PHYSICIANS vns HUMAN RIGHTS FORENSIC ASSISTANCE PROJECT

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1 PHYSICIANS vns for HUMAN RIGHTS FORENSIC ASSISTANCE PROJECT Consultant Report Kiseljak I Federation Commission on Missing Persons - Bosniak Side May 1999 Richard J. Harrington, Ph.D. Forensic Consultant Forensic Assistance Project Sarajevo, Bosna i Hercegovina October 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 From 18 through 22 May 1999, the Federation Commission on Missing Persons - Bosniak Side conducted recovery operations at 24 sites in the Kiseljak area. The team was searching for the remains of Bosniak civilians reportedly killed in the area by Bosnian Croatian forces (HVO) between April and July of The remains of at least 31 individuals were recovered from 23 of the sites. A Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) Forensic Consultant was present for the recovery of the remains on all days except 22 May, but not for the postmortem examination. The attending pathologist had not released the results of the postmortem examination as of this writing. (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, October

3 Participants and Observers Federation Commission on Missing Persons - Bosniak Side KLONOWSKI Dr. Ewa Forensic Anthropologist, Iceland ODOBASIC Jasmin Member, Sarajevo SADIK Lenda Judge, Sarajevo SARAJLIC Dr. Nermin Forensic Pathology Resident, Sarajevo ZUJO Dr. Hamza Forensic Pathologist, Sarajevo Several technicians and laborers were also present. Federation Commission on Missing Persons - Croat Side CVITANOVIC Berislav Member Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) HARRINGTON Dr. Richard HJASARAGIC Edin KARIC Anela Office of the High Representative (OHR) ANDERSEN Wigan Forensic Consultant Field Assistant (19-21 May) Field Assistant (18 May) Exhumations Officer, Sarajevo International Police Task Force (IPTF) personnel, Stabilization Force (SFOR) personnel, and witnesses also made appearances at the sites. Site Descriptions All sites are in the general vicinity of Kiseljak, a town approximately 20 km northwest of Sarajevo (Figure 1; Map Name: Visoko; Sheet: 2782 IV; Edition: 7-DMA; Series: M709; Horizontal Datum: WGS84; Scale: 1:50,000). Nine of the sites are referred to herein as the northwest group (Figure 1) and the remaining 15 sites are referred to as the southeast group (Figure 2; note: the one site yielding no remains is not plotted on this map). Two of the northwest group sites are in or near Jehovac, approximately 6 km northwest of Kiseljak; six of this group are in or near Visnjica, approximately 2.5 km west-northwest of Kiseljak; and the last of the group is on the northwest edge of Kiseljak. The southeast group sites are all clustered in or near Han Ploca and Grahovci, small towns approximately 7 km southeast of Kiseljak. Brief descriptions of distinctive aspects of the sites are given in the "Exhumation Process and Condition of Remains" Section. Grid coordinates and number of remains recovered are provided in a table in the same section (see also Figures 1 and 2 for site locations). Most of the sites were named by the team after the nearest town; for remains recovered from in or near houses, the site was named after the family that had previously lived there (e.g., "Han Ploca Kuca Omerovic" refers to "house of Omerovic"). PHYSICIANS/or HUMAN RIGHTS, October

