US embassy cable - 95ZAGREB4502

C O N F I D E N T I A L ZAGREB 004502 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
USVIENNA ALSO FOR USDEL OSCE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL 11/8/02 
TAGS: War Crimes 
SUBJECT:  (U) CRIMES IN KRAJINA -- REPORT ON ARRESTS, 
          CHARGES 
 
1.  (U) CLASSIFIED BY ROBERT P. FINN, DCM, PER 1(5)(B). 
 
2.  (C) SUMMARY:  AFTER CONSIDERABLE PRODDING, THE GOC 
HAS PROVIDED US A REPORT INDICATING THAT AS OF OCTOBER 
31, A TOTAL OF 19 PERSONS ARE UNDER CRIMINAL 
INVESTIGATION FOR MURDERS COMMITTED IN THE "KRAJINA." 
1260 PERSONS ARE BEING PROCESSED IN 779 CASES OF 
LOOTING, AND ELEVEN PERSONS ARE UNDER SUSPECION OF 
ARSON (THOUGH THERE MAY BE MANY MORE).  END SUMMARY. 
 
3.  (C) ON NOVEMBER 7, A CONTACT AT THE GOC MINISTRY OF 
INTERIOR PROVIDED US (AFTER TWO WEEKS' DELAY) A REPORT 
OFFERING DETAILS BEHIND SOME OF THE NUMBERS ANNOUNCED 
EARLIER FOR JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS INVOLVING CRIMES IN 
FORMER SECTORS NORTH AND SOUTH.  AS THERE WAS 
APPARENTLY SOME HESITANCY ON THE PART OF OUR CONTACT IN 
DIVULGING THIS MATERIAL, AND IT IS NOT CLEAR WHETHER IT 
HAS BEEN MADE PUBLIC, IT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR USG 
BACKGROUND USE ONLY. 
 
4. (C) ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, 19 PERSONS HAVE SO FAR 
BEEN TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATIVE COURT FOR POSSIBLE 
CHARGES OF MURDER.  (NOTE: THE ACTUAL TOTAL APPEARS TO 
BE 26 BECAUSE SOME INDIVIDUALS WERE INVOLVED IN MORE 
THAN ONE OF THE CRIMES.)  OTHER CASES ARE STILL UNDER 
"INTENSIVE INVESTIGATION."  SPECIFICALLY, THE CASES 
INVOLVE MURDERS IN: 
 
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PAGE 03        ZAGREB  04502  091836Z 
KOLARNA (1 PERPETRATOR/L VICTIM) 
BRIBIRSKE MOSTINE (1/1) 
JOSANI (1/1) 
CAKICI (1/1) 
ZRMAJNJA (2/1) 
GOSIC (4/7) 
VARIVODE (4/9) 
OCESTOVO (3/1) 
OCESTOVO (1/1 - ATTEMPTED MURDER) 
RUDELE/TISMA (1/1) 
STRMICA/DRONJCI (1/2 - POSSIBLE MANSLAUGHTER) 
STUPNO (1/1) 
MOSCENICA (1/1 & 2 WOUNDED) 
BOBOVAC (1/1) 
PLACE NOT GIVEN (3/2 & 1 WOUNDED; 2 SUSPECTS STILL AT 
      LARGE). 
 
5. (C) THE MOI FURTHER STATES THAT AT LEAST 2787 CASES 
OF "FIRES, MAINLY IN RESIDENCES AND COMMERCIAL 
BUILDINGS," HAVE BEEN REPORTED, BUT THAT BECAUSE OF THE 
TIME REQUIRED TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE FIRES WERE 
CAUSED BY ARSON OR WAR DAMAGE, ONLY 11 PERSONS HAVE SO 
FAR BEEN CHARGED.  THE RECORD IS BETTER ON FELONY THEFT 
(LOOTING), WHERE 1054 CASES ARE UNDER REVIEW, OF WHICH 
779, INVOLVING 1260 SUSPECTED INDIVIDUALS, HAVE BEEN 
TURNED OVER FOR CRIMINAL PROCESSING (I.E., 
INVESTIGATION). 
- 
6. (C)  COMMENT:  ALTHOUGH THE MOI HAD EARLIER RELEASED 
SOME FIGURES ON TOTAL ARRESTS, THIS IS THE FIRST DETAIL 
TO EMERGE CONCERNING THE NATURE OF THE CHARGES AND 
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PAGE 04        ZAGREB  04502  091836Z 
SPECIFICALLY, WHICH REPORTED CASES OF MURDER WERE 
INVOLVED.  THE MOI SAYS IT IS CONTINUING TO INVESTIAGTE 
ALL LEADS.  IN ANY EVENT, THIS REPORT IS THE FIRST 
CONCRETE EVIDENCE THAT THE GOC IS PROCEEDING, IN AT 
LEAST SOME CASES, TO TRY TO PROSECUTE SOME OF THE 
DOCUMENTED MURDERS AND OTHER CRIMES COMMITTED IN THE 
WAKE OF "OPERATION STORM" IN AUGUST. 
 
GALBRAITH 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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