PHYSICIANS for HUMAN RIGrHTS FORENSIC ASSISTANCE PROJECT

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1 PHYSICIANS for HUMAN RIGrHTS FORENSIC ASSISTANCE PROJECT Consultant Report Gacko I Federation Commission on Missing Persons - Bosniak Side September 1999 Francine Drayer, M.A. Forensic Consultant Forensic Assistance Project Sarajevo, Bosna i Hercegovina November 1999 Physicians for Human Rights 100 Boylston Street, Suite 702 Boston, MA USA Tel. (617) Fax. (617) phrusa@phrusa.org Physicians for Human Rights Hasana Kaimije br Sarajevo Bosna i Hercegovina Tel: Fax: Financed with support of International Commission on Missing Persons ICMP International Commission on Missing Persons

2 Summary of Events Between September 16 and 22, 1999, the Federation Commission on Missing Persons - Bosniak Side, exhumed a Minimum Number of Individuals (MNI) of ^ from 26 different locations around the city of Gacko. Forty-three sets of human remains were exhumed from the 13 destroyed villages south of Gacko and 8 sets from the area north of Gacko. All deaths were reportedly related to the Serb attacks that occurred during May, June and July The people who did not manage to escape into the forests surrounding the area were killed. All houses were burned. Survivors returned at night for the specific purpose of burying the victims. Because of the danger, most remains were buried close to the surface in shallow graves. The remains were collected from isolated and multiple graves and from the surface. The sites were located in fields, orchards, villages and cemeteries. The remains were placed in body bags and transported to the Autopsy Facility in Sutana for postmortem examinations. A Forensic (Consultant from Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) was present on September 20, 21 and 23, but not on September 16 and 17. The names of the locations, grid coordinates and number of exhumed bodies during those two days were obtained from the OHR Exhumations Officer. The results of the postmortem examinations had not been provided 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 for HUMAN RIGHTS, November

3 Participants and Observers Federation Commission on Missing Persons - Bosniak Side RAUF Zaimovic Judge RAHIMIC Munevera Judge MULAC Sanja Member PLOSKO Jasmina Member RIZULAVIC Mirza Prosecutor MEHREMIC Huso Crime Technician PALINUCA Serif Crime Technician IBRAHIM Kazazic Crime Technician ZUJO Dr. Hamza Forensic Pathologist, Sarajevo SARAJLIC Dr. Nermin Forensic Pathology Resident MUSIC Adnan Autopsy Assistant, Sarajevo Republika Srpska commission on Tracing Prisoners and Missing Persons ULJAREVIC Dragan Member TESANOVIC Spomenka Judge GACINOVIC Slobodanka Prosecutor DAJIC Dusko Crime Inspector SUSIC Milorad Crime Technician Security provided by RS RS police RS police Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) DRA^TiR Francine TORLAKOVIC Azur Office of the High Representative (OHR) KOEHL Knud BESO Abdel Nevesinje Canton Gacko Canton Forensic Consultant Field Assistant Exhumations Officer, Sarajevo Assistant Exhumations Coordinator Security provided by Spanish Stabilization Force (SFOR) International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Mostar, was also represented. A representative of an undertaking company and laborers also participated, and family members and witnesses were also present at the exhumations. Site Description, History and Recovery Process On September 16 and 17, recoveries were conducted without the presence of a PHR Forensic Consultant. The following list of exhumed sites, grid coordinates and number of bodies was obtained from the OHR Exhumation Officer. PHYSICIANS for HUMAN RIGHTS, November