4 Site History According to Federation Commission personnel, Bosnian Croatian military forces (HVO) killed an undisclosed number of Bosniak civilians in the Kiseljak area between April and July of Many of the decedents were buried in isolated burials by friends or family members. Many of these individuals were able to lead the team to the burials' exact locations and provide identities of the buried individuals once exhumed. Exhumation Process and Condition of Remains Shovels were used to attempt to detect the clandestine burials; where unsuccessful, and at sites where the exact location was not certain, a backhoe was used to trench through the area. Once remains were detected, shovels and trowels were used to expose remains. The bodies were then assigned unique labels (e.g., at the Visnjica Groblje 0 site, the first body was designated Visnjica Groblje 0/1 and the second designated Visnjica Groblje 0/2), photographed in situ, placed in body bags, and transported to the autopsy facilities in nearby Visoko. Brief descriptions of the sites are as follows: Jehovac 1: This site, which was 20 m from the road in a yard, was expected to yield the remains of six individuals, possibly as commingled remains in a secondary burial. A test pit excavated during the site pre-visit on 11 May revealed skeletal remains of at least one individual at 0.3 m depth. Skeletal remains of what appeared to be just one individual were recovered from a secondary deposit in which the bones were completely disarticulated (Photograph 5). A hand phalanx with a ring around it was also recovered. Jehovac Mekteb 1: The skeletal remains of one individual were recovered from a shallow isolated burial in a yard close to the road. The remains were in civilian clothing and wrapped in a blanket. Visnjica Begovici 1: The skeletal remains of one individual were recovered from a shallow grave on a hillside field. The remains were in civilian clothing, but not wrapped. Visnjica Begovici 2: Skeletal remains of one individual, in civilian clothes and wrapped in a blanket, were recovered from this shallow grave that was in a grassy field on a hillside. Visnjica Groblje 0, 1,2, and 3: These four sites were in a large field near a partially destroyed mosque (Photograph 3). Part of the field contained marked graves, and three of the sites (excluding VG0) were near some of these marked graves. VG0 yielded two bodies (Photograph 7); the other sites contained one body each. All remains were clothed and skeletonized. Kiseljak Groblje 1: This site, in an unmarked area of the Kiseljak Cemetery, was known to contain at least six individuals at one time. It was also known, however, that some remains had been exhumed previously, possibly as part of a body exchange. One clothed, saponified body that was wrapped in plastic was recovered from 2 m depth. Expansion of the excavation in all directions several meters from this body turned up only blankets and plastic. Soil disturbance patterns indicated that the site might have been previously disturbed. PHYSICIANS/or HUMAN RIGHTS, October

5 Han Ploca Groblje: Two skeletonized bodies, each wrapped in a blanket, were recovered from an unmarked grave in an otherwise unused portion of a cemetery. Han Ploca Kuca Sisic: A wooden fence surrounded the burial of a single individual in a small field behind a house. Wood planks covered the burial, but the PHR Forensic Consultant did not observe the exposure and removal of the remains. Han Ploca Grahovci 0: Remains of one individual were recovered from a shallow grave in thick brush along the roadside. The PHR Forensic Consultant did not observe the exposure and removal of the remains. Han Ploca Grahovci 1: The skeletonized remains of three adult males were recovered from a single grave on a forested hillside. All three had electrical wire tied around their ankles (Photograph 8), but it is not known if this was done before death or after in order to drag the bodies to the burial location. Han Ploca Grahovci 2: The skeletal remains of a 15-year-old girl were reportedly buried at this site after the body had lain on the ground for several months. The disarticulated skeleton of a teenage female was recovered from a shallow pit at this site. Han Ploca Grahovci X: Incinerated bone fragments representing at least two individuals were recovered from the dirt and building material debris that covered the floor of an abandoned, partially destroyed house. Han Ploca Krecana 1: Sixteen civilian detainees were reportedly killed by HVO troops using a rocket-propelled grenade launcher in a house approximately 50 m east of a trash pit where some or all of the bodies were thought to be buried. Soil probes conducted during the site pre-visit indicated at least one body at a depth of 1 m. The subsequent exhumation, however, resulted in the recovery of only this one body (Photographs 1, 2, and 6). Han Ploca Kuca Sinanovic: The blanket-wrapped remains of a single individual were recovered from an isolated burial. This individual was reported to be Taib Sinanovic, who was beaten to death on 7 or 8 July Han Ploca Kuca Omerovic: Four members of the same family (the parents and two teenaged children) were reportedly killed and burned in their house. Incinerated remains of the adults and intact and unburnt remains of the teenagers were found in the dirt and debris that covered the floor of one room. Work at this site started on 21 May; the PHR Forensic Consultant was not present the following day when the remains of the teenagers were found and removed. Han Ploca Kuca Coralic: The remains of one individual were recovered from an isolated burial on a hillside approximately 20 m from the road. The PHR Forensic Consultant observed the site before and after exhumation, but did not observe the detection, exposure, and removal of the remains. Grahovci: The original claim was that seven to nine bodies might be buried at this roadside site near a dilapidated hut. A man who claimed to have buried bodies there, however, later said that only three bodies were present. No remains were recovered from this site. The possibility that remains had been buried there and subsequently removed could not be ruled out. PHYSICIANS for HUMAN RIGHTS, October

