PHYSICIANS for HUMAN RIGHTS \NS FORENSIC ASSISTANCE PROJECT Consultant Report 1999-042 Zvornik II Federation Commission on Missing Persons - Bosniak Side 11 August 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://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
Transcript
PHYSICIANS for
HUMAN RIGHTS
\NS
FORENSIC ASSISTANCE PROJECT
Consultant Report 1999-042
Zvornik II
Federation Commission on Missing Persons - Bosniak Side 11 August 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://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
On August 11, 1999, the Federation Commission on Missing Persons - Bosniak Side gathered eight sets of remains from six of nine locations investigated in the vicinity of Zvornik; the ninth site (Mekota) also contained human remains, but this site had been scheduled for a "pre-visit" (reconnaissance) only. Another site (Zulici) that yielded three sets of remains was not finished during this operation. Additional remains were recovered at a later date; these are covered in the Zvornik III Report. All remains were surface remains and were completely skeletonized. They were discovered as a result of the repatriation that occurs in this area. The remains were exposed as the refugees moved back to their homes to clear the land and roads.
A Forensic Consultant from Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) was on the site for the duration of the recoveries.
All remains were placed in body bags and taken to the autopsy facility in Tuzla. No official report on the postmortem examinations had been provided to PHR 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.)
Republika Srpska Commission on Tracing Prisoners and Missing Persons MAKSIMOVIC Makso Member
Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) DRAYER Francine Forensic Consultant KURET Zeljko Field Assistant
Office of the High Representative (OHRL) KULJUH Klaudia Special Assistant
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) AMMETOVIC Danir Member
Security Local RS Police
Site Descriptions, Histories and Recovery Process
The area where the bodies were collected is situated approximately 7 km to the west of the city of Zvornik. All grid coordinates were obtained using a Global Positioning System (GPS) unit, and locations of all sites can be found on the following topographic map: Name Zvornik; Sheet 2883 I; Edition 7-DMA; Series M709; Scale 1:50,000; grid zone designation 34T.
All surface remains were fully skeletonized and weathered. Some of the bones had suffered damage by rodents and other animals. A mass grave at Zulici was only partially exhumed on this date and will be described in another report. The following is a short description of each site (Figure 1).
1. Seferovici - Three bodies were recovered from three locations in this village (see 1999 Zvornik I Report for information on previous exhumations and numbering of remains). The individual designated SEF 3 was a female reportedly born in 1901 and killed on June 12, 1992. The remains were discovered on the surface in front of a house (grid coordinate CQ 422 221). They were scattered over an area of approximately 2 x 2 m (Photo 1). The team cleared the area of undergrowth, exposed all skeletal elements and mapped and measured the
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ZVORNIK II CONSULTANT REPORT
area before collecting the remains that had been damaged by animals. The SEF 4 remains consist of the cranium of a male reportedly born in 1931 or 1932 and killed on the same day as the SEF 3 individual. The skull was found approximately 10 m from a small, destroyed building (grid coordinate CQ 420 219). Inside this building were the talus, calcaneus and the shaft of a fibula. A scapula was found approximately 5 m downhill on the south side of the building. The SEF 5 remains were from a female born in the 1920's and killed in June of 1992. The remains were recovered from grid coordinate CQ 424 220.
2. Seferovici 2 - Witnesses informed the Federation Commission one month prior to operations that the remains of two bodies were present beneath a plum tree in a field (grid coordinate CQ 432 215). However, when the team arrived at the site, there was no evidence of human remains.
3. Krjzevici - A representative from the International Police Task Force (IPTF) had informed the Federation Commission that a human cranium had been discovered in a field next to a creek (grid coordinate CQ 429 214). When the team arrived two days later, the cranium had disappeared.
4. Motovo - The scattered remains of a male (Todd stage 5) covered an area approximately 5 x 5 m (grid coordinate CQ 427 222). No identity or other information for these remains were made available. The sternal ends of the ribs presented with erosive changes, most probably caused by a disease and not advanced age (Photo 2).
5. Zulici - This mass grave was only partly exhumed and will be described in the Zvornik III Report. Three bodies were removed before nightfall (grid coordinate CQ 417 226; Photo 3).
6. Balkovica - The remains of a male were collected at grid coordinate CQ 402 229. The scattered bones consisted of femora, tibiae and vertebrae.
7. Mekota - This was a pre-visit to a mass grave at grid coordinate CQ 417 223. The grave was located next to the road and consisted of a mound of mud that, according to local residents, was not there before the war. The mound was approximately 2 m high and 5 m long. A probe, used at the highest point of the mound, showed no evidence of human remains. However, when pickaxes were used to dig at the edge of the mound, clothing and human bones became visible (Photo 4).
Postmortem Examination Findings
The postmortem examinations were not attended by a PHR Consultant. Results of the examination had not been forwarded to PHR at the time of this writing.
Process Evaluation
The PHR Forensic Consultant noted no problems during the recovery.
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Figure 1. Site Locations
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Photo 1. Seferovici - View of SEF 3 (roll 99-32, exp. 32).
Photo 2. Motovo - View of sternal ends of ribs (roll 99-33, exp. 6).
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Photo 3. Mass grave at Zulici (roll 99-33, exp. 14).
Photo 4. Mekota - View of mass grave (roll 99-33, exp. 23).
