PHYSICIANS for HUMAN RIGHTS FORENSIC ASSISTANCE PROJECT

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1 PHYSICIANS for HUMAN RIGHTS FORENSIC ASSISTANCE PROJECT Consultant Report Srebrenica I Federation Commission on Missing Persons - Bosniak Side 17 September 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 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 On September 17, 1999, the Federation Commission on Missing Persons - Bosniak Side recovered the remains of eight individuals from four locations along the Jadar stream in a mountainous area near Srebrenica. All remains were surface deposited. A PHR Consultant was present for all recoveries at all locations. 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 for HUMAN RIGHTS, November

3 Participants and Observers (not inclusive) Federation Commission on Missing Persons - Bosniak Side HURTIC Murat Member, Tuzla STANKOVIC Silva Judge, Tuzla TOPCTC Mensur Prosecutor, Tuzla KESETOVIC Dr. Rifat Forensic Pathologist, Tuzla BEKTASEVIC Dzevad Crime Technician, Tuzla Republika Srpska Commission on Tracing Prisoners and Missing Persons Local Police Srebrenica Physicians for Human Rights KOMAR Dr. Debra Office of the High Representative JOHANSSON Agneta KULJUH Klaudia Forensic Consultant, Sarajevo Director of Exhumations, Sarajevo Translator and Special Assistant, Sarajevo Site Description The remains were recovered from three tightly clustered sites (referred to as Suceska) along the Jadar stream and an additional location to the east called Lipovac. The grid coordinates for the Suceska sites are 34T CP (site 1), 34T CP (site 2), 34T CP (site 3); the grid coordinate for the Lipovac site is 34T CP ; map name Srebrenica; map number 2983 III, edition 4-DMA; series M709; scale 1:50,000 (see Figure 1). The Suceska sites were surface collections along the banks of the stream. The Lipovac site was a single individual recovered from inside a destroyed utility shed. Site History All individuals recovered are believed to be civilians, killed by Bosnian Serb forces in the summer and fall of The PHR Consultant worked without a translator on this occasion and obtaining detailed case histories was not possible. The investigative team had worked in the same region days prior to the recoveries detailed in this report; however, no PHR Consultant was present for those recoveries. Exhumation Process and Condition of Remains At the first Suceska site (site 1), the team recovered three individuals from the eastern stream embankment. Two individuals (SUC 1A and SUC IB) were commingled in a tight concentration adjacent to the stream (see Photo 1). Recovered at this location were two mandibles and a single skull, along with numerous postcranial skeletal elements. Civilian, summerweig;ht clothing was found in association with these remains. Personal items such as razors and eating utensils were also recovered. PHYSICIANS for HUMAN RIGHTS, November

4 A skull, ribs and isolated pieces of civilian clothing were found higher up the embankment, to the east of the first concentration of remains. The skull recovered did not match either mandible from the first set of remains and these artifacts were labelled SUC 2. All remains recovered from this location were weathered and displayed evidence of postmortem animal scavenging. The second Suceska location (site 2) was approximately 200 meters along the stream to the west. The remains of three individuals were recovered near a destroyed wheelhouse (see Photo 2). The first individual (SUC 4) was discovered immediately adjacent to the wheelhouse. Isolated, animal gnawed long bones and portions of a military uniform and civilian jacket and pants were recovered. A second individual (SUC 5) was recovered 5 meters to the east of the wheelhouse. Only a tibial shaft and fragmentary acetabulum were found, both of which were weathered and scavenged. Ten meters further to the east, a third individual (SUC 6, represented by a femoral shaft and innominate fragment) was recovered. No clothing was found associated with SUC 5 and 6. The third Suceska location (site 3) was along the crest of the northwest stream embankment near a well-established path. A skull and postcranial bones were scattered down the embankment. All bones were weathered and many showed evidence of animal gnawing. Skeletal indicators of the skull and pelvis suggested the remains were male. Civilian clothing was found in association with the remains. The Lipovac site (site 4) was discovered by a witness as the team returned to the road where the vehicles had been left. The remains (LIP 1) appeared to be those of a single individual, scattered across the floor of a destroyed utility shed. Civilian clothing was recovered with the remains. The recovery of the remains in all cases was careful and thorough. Adequate searches were conducted at all sites to ensure maximum recovery of remains. Considerable effort was taken by Dr. Kesetovic to establish the minimum number of individuals at each location. Postmortem Examination Findings At the writing of this report, no information was available from the Bosniak Commission regarding the postmortem examination of the remains from these sites. PHYSICIANS for HUMAN RIGHTS, November

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6 .«* fo? i.*:-^».-: m 'J: 'A^-^ *»*«*OC.' &g «4i Photo 1. Site 1 (Suceska), Dr. Kesetovic flags the location of bones, representing two individuals scattered across the surface of a creek embankment (roll 6268, exp. 35). Photo 2. Site 2 (Suceska), The investigative team arrives at the destroyed wheelhouse (roll 6724, exp. 4). PHYSICIANS for HUMAN RIGHTS, November

7 Photo 3. Site 3 (Suceska), Close-up view of the skull of SUC 3, found along the northwest crest of the creek embankment (roll 6724, exp. 8). Photo 4. Site 4 (Lipovac), Remains of a single individual recovered from a destroyed shack. Photo taken through the door of the shack (roll 6724, exp. 10). PHYSICIANS for HUMAN RIGHTS, November