Balkan Task Force
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would ethnically cleanse outlying towns. Once most non-Serbshad left the area or been killed. Bosnian Serbs leaders would shift tactics and expel the remainder directly, without first sending them to camps.
into nearby rivers or simply left in the oper often buried bodies in mass eraves. Initiall in arcas|
could be hidden (city dumps, existing ct killed in ethnic cleansing operations rep.
The bodies of many of the initial victims of Bosnian Serb ethnic cleansing were thrown
After authorities erected the large camps, guards the camps, mass graves were evcnrually placed [where their nature :s.owever, many non-Serbs were being cremated,
The Bosnians and Croats reportedly committed atrocities primarily against each other during the fighting3 andoth sides expelled and murdered civilians from specific areas-often in retaliation for similar actions by the other stde-alihough the Bosnians actedmaller scale and generally limited detainees to POWs. rather than civilians. The Croat system of detention camps closely resembled the system of camps run by theerbs at the time: conditions were harsh, prisoners were primarily civilians, and the sites were run by the military with the secondary purpose of organizing forced labor gangs.
There reportedly are no large-scale detention sites currently active in Bosnia. Each side still detains POWs for use in forced labor crews. The Bosnian'Serbs reportedly still were holding small groups of non-Serb civilians for "forced labor as of early Novembereveral dozen probably continue to be held for this purpose. Smalrgroups of non-Serbs continue to be expelled from their homes, although this flow has slowedrickle since the signing of the Dayton Accords'wr also'hat the Bosnian Serb leadership has begun to take steps to hide evidence of both older and more tecent atrocities, fgj
The warring parties concentrated ethnic cleansing operations and therefore atrocities in several key areas of Bosnia. Each region has its detention centers, alleged execution sites, and apparent mass graves,
Northwestern Bosnia
The region consisting of Prijedor. Sanski Most, and Banja Luka has been under Bosnian Serb control throughout most of the war. Most of the non-Serb population was either killed or expelled in the first six months of occupation. Bosnian Serb authorities resumed large-scale ethnicxpulsions to Croatia or central Bosnia-ino that now only about two percent of the non-Serb, pre-war population remains,*
The initial collection sites for non-Serb civilian prisoners in this area were usually school buildings, bus stops, and^ These smaller sites gave way to four main detention camps byKera[erm^mopolje (mostlyrnarska (mostlynd Manjaca (mostlyhe former three closed byhile Manjaca-whichSA tank training area-remained the main camp in western
4
Bosnia untilne Bosnian Serbs have used ihe camp intermittantly for civilians, deserters, and POWs since then.
The area immediately surrounding Sanja Luka did not experience the most violent aspects of the2 ethnic cleansing campaign, but Banja Luka authorities probably were involved in such operations in the region. Banjaraditional Serb stronghold in an otherwise mixed region,arge Serb majority, according to1 census, and authorities there did not set up large detention camps. Instead, non-Serb community leaders were, and still are, detained in several police buildings and prisons. kWW
Northeastern,
Ethnic cleansing by Bosnian Serb forces began in the northeastern region of Bosnia and concentrated in Brcko, Bijeljina, Bosanski Samac, and Zvomik. Several Serbian paramilitary groups joined JNA, local militia, and paramilitary forces in2 in taking over these and other towns in the area. Many non-Serb civilians in these towns were killed or expelled by Serb forces, as happened in northwesternSHaMBL) ' 'lhatew hundred non-Serbs remain in the region.
Some of the Serbian and local paramilitaries stayed behind in towns in this region androunded up Muslims. The camps, with the exception of the Luka camp in Brcko and the Batkovic agricultural compound, were generally smaller, and most remained open longer, than those in north western "Bosnia, according to refugee reports. Although the Bosnian Serb "interior ministry" ran most of the camps here, as it did in other regions, the" BSA and paramilitary groups also ran some of the detention camps for civilians. Larger "rape camps" and detention centers in existing factory buildings were more common here than in other regions. The Batkovic camp continues to hold non-Serb prisoners, often civilians, according to refugee reports from December. The BSA uses these prisoners for work details and to exchange for Bosnian Serb POWs. 0
Central Bosnia
Atrocities committed in Central Bosnia, and the camps often associated with them, are unique in that the/can be attributed to all three sides. Most of those committed by the Bosnian Serbs centered around Mostar early in the war and later settled around Sarajevo. Those committed by the Croat military centered around Mostar, Vitez, and the Kiseljak areas. The relatively fewer atrocities reportedly committed by the Bosnian Army centered around Bugojno and Sarajevo. The larger detention sites on all three sides have generally been in either existing prisons or industrial complexes.
Many of the atrocities in Sarajevo attributed to the Bosnians reportedly were the work of street gangs whom the Bosnian Government employed to help defend the city early in the war. Those attributed to the Bosnian Serbs wore carried out by the BSA, which has shelled civilians and "ethnically cleansed" outlying Serb suburbs. Both sides have maintained, and continue to maintain, several detention sites. Both sides have held civilians at these sites, and the Bosnian Serbs probably continue to do so. (fX^k
SbtRET
Early in ihe war. the Bosnian Serbsassive roundup of non-Serbs in Mos:ar and-when they were forced out-shclled civilian areas indiscriminamly. Inhc HVO began "cleansing" Muslims from the eastern" portion of Mostar with the help of several Bosnian Croat crime syndicates. Random atrocities still continue in the Mostar area, primarily because hardline Croat leaders, in refusing to supportadministration of the city, have allowed the crime syndicates to continue expanding their influence.
