PHYSICIANS HUMAN | HI for i ^ A FORENSIC ASSISTANCE PROJECT · DRAGANOVIC Kemal Member Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) DRAYER Francine KURET Zjelko Office of the High Representative

PHYSICIANS for

HUMAN | HI A RIGHTS i P ^ i

FORENSIC ASSISTANCE PROJECT

Consultant Report 1999-021

Bugojno II

Federation Commission on Missing Persons - Croat Side 26-27 May 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 02116 USA Tel. (617)695-0041 Fax. (617)695-0307 Email: [email protected] http://wvvw.prirusa.org

Physicians for Human Rights Hasana Kaimije br. 11

71000 Sarajevo Bosna i Hercegovina Tel: 387-71-232-941 Fax: 387-71-233-767

Financed with support of International Commission on Missing Persons

ICMP International Commission

on Missing Persons

mailto:[email protected]://wvvw.prirusa.org

BUGOJNO II CONSULTANT REPORT

Summary of Events

On May 26 and 27, 1999, the Federation Commission on Missing Persons - Croat side exhumed 27 sets of remains from five sites in the Bugojno area. All but one set of remains were collected from single graves in cemeteries. Twenty-five bodies had been buried in heavy, commercial type plastic; the remaining two were in wooden coffins. According to witnesses, Croatian prisoners buried all of these individuals in 1993. No families were present and there were no ceremonies. The reasons for the exhumations were to identify the bodies, determine cause of death, and return the bodies to the families for proper burial.

One set of remains consisted of a clandestine burial, just on the perimeter of a cemetery. The identity of this person was not known at this time.

A Forensic Consultant from Physicians for Humans Rights was present for the duration of the exhumations.

The postmortem examinations were conducted at the autopsy facility in Prozor on May 28, 1999. Drs. Marija Definis-Gojanovic and Simun Andelovic presided over the autopsies;. Of the 27 remains, 26 were identified and returned to the families. An official postmortem report has not been received at the time of writing 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 1999 1


Participants and Observers

Federation Commission on Missing Persons - Croat Side MIKULIC Stjepan JURRO Tihomir RADIC Jerko CVITANOVIC Berislav DEFINIS-GOJANOVIC Dr. Marija ANDELOVIC Dr. Simun CORIC Vinko KALAJICA Josip

Judge Cantonal Court Member Member Pathologist Pathologist Crime Technician Local Assistant of Missing Persons

Federation Commission on Missing Persons - Bosniak Side ODOBASIC Jasmin Member DRAGANOVIC Kemal Member

Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) DRAYER Francine KURET Zjelko

Office of the High Representative (OHR) JOHANSSON Agneta

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) OSVALD Sanda ZURIC Zerina MUJANOVIC Jasmina

Forensic Consultant Field Assistant

Head of Exhumations Office

Member Member Member

Undertaking Company MILICEVIC Ivo

Laborers

Media were also present

Site Descriptions Histories and Recovery Process

1. Gracanica Area River Bank Mounds - Prozor. Grid coordinate: 33T XJ 986 744. Map Prozor, Sheet 2682IV, Edition 5-DMA, Series M709, Scale 1:50,000 (Fig. 1).

MNI of recovered remains: 0

Site history and recovery: Reportedly, the remains of four people are buried at this site. In his pre-visit report (April 30, 1999), PHR Forensic Consultant Richard Harrington advised the Federal Commission to use a backhoe when doing exhumations at this site. However, no backhoe was available.



The workmen dug several test pits by hand in the most disturbed areas (to a depth of approximately 40-50 cm until they reached gravel and ground water), but none of these showed any sign of human remains. The decision was made that the witness statements were too vague and recovery attempts were aborted.

2. Cipuljic Cemetery, Bugojno. Grid coordinate: 33T XJ 943 808. Map Bugojno, Sheet 2683 III, Edition 6-DMA, Series M709, Scale 1:50,000 (Fig. 2).


Site history and recovery: This was a clandestine burial, located on the edge of the cemetery. During the pre-visit, PHR Consultant Harrington had used a probe on the unmarked dirt mound, and had hit soft, malodorous soil at approximately 0.8 m deep. The exhumation procedures on May 26 were straightforward. A test pit was dug by hand until plastic became visible. The orientation of the body was determined (parallel to the fence), and the grave enlarged until the body could be lifted out.

According to witness statements, this body had been discovered floating in the river. The witness had buried the remains. The assumption was made that the person had been a Croat because the body was found on Croat territory.

3. Sultanovici Cemetery, Bugojno. Grid coordinate: 33T XJ 962 797. Map Bugojno (see Site 2 for map information) (Fig. 2).


Site history and recovery: These people were all buried in isolated, single graves, wrapped in heavy, commercial type plastic that was taped shut. The remains were buried by Croatian prisoners, without the presence of family and no ceremonies. The reasons for exhumation of the remains were to identify the bodies, determine cause of death, and to release the bodies to the families for proper burial.

The 23 graves were placed in two rows. Each grave had a cross with the name of the victim. An additional grave, at the far side of the cemetery, was also exhumed. According to Mr. Radic, the family of this individual had officially requested release of the body for proper burial.

4. Causlije Cemetery, Bugojno. Grid coordinate: 33T XJ 959 835. Map Bugojno (see Site 2 for map information) (Fig. 2).


Site history and recovery: According to witnesses, this is a secondary burial. The body had initially been discovered on the road and was thrown into a cave. At a later date, the Bosniak authorities reportedly ordered Croatian prisoners to retrieve the body from the cave and bury it in the cemetery.

PHYSICIANS/or HUMAN RIGHTS, November 1999 3


5. Bristovi Cemetery, Bugojno. Grid coordinate: 33T XJ 987 827. Map Bugojno (see Site 2 for map information) (Fig. 3).


Site history and recovery: The alleged victim, Sekic Zoran, was killed in September 1993. The family has put in an official request to exhume the body in order to bury it in Croatia.

6. Kandija Cemetery, Bugojno. Grid coordinate: 33T XJ 989 785. Map Bugojno (see Site 2 for map information) (Fig. 3).


Site history and recovery: The alleged victim, Pero Brkanovic, was killed and then buried by Croatian prisoners. The body was discovered in a wooden casket, approximately .7 m below the surface. It had been wrapped in plastic.

Process Evaluation

Exhumation was straightforward and presented no problems. All remains were in body or plastic bags, or in caskets. No commingled remains were present.



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Figure 1. Site Location (GraSanica)



BUGOJNO, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA 2683 III M709 EDITION 6-DMA

Figure 2. Site Locations (Cipuljic, Sultanovici, Causlije, Bristovi, Kandija)



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Photo 1: Cipuljic Cemetery, Bugojno. View of body (Photo Roll 99-17, exposure 21).



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Photo 3: Bristovi Cemetery, Bugojno (Photo Roll 99-18, exposure 23).

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Photo 4: Kandja Cemetery, Bugojno (Photo Roll 99-18, exposure 32).


Documents

PHYSICIANS HUMAN | HI for i ^ A FORENSIC ASSISTANCE PROJECT · DRAGANOVIC Kemal Member Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) DRAYER Francine KURET Zjelko Office of the High Representative