4 Date of recovery: September 16, Kula, Gacko. Grid coordinate 34T BN Map Gacko, Sheet 2781 II, Edition 4- DMA, Series M709, Scale 1:50,000 (Fig 1). MNI of recovered remains: Drugovici, Gacko. Grid coordinate 34T BN Map Gacko, Sheet 2781 II, Edition 4-DMA, Series M709, Scale 1:50,000 (Fig. 1). MNI of recovered remains: 5. Although according; to the witness six individuals are buried here, only five sets of human remains were found and exhumed. 3. Dzuburi, Gacko. Grid coordinate 34T BN Map Gacko, Sheet 2781 II, Edition 4-DMA, Series M709, Scale 1:50,000 (Fig. 1). MNI of recovered remains: Brkovici, Gacko. Grid coordinate 34T BN Map Gacko, Sheet 2781 II, Edition 4-DMA, Series M709, Scale 1:50,000 (Fig. 1). MNI of recovered remains: 3. Date of recovery: September 17, Gradac, Gacko. Grid coordinate 34T BN Map Gacko, Sheet 2781 II, Edition 4-DMA, Series M709, Scale 1:50,000 (Fig. 1). MNI of recovered remains: 1. These were surface remains. 6. Dzuburi, Gacko. Grid coordinate 34T BN Map Gacko, Sheet 2781 II, Edition 4-DMA, Series M709, Scale 1:50,000 (Fig. 1). MNI of recovered remains: 1. These were surface remains. 7. Stolac, Gacko. Grid coordinate 34T BN Map Gacko, Sheet 2781 II, Edition 4- DMA, Series M709, Scale 1:50,000 (Fig. 1). MNI of recovered remains: 2. These were surface remains. 8. Kula, Gacko. Grid coordinate 34T BN Map Gacko, Sheet 2781 II, Edition 4- DMA, Series M709, Scale 1:50,000 (Fig. 1). MNI of recovered remains: 3. Three bodies were collected from two different locations. 9. Ramina Glavica, Gacko. Grid coordinate 34T BN Map Gacko, Sheet 2781 II, Edition 4-DMA, Series M709, Scale 1:50,000 (Fig. 1). MNI of recovered remains: 1. One body, dressed in military-style clothing, was recovered from this site. 10. Kula, Gacko. Grid coordinate 34T BN Map Gacko, Sheet 2781 II, Edition 4- DMA, Series M709, Scale 1:50,000 (Fig. 1). MNI of recovered remains: 0. Allegedly, the remains of one individual are buried here. However, no sign of human remains at this site was discovered. 11. Kula, Gacko. Grid coordinate 34T BN Map Gacko, Sheet 2781 II, Edition 4- DMA, Series M709, Scale 1:50,000 (Fig. 1). MNI of recovered remains: 1. The surface remains of one person were collected at this site. PHYSICIANS for HUMAN RIGHTS, November

5 12. Grid coordinate 34T BN Map Gacko, Sheet 2781 II, Edition 4-DMA, Series M709, Scale 1:50,000 (Fig. 1). MNI of recovered remains: 0. No sign of human remains was found at this location. Date of recovery: September 20, 1999 *J {/ 13. Basici 1, Harem Luka, Gacko. Grid coordinate 34T BP Map Gacko, Sheet 2781 II, Edition 4-DMA, Series M709, Scale 1:50,000 (Fig. 2). MNI of recovered remains: 2. According to the witness, he buried two women (Voloder Emina, born in 1954 and Basic Sevilija, born in 1932) at the southeast corner of this small cemetery (Harem Luka), approximately 2 m from the fence (Photo 1). The completely skeletonized remains were discovered approximately cm below the surface. One of the victims had evidence of antemortem surgery on the lumbar vertebrae: three vertebrae had been fused together with a steel pin (Photo 2). 14 Basici 2, Gacko. Grid coordinate 34T BN Map Gacko, Sheet 2781 II, Edition 4-DMA ; Series M709, Scale 1:50,000 (Fig. 2). MNI of recovered remains: 1. The remains of one woman were recovered from this site. Recovery was easy because the body had been buried cm below the surface in loose topsoil. The grave was located in the village, behind a house, approximately 3 m from the corner. 15. Basici 3, Gacko. Grid coordinate 34T BN Map Gacko, Sheet 2781 II, Edition 4-DMA, Series M709, Scale 1:50,000 (Fig. 2). MNI of recovered remains: 1. This grave was located approximately 5 m outside a small cemetery, next to a rock outcropping and small sinkhole. The body was buried in loose topsoil and covered with rocks and small boulders. The victim, a female, was wearing a headscarf. She had full upper dentures. The cranium was shattered. 16. Basici 4, Gacko. Grid coordinate 34T BN Map Gacko, Sheet 2781 II, Edition 4-DMA, Series M709, Scale 1:50,000 (Fig. 2). MNI of recovered remains: 1. The PHR Consultant was not present at this recovery. The OHR officer reported that the remains of one male were recovered from this site. 17. Site name, unknown. Grid coordinate 34T BN Map Gacko, Sheet 2781 II, Edition 4-DMA, Series M709, Scale 1:50,000 (Fig. 2). MNI of recovered remains: 1. The witness reported that he buried two people in a shallow grave in this large sinkhole (Photo 3). Only the surface remains of a weathered left scapula and sacrum was found. A few test pits were dug, but no other remains were discovered. 18. Muhovici, Gacko. Grid coordinate 34T BN Map Gacko, Sheet 2781 II, Edition 4-DMA, Series M709, Scale 1:50,000 (Fig. 2). PHYSICIANS for HUMAN RIGHTS, November

