Forensic Assistance Project: Consultant Report 1999

PHYSICIANS
for
HUMAN
RIGHTS
FORENSIC ASSISTANCE PROJECT
Consultant Report 1999-010
Dobrinja I
Republika Srpska Commission on Tracing Prisoners and Missing Persons
4, 5, 26 May 1999
Noel Boaz, Ph.D.
Forensic Consultant
Forensic Assistance Project
Sarajevo, Bosna i Hercegovina
December 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
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
DOBRINJA I CONSULTANT REPORT
Summary of Events
On 4, 5, and 26 May 1999, the Republika Srpska Commission on Tracing Prisoners and
Missing Persons conducted exhumations at seven locations in the Sarajevo metropolitan area.
One site was in a temporary cemetery, where nine of an expected 25 bodies were recovered;
the others were scheduled for recovery at a later date. Two sets of remains each were
recovered from two other sites; one set of remains was recovered from one site; and no
remains were detected at three of the sites. A Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) Forensic
Consultant was present for these recovery efforts.
Most, if not all, of the individuals being sought were Bosnian Serbs reportedly killed in the
spring or summer of 1992.
Postmortem examination results had not been forwarded to PHR at the time of report writing.
Summary of Recovery Operation Results (MNI: Minimum Number of Individuals)
MNI
Site
Grid Coordinate
BP 870 562
9
1. Dobrinja II
2. Miljacka Bridge
BP 868 583
0
3. Ozrenska (Mojmilo)
BP 890 575
0
BP 894 603
4. Brdo Hum
0
2
5. Dobrinja II
BP 870 562
BP891 575
1
6. Mojmilo
BP871 617
2
7. ZuC Cemetery
(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, December 1999
1
DOBRINJA I CONSULTANT REPORT
Participants and Observers (not necessarily inclusive)
Republika Srpska (RS) Commission on Tracing Prisoners and Missing Persons
CORLIJA Dragan
Judge, Srpska Sarajevo
BOGDANIC Milan
Member
Physicians for Human Rights (PHR)
BOAZ Dr. Noel
Forensic Consultant
SITE 1. Dobrinja II
This is a temporary cemetery located in the courtyard of a large apartment complex. The
exhumation was halted after a woman disrupted the work and questioned whether the
families had been notified. On this day the team exhumed nine bodies. The remaining
bodies will be exhumed at a later date.
On 4 May 1999, the RS Commission conducted the exhumation in Dobrinja, which is in the
general vicinity of Sarajevo (Figure 1; Topographic Map Sarajevo; Sheet 2782 I; Edition 9DMA; Series M709; Scale 1:50,000; grid coordinate 34T BP 870 562). The ethnicity of
people buried is Serb with classification as civilians. Estimation of number of people buried
is 25. The grave depth was between 75 cm and 1 m. Grave type is isolated, hand
construction. On this day the Commission exhumed 9 bodies.
SITE 2. Miljacka Bridge
On 4 May, a series of a pits of varying depths were dug, with some attempt at constructing a
trench, but workers refilled already dug portions and thus did not dig a trench of consistent
depth. In no case did the depth of the trench exceed 1 m. There was a poor chance of
discovering an unmarked grave with this methodology.
The exhumation was conducted at grid coordinate 34T BP 868 583 in the general vicinity of
Sarajevo (Figure 1). It has been estimated that there are three bodies in the grave. However,
no remains were found.
SITE 3. Ozrenska (Mojmilo)
On 5 May 1999, the RS Commission continued with exhumations in the area of Sarajevo,
close to the location of Hrasno Brdo in Ozrenska Street. The Commission was searching for
one person named Andelko Draskovic. After approximately 10 pits, all in the area indicated
by witnesses, no remains were found. The RS Commission aborted exhumation after three
hours.
The recovery operation was conducted at grid coordinate 34T BP 890 575, which is in the
general vicinity of Sarajevo, Hrasno Brdo (Figure 1).
PHYSICIANS for HUMAN RIGHTS, December 1999
2
DOBRINJA I CONSULTANT REPORT
According to the witness information, the grave at depth of 1 m was supposed to contain the
body of Andelko Draskovic, a Bosnian Serb civilian killed in 1992 in Sarajevo. However, no
remains were found in the area.
