forensic assistance project

PHYSICIANS for

HUMAN R I G H T S

FORENSIC ASSISTANCE PROJECT

Consultant Report 1999-078

Rogatica I

Federation Commission on Missing Persons - Bosniak Side 15-17 November 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 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

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.phrusa.org

ROGATICA I CONSULTANT REPORT

Summary of Events

From November 15 through 17, 1999, the Federation Commission for Missing Persons-Bosniak Side investigated four sites near the towns of Sokolac and Rogatica and recovered two individuals. Both sets of remains were surface deposits, covered by a thin accumulation of soil and leaf litter.

A Forensic Consultant from Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) was present for all three days and attended the recovery 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/or HUMAN RIGHTS, November 1999 1


Participants and Observers (not inclusive)

Federation Commission on Missing Persons MASOVIC Amor KOSO Sejid DRAGANOVIC Kemal BAZDAREVIC Izet HADZIC Ibrahim BEGOVIC Dzemula DOBRACA Dr. Ilijas HRNJIC Saudin TARIC Ermin BESIC Sejid HALILOVIC Redzep HASANBECOVIC Rifat

- Bosniak Side President Member Member Judge Judge Prosecutor Forensic Pathologist Autopsy Assistant Crime Inspector Crime Inspector MUP Police KDZ

Republika Srpska Commission on Tracing Prisoners and Missing Persons SKRBA Slobodan Member Local Police

Physicians for Human Rights KOMAR Dr. Debra Forensic Consultant

Office of the High Representative BRODERICK Cpt. Bill KOEHL Knud S.C.P.O. CELEBIC Amra

Exhumations Officer Exhumations Officer Translator

International Police Task Force ALTEO Mion (Italy) SINHA Ravi (India) DAVIES Martyn (England)

IPTF, Rogatica IPTF, Rogatica IPTF, Rogatica

Site Descriptions

Site 1 was a destroyed house on north side of the dirt road that runs through the village of Novoseoci. The site's grid coordinate is 34T CP 224 608, map name Sokolac, map number 2882 IV, edition 6-DMA, series M709, scale 1:50,000 (Figure 1).

Site 2 was located on a very steep southern slope of a hill, south of the destroyed village of Zepa. The body was recovered from an accumulation of soil and vegetation at the base of a tree growing out of the rocky slope. The site's grid coordinate is 34T CP 508 673, map name Rogatica, map number 2882 I, edition 5-DMA, series M709, scale 1:50,000 (Figure 2).

Site 3 consisted of surface remains deposited in a lightly wooded area adjacent to a grazed field. The remains were covered by a thick layer of leaf litter and accumulated soil. The site name is Kokavice and the grid coordinate is 34T CP 374 483, map name Rogatica, map number 2882 I, edition 5-DMA, series M709, scale 1:50,000 (Figure 3).

PHYSICIANS/or HUMAN RIGHTS, November 1999


Site 4 was located on a lightly wooded northeast-facing slope above a dry creek bed near a destroyed farmhouse. The site is north east of the village of Zepa. The site's grid coordinate is 34T CP 526 697, map name Rogatica, map number 2882 I, edition 5-DMA, series M709, scale 1:50,000 (Figure 2).

Site History

According to the Federation Commission, the village of Novoseoci (site 1) was inhabited exclusively by Muslims prior to the war. In August, 1992, forty-four people were reportedly killed when Bosnian Serb forces overtook the village. The number of individuals to be recovered from the site was unknown, but two to 12 people were believed to be in the house when it was destroyed.

Despite repeated requests, no information was provided by the Federation Commission as to the events occurring at sites 2, 3 and 4.

Exhumation Process and Condition of Remains

On November 15, 1999, laborers began clearing a large amount of building material and rubble from the house foundation (site 1) using shovels and pickaxes. A test trench was cleared through the center of the foundation which extended half way into the house. No remains were recovered and the Federation Commission halted the exhumation, stating their intention to return to the site at a later date with a backhoe to complete the exhumation.

On November 16, 1999, the Federation Commission had intended to exhume at two locations. A proposal to divide the investigating team to cover both locations was met with strong objections from the host commission. Attempts to reach the first location were thwarted by a collapsed bridge. After traveling a lengthy alternate route to the site, the team encountered an SFOR roadblock. Further progress to the site was impossible due to scheduled detonation of ordnance in the area. The team then proceeded to the second location (site 2). A severe snowstorm made the climb up the hill extremely treacherous and loose rocks were often knocked down the slope by observers high on the hillside, endangering the recovery team below. The skeletal remains of a single individual in civilian clothing were recovered from a narrow ledge at the base of a tree. Limited space and dangerous conditions prohibited a close examination of the recovery process. Fading light and poor weather conditions made further exhumations impossible.

On November 17, the team recovered the skeletal remains of an elderly female from a wooded area (site 3). The remains were covered by 10 cm of leaf litter and soil. A weathered innominate was recovered 2 meters from the concentration of clothing and bones. The body was fully dressed in civilian clothing and the skull had been tightly and fully wrapped with two scarves. The team then returned to the town of Zepa and proceeded to site 4. Despite the participation of a witness with a hand-drawn map of the grave location, the team was unable to locate any remains and the site was abandoned.

PHYSICIANS/OA- HUMAN RIGHTS, November 1999 3


Postmortem Examination Findings

At the writing of this report, no information is available from the Federation Commission regarding the postmortem examination of these remains.

Process Evaluation

Many of the delays and difficulties experienced throughout the exhumation process were outside of the control of the investigating commission. However, there were circumstances which could have been avoided. For example, it was evident that no previsit had been conducted at the fourth site and much time was lost while countless test pits were dug.

The recovery of remains was conducted very quickly with no forensic pathologist present. Treacherous locations and poor weather conditions prohibited a proper recovery at site 2. The exhumation at site 3 was rapid but adequate.



Bor ikaf^s ' -> -

PHYSICIANS/o/- HUMAN RIGHTS, November 1999


PHYSICIANS for HUMAN RIGHTS, November 1999 7


Photo 1. Site 1 (Novoseoci), 15.11.99. General view of site 1, the foundation of a destroyed house (roll 2289, exp. 16).

Photo 2. En route to site 2, 16.11.99. Federation Commission vehicle encounters trouble on a collapsing bridge (roll 2289, exp. 20).



Photo 3. Site 3 (Kukavice), 17.11.99. Remains of body #!,/>? situ (roll 2289, exp. 24).

Photo 4. En route to site 4, 17.11.99. Further delays as the team encounters another collapsing bridge in the village of Zepa (roll 2289, exp. 27).


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