6 MNI of recovered remains: 3. Reportedly, the bodies of three men were buried at this site, located at the edge of the village approximately 3 m from a house. The surface remains of a weathered calvarium, tibia and fibula were found next to the house. The team attempted to exhume the remains on September 20, but all efforts were non-productive. The team returned on September 21 with the person who had buried the remains. He identified the exact location. The skeletonized remains were discovered 20 cm below the surface. They had been buried side by side in one shallow pit (Photo 4). One of the victims lacked a calvarium, tibia and fibula. 19. Site: unknown. Grid coordinate unknown. Map Gacko, Sheet 2781 II, Edition 4-DMA, Series M709, Scale 1:50,000 MNI of recovered remains: 3. According to the witness, the remains of three individuals were buried in this karst sinkhole, approximately two hours walking distance from Basici. The autopsy assistant, Adnan Music, and three laborers hiked to the site to retrieve the bodies. They returned approximately five hours later with the remains of three individuals. 20. Moljevica. Grid coordinate 34T BN Map Gacko, Sheet 2781 II, Edition 4- DMA, Series M709, Scale 1:50,000 (Fig. 2). MNI of recovered remains: 1. The remains of one male were recovered from this site, located approximately 4-5 m south of the road from Gacko to Drugovici. The body was discovered cm below the surface. A plastic sheet had been placed over the remains. 21.Hodinic - Ciminic. Grid coordinate 34T BN Map Gacko, Sheet 2781 II, Edition 4-DMA, Series M709, Scale 1:50,000 (Fig. 2). MNI of recovered remains: 1. The partial surface remains of one female were collected at this site. The bones had suffered severe damage due to weathering and animal activity. The remains were scattered over an area measuring approximately 20 x 30 m. 22. Hodinic. Grid coordinate 34T BN Map Gacko, Sheet 2781 II, Edition 4-DMA, Series M709, Scale 1:50,000 (Fig. 2). MNI of recovered remains: 0. The partial remains of two women had been collected at this location last year. The team returned because returning refugees had discovered additional human remains. Also, additional cranial fragments had been collected by the witness and were given to the Commission for reburial. Date of recovery: September 21, Muhovicl - Hasanova Glavica. Grid coordinate 34T BN Map Gacko, Sheet 2781 II, Edition 4-DMA, Series M709, Scale 1:50,000 (Fig. 2). MNI of recovered remains: 2. According to the witness, two brothers (soldiers) were buried in this large karst sinkhole (approximately 100 x 30 m). Reportedly one of the bodies had been decapitated and the head had been buried with the other body. PHYSICIANS for HUMAN RIGHTS, November