SITE 4. Brdo Hum
On 26 May 1999, the RS Commission visited the Brdo Hum location. According to the
witness statement one person killed in May of 1992 was buried in this area.
This site is at grid coordinate 34T BP 894 603 (Figure 1). No body was found even after
digging a two-meter-long trench.
SITE 5. Dobrinja II
On the same day, the RS Commission conducted an exhumation in the vicinity of Dobrinja II.
Two bodies v/ere exhumed from this location.
In the same cemetery as the previous exhumation, Dobrinja II, this exhumation was
conducted at grid coordinate 34T BP 870 562 (Figure 1). Bodies of two individuals were
found in the isolated graves, which had been constructed by hand. Grave depth was 65 cm
for the first body, and 70 cm for the second body. Both of the bodies were inside coffins.
Reportedly, the families of the persons exhumed had not been not present at the funeral.
Location of the stored bodies is in the autopsy facility at Lukavica.
SITE6.Mojmilo
On 26 May 1999, the RS Commission continued with the exhumation at Mojmilo, 206
Vrbovska Street (earlier referred to as Ozrenska). A body found in an unmarked grave was
identified as j\ndelko Draskovic, born in 1952 and died between 1 3 - 1 8 June 1992.
This exhumation was conducted at grid coordinate 34T BP 891 575 (Figure 1). The person
found in the grave is a Bosnian Serb who died in June 1992. He was buried in clothing and
wrapped in plastic sheeting. The type of grave is isolated with shallow construction, depth of
between 3 0 - 4 0 cm. After being exhumed, the body was taken to Banja Luka where it was
stored.
SITE 7. Zuc Cemetery
On the same day, the RS Commission conducted an exhumation in a Christian Orthodox
Cemetery at Brdo Zuc. It was estimated that this site contained two bodies, which were
found. One was identified as Ranko Brezar who was killed on 19 June 1992. Both of the
bodies were in coffins.
The exact location of this site is grid coordinate 34T BP 871 617 (Figure 1). The ethnicity of
the persons buried is Serb.
PHYSICIANS for HUMAN RIGHTS, December 1999
3
DOBRINJA I CONSULTANT REPORT
Postmortem Examination Findings
Results of the postmortem examinations had not been forwarded to PHR at the time of report
writing.
PHYSICIANS for HUMAN RIGHTS, December 1999
4
DOBRINJA I CONSULTANT REPORT
RKnrig
*C?P
Relk
\^5?V(A
£trc#ed>«
Bg:
TOjlpg
jnrlj EtokJl
iroyed
CT^uS^M
RiMrH
M
3uilC
53
^50 U
14
[Neftartti/V
7^fr
>MiIjevici"I;. J JUynS/P
•
kj
field ~
MbroP*
r. T v i ^ H
l f e l o P | l j * S c / ^ Procesjsingr//
^ , plart^sj / %
\
Processing
.plants
<->\y
\
Airfieh
I surf
517
^c^ryoitowarjPMQnje'MlairJic?
/
^%
Ailinaca'j
Kolonija
sstroyedi
5a t3(TO\
iL .1^.
Figure 1. Site Locations.
PHYSICIANS/or HUMAN RIGHTS, December 1999
5
DOBRINJA I CONSULTANT REPORT
Photo 1. View of Dobrinja II Site.
Photo 2. Dobrinja II Body #1 in body bag.
PHYSICIANS/or HUMAN RIGHTS, December 1999
DOBRINJA I CONSULTANT REPORT
Photo 3. Miljacka Bridge Site.
Photo 4. Ozrenska Site.
PHYSICIANS/OA*
HUMAN RIGHTS, December 1999
DOBRINJA I CONSULTANT REPORT
Photo 5. Brdo Hum Site.
Photo 6. Mojmilo remains in situ.
PHYSICIANS/or HUMAN RIGHTS, December 1999
8
DOBRINJA I CONSULTANT REPORT
Photo 7. Zu5 Cemetery Site (view to south).
Photo 8. Zu£ Cemetery Site: Body #2 in situ.
PHYSICIANS/or HUMAN RIGHTS, December 1999