been placed on a fencepost over the past five years, but none of the children had seen the skull recently.

The marked grave at site 4 is believed to contain two individuals, one male and one female. The RS Commission sought to recover the female who was killed in 1992 and buried by Croats on top of the previous burial. The grave marker bears the inscription CIVCIC LJNEOMIR 1942-1993.

At site 5, the RS Commission was searching for the remains of one civilian male. The decendent, DUVNJAK PREDRAG was born in 1941 and was killed in May, 1992.

Exhumation Process and Condition of Remains

Recovery: August 17, 1999

Site 1 - Laborers reopened the recently dug graves with shovels and pickaxes. The first well-constructed wooden coffin was uncovered at a depth of 1.2 meters. Removal of the coffin lid revealed a pile of body bags (Photo 2). The bags were removed and arranged in order on the access road. The bodies had been numbered previously and the investigating team retained this numbering system. Bodies 5 through 9 were recovered from the first coffin (Photo 3). The second coffin was uncovered immediately adjacent to the first and held four body bags containing individuals 1 through 4 (Photo 4). All remains were fully skeletonized. Each body bag appeared to represent a single individual and all were dressed in civilian clothing.

PHYSICIANS for HUMAN RIGHTS, November 1999 3


Bags 5 and 9 contained skulls only. Bag 5 also contained several animal bones. All remains were resealed in new body bags and transported to Banja Luka for postmortem examination.

Previsit: August 19

The team previsited a total of 5 locations, including sites 3, 4 and 5. At the fifth previsit location, Alexsander Radeta and Milko Marie (assisted by the PHR Consultant) recovered skeletonal remains consistent with one male adult. The remains were scattered throughout the cemetery and were obscured by heavy vegetation. A tibia, clavicle, humerus, vertebra, 1st

metatarsal and a cuneilbrm were the only skeletal elements recovered. A military-style boot (Photo 11) and a camouflage jacket (Photo 12) were found in association with the remains.

Recovery: August 25

Despite witness information indicating the graves were marked, the RS Commission directed the laborers to exhume an unmarked mound at the edge of the cemetery. The workers quickly uncovered two bodies at a depth of 0.1 meters. Examination of the remains indicated they were males and could not have represented the intended decedents. The RS Commission decided to continue the exhumation and expanded the grave, uncovering two additional bodies (Photo 6). Removal of the first three individuals revealed a fifth individual (Photo 7). A total of five males were exhumed from the commingled grave (Figure 4). Three of the individuals were dressed in civilian clothing while two individuals were dressed in military uniforms. The bodies were numbered SEL 1 through 5. All were placed in body bags and transported to Banja Luka for autopsy.

The Commission then examined the grave markers along the fence line and found the two graves they had originally been searching for 5 meters to the west of the mass grave. The first grave bore a marker with the inscription "1995". The remains of a female were uncovered at a depth of 0.7 meters. The body was fully clothed in civilian attire and was wrapped in a blanket. The witness identified several personal belongings at the site and confirmed the identity of the decedent. The body was designated SEL-6.

The second single grave was opened; however, a coffin was uncovered. Witness information indicated that both individuals had been wrapped in blankets and that no coffins had been used. The Commission ordered the grave refilled. Further searches for the second marked grave proved unsuccessful and the site was abandoned.

Recovery: August 26

The RS Commission began the day at the site of Potocani. Details of this site are provided in another report (Potocani I Consultant Report (#1999-039), November 1999).

The team then proceeded to site 3. Searches along the stream and surrounding area produced no remains and the site was abandoned.

Exhumations at site 4 were carried out with shovel and pickaxe. The laborers uncovered a wooden plank cover at 1.1 meters. The skeletal remains were wrapped in UNHCR plastic, sealed with grey duct tape. All pelvic and cranial indicators suggested the remains were those of the male identified on the grave marker. A second body was found immediately below the first individual. The body was wrapped in UNHCR plastic and some civilian

PHYSICIANS for HUMAN RIGHTS, November 1999 4


clothing was recovered. Examination of the skeletal remains indicated the individual was an elderly female. The laborers placed the remains of the female into a new body bag, labelled CIP 1. The remains of the male were reinterred and the grave was refilled.

The final location (site 5) required numerous test trenches to be dug prior to locating the remains. The body was unearthed at a depth of 1 meter, below the water table. The remains were fully skeletonized and dressed in civilian clothing.

Postmortem Examination Findings

At the writing of this report, no information was available from the RS Commission regarding the postmortem examination of these remains.

Process Evaluation

The investigative team showed professionalism and competency in every phase of the exhumation process. The searches were thorough and adequate care was taken to ensure complete recovery of remains.

PHYSICIANS/or HUMAN RIGHTS, November 1999 5




PHYSICIANS for HUMAN RIGHTS, November 1999


PHYSICIANS for HUMAN RIGHTS, November 1999




Photo 1. Site 1 (Kravlje Koze), 17.08.99. General view of scene, with recently dug mound and N/N marker indicating grave location (roll 1011, exp. 1).

PHYSICIANS/or HUMAN RIGHTS, November 1999


Photo 2. Site 1 (Kravlje Koze), 17.08.99. The first coffin, with top removed, at a depth of 1.2 meters. Several body bags are visible inside (roll 1011, exp. 4).



Photo 3. Site 1 (Kravlje Koze), 17.08.99. The full contents of the first coffins, with body bags numbered 5 through 9. Bag 5 contained a human skull and mandible and several animal bones (roll 1011, exp. 8).



Photo 4. Site 1 (Kravlje Koze), 17.08.99. Contents of the second coffin in the foreground; body bags numbered 1 through <#Yroll 1011, exp. 11).

Z7

PHYSICIANS/cv- HUMAN RIGHTS, November 1999 13


Photo 5. Site 1 (Kravlje Koze), 17.08.99. Close-up view of mandible from body bag 8, showing dental caries repair to molars (roll 1011, exp. 13).

Photo 6. Site 2 (Seledi), 25.08.99. Dr. Karan exposes the third body (roll 4739, exp. 17A).



Photo 7. Site 2 (Seledi), 25.08.99. Bodies 4 and 5 exposed in situ, following the removal of the first three individuals (roll 4739, exp. 22 A).

Photo 8. Site 4 (Cipuljic), 26.08.99. The grave and marker prior to exhumation (roll 4703, exp. 6).



Photo 9. Site 4 (Cipuljic), 26.08.99. The second set of remains removed. Skeletal indicators of the pelvis and skull indicate the remains are female (roll 4703, exp. 11).

Photo 10. Site 5 (Drventine), 26.08.99. Remains and clothing recovered from below the water table (roll 4703, exp. 17).



Photo 11. Previsit (Prijaci), 19.08.99. Military-style boot recovered (roll 1011, exp. 19).

Photo 12. Previsit (Prijaci), 19.08.99. Faded camouflage jacket recovered (roll 1011, exp. 21).


PHYSICIANS IT HUMAN I A RIGHTS iB^I FORENSIC ......Site 4 was a large city cemetery in an area of Bugojno known as Cipuljic. The site's grid The site's grid coordinate is 33T YJ 943

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