7 The gravesites had been marked with small boulders. The first body was buried approximately.5 m deep and was dressed in civilian clothes. An extra cranium, wrapped in a sheet, was found with this body. The second body was buried 30 cm deep. It was dressed in military-style clothing and a full ammunition belt was found with the remains. These remains lacked a cranium. 24. Muhovici - Hasanova Glavica. Grid coordinate 34T BN Map Gacko, Sheet 2781 II, Edition 4-DMA, Series M709, Scale 1:50,000 (Fig. 2). MNI of recovered remains: 0. This alleged gravesite is located next to the riverbank. The witness could not remember exactly where he had buried the body. The few attempts to find the remains were unsuccessful. 25. Drugovici - Kovacica. Grid coordinate 34T BN Map Gacko, Sheet 2781 II, Edition 4-DMA, Series M709, Scale 1:50,000 (Fig. 2). MNI of recovered remains: 2. This tabut-stylq grave contained the skeletonized remains of two elderly females. Date of recovery: September 22, Previla 1 - Borac. Grid coordinate 34T CN Map Slivlja, Sheet 2781 I, Edition 7-DMA, Series M709, Scale 1:50,000 (Fig. 3). MNI of recovered remains: 2. Reportedly, two men were shot in their car, which was subsequently set on fire. The cremated remains were removed from the vehicle, placed in a plastic bag and buried at the foot of a large boulder (Photo 5). The car was in the forest, approximately 50 m NE of the gravesite (Photo 6). 27. Previla 2 - Borac. Grid coordinate 34T CN Map Slivlja, Sheet 2781 I, Edition 7-DMA, Series M709, Scale 1:50,000 (Fig. 3). MNI of recovered remains: 2. According to the witness, the remains of two women (mother and adult daughter) were buried here. After digging a few test pits, the remains were discovered 5 m from the road on the east side. The remains were fully skeletonized. 28. Gredelj - Pusina. Grid coordinate 34T CN Map Slivlja, Sheet 2781 I, Edition 7-DMA, Series M709, Scale 1:50,000 (Fig. 3). MNI of recovered remains: 2. Neighbors, reportedly, buried the remains of two elderly males, who were killed on July 1, Four test pits were dug and the probe was used to try to locate the graves. The remains were discovered approximately 7 m away from the road, on the south side. The skeletonized remains of a knee were discovered only 10 cm below the surface. A mandible was found very close to the surface. Body # 1 does not have a cranium; it is assumed that the mandible belongs to this body. A search in the immediate area for the cranium was negative. PHYSICIANS for HUMAN RIGHTS, November

8 29. Zadub. Grid coordinate 34T BN Map Slivlja, Sheet 2781 I, Edition 7-DMA, Series M709, Scale 1:50,000 (Fig. 3). MNI of recovered remains: 1. The remains of one male were recovered from this location next to a house, under a tree. 30. Velika Gracanica - Gacko. Grid coordinate 34T BN Map Gacko, Sheet 2781 II, Edition 4-DMA ; Series M709, Scale 1:50,000 (Fig. 2). MNI of recovered remains: 1. Reportedly, these surface remains belong to a civilian male, killed on July 4, Only the lower part of the body was present. A search for the upper part of the body and the cranium was unsuccessful. Postmortem Examination Findings Results of the postmortem examinations had not been forwarded to PHR at the time of this report. Process Evaluation Recovery techniques were excellent. Two pathologists (Dr. Zujo and Dr. Sarajlic), with the help of the autopsy assistant, Adnan Music, directed and oversaw the recovery process and exhumed the bodies. In my opinion, no PHR Consultant needs to be present in this kind of situation. The sites were straightforward. Most burials were single or multiple (2 or 3 bodies), and the remains were not commingled. PHYSICIANS for HUMAN RIGHTS, November

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10 GACKO, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA; Montenegro*. w... ^ '- K1)\\AW,\V, 2781 II M709 EDITION 4-DMA Figure 2. PHYSICIANS/or HUMAN RIGHTS, November

11 SLIVLJA, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA 2781 I M709 EDITION 7-DMA s^^m^f>^m Figure 3. PHYSICIANS for HUMAN RIGHTS, November

12 Photo 1: Harem Luka, Basici 1, Gacko - View of Site (Photo Roll 99-39, exposure 7). J ^ - * Photo 2: Basici 1. Antemortem surgery on lumbar vertebrae (Photo Roll 99-39, exp. 12). PHYSICIANS for HUMAN RIGHTS, November

13 Photo 3: Sinkhole with surface remains. View of site (Photo Roll 99-30, exposure 27). Photo 4: Muhavici, Gacko. Exposed bodies 1, 2 and 3 (Photo Roll 99-40, exposure 15). PHYSICIANS for HUMAN RIGHTS, November

14 Photo 5: Previla 1, Borac. Plastic bag with burned remains of two men (Photo Roll 99-40, exposure 35). Remains of burned car at site (Photo Roll 99-40, exposure 33). PHYSICIANS for HUMAN RIGHTS, November

HUMAN RIGHTS FORENSIC ASSISTANCE PROJECT

PHYSICIANS for HUMAN RIGHTS FORENSIC ASSISTANCE PROJECT Consultant Report 1999-001 Capljina I Republika Srpska Commission on Tracing Prisoners and Missing Persons 23 March 1999 Francine Drayer, M.A. Forensic