6 Grahovci 1: The clothed and skeletonized remains of two individuals were recovered from a single burial in this wooded area. Grahovci 2: The remains of one individual were recovered from this isolated burial in a forested area. The PHR Forensic Consultant did not observe the exposure and removal of the remains. Grahovci 3: The remains of two skeletonized and blanket-wrapped individuals were recovered from a single shallow grave. Grahovci 4: An elderly woman was reportedly killed and burned in her house. Removal of 0.5 m of clay and house debris revealed the partially intact and articulated skeletal remains of an elderly female. The bones were extremely fragile from the intense fire, rendering the removal of the remains without breaking them extremely difficult. Most of the small sites yielded the number of bodies expected; however, none of the alleged mass graves (Jehovac 1, Kiseljak Groblje 1, and Han Ploca Krecana 1) contained more than one individual each, although remains may have been removed from the sites previously. Remains were typically in shallow (less than 0.8 m) soil; skeletonized; either wrapped in blankets or without cover; and with associated civilian-type clothing. The following is a summary of the results of the exhumations: Grid Minimum Number Site Coordinates of Individuals NW GROUP: SE GROUP: JEHOVAC 1 BP JEHOVAC MEKTEB1 BP VISNJICA BEGOVICI 1 BP VISNJICA BEGOVICI 2 BP VISNJICA GROBLJE o BP VISNJICA GROBLJE I BP VISNJICA GROBLJE 2 BP VISNJICA GROBLJE 3 BP KISELJAK GROBLJE 1 BP HAN PLOCA GROBLJE BP HAN PLOCA K. SlSlC BP HAN PLOCA GRAHOVCI 0 BP HAN PLOCA GRAHOVCI 1 BP HAN PLOCA GRAHOVCI 2 BP HAN PLOCA GRAHOVCI X BP HAN PLOCA KRECANA 1 BP HAN PLOCA K. SINANOVIC BP HAN PLOCA K. OMEROVIC BP HAN PLOCA K. CORALIC BP GRAHOVCI BP GRAHOVCI 1 BP GRAHOVCI 2 BP GRAHOVCI 3 BP GRAHOVCI 4 BP TOTAL: 23 SITES YIELDING THE REMAINS OF A MINIMUM OF 31 INDIVIDUALS PHYSICIANS/or HUMAN RIGHTS, October

7 Postmortem Examination Findings A PHR Forensic Consultant was not present at the postmortem examinations. Official results of the examinations had not been forwarded at the time of this writing. Process Evaluation The combination of excellent witness information and competent use of backhoe and shovels facilitated quick detection and exposure of remains at most sites. When burials were not found immediately, the team either expanded its area of excavation or sought new witness information; this persistence resulted in success at all but one site. Extraction of remains, however, was often accomplished with probable loss of small bones (especially hand and foot phalanges) and disarticulation of what had been articulated remains in situ. The team was highly motivated to complete the recovery of all remains by 22 May, which contributed to a sense of urgency in the recovery phase. Despite this sense of urgency, the team was able to accomplish the goal of proper recovery for the purpose of identification and repatriation in a competent manner. PHYSIClANS/or HUMAN RIGHTS, October

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10 Photo 1. View from east of Han Plo a KreCana 1 prior to excavation. Photo 2. Dr. Zujo (in pit, wearing brown jacket) directing excavation at Han PloSa Kre ana 1 PHYSICIANS/or HUMAN RIGHTS, October

11 Photo 3. ViSnjica Groblje 2 (backhoe), ViSnjica Groblje 0 (in front of damaged mosque (back left), and ViSnjica Groblje 1 (by group of workrs (back right)). Photo 4. Crime technicians taking measurments at Jehovac Mekteb 1. PHYSICIANS/or HUMAN RIGHTS, October

12 Photo 5. Dr. Harrington (left), Dr. Klonowski (blue glove), and Dr. Sarajlic (bl working at Jehovac 1. Photo 6. Han Plo a Kredana 1/1 remains in situ. PHYSICIANS/or HUMAN RIGHTS, October 1999

13 883* ' %i. ^S wm f '«"^ fc;fl? &^<-,-; : :- *. - >>.V \M Y; i'v^^sisf Jf-cv ft Photo 7. ViSnjica Groblje 0/1 and 0/2 remains m s/ta. H ""#* "A* ' * ' Photo 8. Han PloSa Grahovci 1 remains in situ with plastic-coated electrical wire ankles. PHYSICIANS/or HUMAN RIGHTS, October 1999