Eastern Bosnia
Although census data shows that the eastern edge of Bosnia heldj Muslim majority before the war, almost no Muslims remain in the now Serb-held an .dJBHiHBHHft
Bosnian Serb attacks on Vlascnica and Foca occurred at approximately the same time ason the other main population centers in Bosnia, but the ethnic cleansingore thorough manner. More local paramilitary units aided in the attacks thanregions and authority appeared to be more centralized at an earlier rime than inThe alleged head of the Susica detention camp near Vlasenica. where hundredsthousands of Muslims were killed, was the firs; person indicted by the UN WarFoca is perhaps best known as the site of notorious "rape camps" set up by the,,
There has been very little reporting on forced labor activities or atrocities in this region sinceith the notable exception of theapparent massacres at Srebrenica inhis may be because very few non-Serbs are left; the BSA was secure in this area (Gorazdc excepted) and could concentrate labor in other areas; and many towns and villages were more ethnically homogenous than in most other parts of Bosnia before the war. according to1 census data.
Instead of using smaller, temporary detention sites before larger ones could be established, Bosnian Serb authorities had ready access to larger facilities (some prepared ahead of time) and used smaller facilities simply as stopover sites or "rape camps "
Maiii. Detention Sites in Bosnia
Northwestern Bosnia
Main Campieramics factoryear train station in townron ore pit mine
ld JNA Karadordevo military farm. Held upen
Smallcr/Tcmpnrary Camps In Banja Luka: Mali Logor Prison. Tunjice Civilian Prison. In Omarska: Sports Stadium.
Restaurant. In Kozarac: Elementary School. Agricultural Building. In Ljubija: Iron Mines. In Stari Majdan: Coal Mines. Li Tomisica: Mine. In Sanski Most: Krings Iron Works. Betonirka Cement Factory, Sportska Dvorana Narodni Front Sports Auditorium, Hasan Hikic Middle School, Police Station. In Donji Kamengrztf: Coal Mine, Kamengrad Home (rapen Kamcnica: Elementary School near town. In Ljusci Palanka: Military Prison (rape camp).
Northeastern Bosnia
Main.
ear Brcko bus station
arm north of Bijeljina. Probably srill in use by the BSA to hold non-Serb
civilian.and militaryhree story Novi Izvor Electric Co. building
Smaller/Temporary Camps In Brcko: Interplet Textile Combine. Posavina Farming Co-op, Bimex Meat-packing Plant. Laser Discotheque, Partizan Sports Center, Hotel Galeb (rapeotel Westfalia (rapen Loncari: Elementary School.
In Bosanski Samac: Mitar Trifunovic Elementary School Gymnasium. Zasavica.
police/Territorial Defense Forces/prisonn Tuzla: Tusanj Soccer. Stadium.
In Zvornik: Bratstvo Sports Center. In Karakaj: -Alhos Clothing Factory.konomija Agricultural Farm, Glinica Aluminum Refinery (rapenDom Culture Building. InLopare:
Central Bosnia
Main Campscliodromeoccer stadiumarcinretcljusala Sports Arena
SmallexCTemporarv Campsentral prison, Kula, Lukavica, Ramiz Salcin. Bugojno; Elementary School.abela Prison. Mostar: Fourth Elementary School. Helicopter Factory.etrol Storage Center. Vtsoko: Prison. Vitez: Dubravica Prison. Zepce; Elementary School. Agricultural Silos, Sports Arena.
Eastern Bosnia
Main CampsP Dom Prison
Partizan Sports Center (rape camp)usica Camp
Smaller/Temporary Camps
SSRET
Foca: High School. Solano Sail Warehouse, Karamans House (rapeilevino Hotel (raperucica Company Storehouse, Livade Camp (for non-Serboca-Aladza: School. Miljevina: Coal Mine. Brod: School. Rudo: Military Garrison, Cellar of the Movie House. Nova Kasaba: Military Garrison* Bratunac: Stadium.
SEtRGT
Northwestern Bosniaater reservior
ear bridge south of the joining of ihe Sava and Samcauncd.
actory grounds.
uried.
cast bank of Lakeuried.
ity
ron ore mineuried. Omarska-field near theuried.
. Bears Gateuried. Sludge added to anchor bodies. Jezerom south of the camp. Reportedly cemented over.odr Grabeuried.
Tomasicauried. Some animal corpses buned on top to disguise n
city- several graves nearuried.
Northeastern Bosnia
ity dump. Some bodies compressed first.
Bimex meat-packing plant.
brickm north of town.
Sara Geponija0 buried.
livestock pen south of Bijeljinska Street.
powerm fromuried.
Westfaliaast and behind hotel.lat area near sparce birch trees. Brezevoust outsideuried.astleuried. Meterizi cemetery.
Kazambasic cemetery north ofuried.ear earthen dam.
Central Bosnia
alnovicuried.
uminovaca Partisanm east of Capljma. Eastern Bosnia
lood plain east of Drina River across from ihe KP Dom prison,uried, behind hospital,
Original document.
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