|b) ID
Intelligence Report
DCI Interagency Balkan Task Force
5
Croatia: Tomislav Mercep's Role in Atrocities
Croatian legislator and farmer paiamililary commander Tomislav Mercep is widelywithin Croatian Government circles--as directly responsible for serious human rights abuses and other illegal acts during1 war of recession.umerous allegations of atrocities committed by Mercep, or those under his direct supervision, have surfaced. Some of these charges have been corroborated by international organizations and surviving witnesses. Nevertheless, lhe Croatian government, apparently fearing Mercep's support among influential right-wing political leaders and his former troops, has avoided investigating the charges or moving to curb his influence.
Mercep; The Nationalist's Nationalist
An extreme nationalist member of President Franjo Tudjman's ruling Croatian Democratic Councilercep is highly outspoken on questions of Croatian sovereignty and relations with other non-Croat ethnic groups. According to West European press,onstruction engineer by training, was bora in Borovo Naselje and grew up inegion he currently represents in the Croatian
A review of press portfolios Mercep has held
the range of
Defense Secretary in Charge of1
Assistant Minister, Internal Affairs
Chairman, Association of4
Croatian Police Special Units4
President, Croatian Volunteers of the War for thepnr.se ni
Deputy, House of Representatives. Representing Vukovar-Srijem Zupanijawcseni.
Adviser to the Croatian Minister of Internalpresent.
Mcrccp appears to have begun gaining prominence1 when, at the order of the HDZ. he organized tbe fim unitolunteers to fight for Croatian independence. During that same year, while serving as National Defense Secretary in Charge of Vukovar, he is alleged to have committed or directed numerous atrocities, including the torture, killing, and disappearance of thousands of ethnic Serbs in Vukovar, Pakracka Poljana, Gospic, and Zagreb. Croatian press sources allege that Mcrccp was also involved in war profiteering and black-market arms sales.
Since his political riseercep's activities have remained shadowy. According to press, he rarely participates in legislative debates and spends most of his time traveling around the country meeting with fellow members of the nationalist Croatian Volunteers of the War for the Homeland (TJHDDR) organization. Nevertheless. Mercep. who reportedly began giving inflammatory speeches on Croatian independenceas given numerous press interviews that provide insight into his nationalist thinking and his interpretation of tbe allegations against him.
Mercep, rather than denying that Serb deaths took place, insists the numbers are exaggerated or unimportant For example, regardingerbs he allegedly killed in Pakrac, he told the German press4 "what arcerbs compared to what was done to the Croats?1*
Mercep also has defended his actions, asserting they were to "saveor example, Mercep states that his actions in Vukovar were not crimes, but 'heroic acts in defense of the Croatian population."
Stating that he is "not an advocate of yielding and endlessercep urged Zagreb's takeover of the Serb-held Krajinae publicly threatened--and later carried oat his thrcats-to organize demonstrations supporting an invasion.
On the issue of Serb minority rights. Mercep stated4 that "if tbe Serbs refuse to accept Croatia'sill personally issue an order to liberate Knin and so devastate it that no two stones will be left
standing on top of one another."
Although Mercep denies charges of war profiteering and black-market arms sales, he publicly admits being involved in the procurement of weapons for Vukovar that were paid for by the local population.!-
The Croatian Volunteers of the War for the Homeland
The Croatian Volunteers of the War for the Homelandn organization of veterans of1 war-was founded on3 by Zvonimir Tmsic, who, along with Mercep, is implicated in atrocities committed against civilians in Packracka Poljana. According to Croatian press quotes from UHDDR leaders, the organization was "conceived as an association outside and above political parties" andon-governmental organization that would bring together those who went to war and took their status into their own hands without waitingall from the government."
Mercep was elected president of the UHDDR inausing severe internal squabbling between bis supporters and other members who disapproved of the electionwarnd suspected that Mercep wanted to use the organizationolitical tool to gain more leverage on the government. Indeed, Mercep has indicated in press comments that he would like the UHDDR to become an organization of influence.
Mercep claims that the UHDDRhapters andembers, whom he refers to as his "Croatiane also told the press he intends to establish UHDDR chapters io Bosnia, and inarioosnian Croat and president of the Bosnianwas servingice president of the UHDDR. Kordic is expected to be indicted by the UN War Crimes Tribunal,
Mercep appears to play an almost patriarchal role in the organization. He travels around the country meeting with UHDDR members, offering unspecified types of assistance to families of UHDDR members killed in tbe fighting that has plagued Croatiaarious Balkan and Western European press reports indicate that heide and loyal following in the organization.
A variety of sources indicate that Mercep--often referred to in lhe press as "the defender ofto be closely associated Croatian right-wing extremists.
Mercep received favorable play in the initial issues ofeekly news magazine launched in4 to extol the virtues of the old Croatian Ustasha Government, which helped the Nazis kill thousands of Serbs. Jews, and Gypsies during World War II.
Mercep's Alleged Atrocities
The bulk of tbe charges against Mercep concern events1 andccordingariety of sources. In the past few years, reports have emerged from survivors, international human rights organizations, and the press, indicating that the systematic killing of Serbs during that period probably occurred. Mercep and his paramilitary forces, referred to alternately as the HOS (Croatian Defensend, in at least one press report, as the 'Tomislav Mercep Support Company ofth Tigerre specifically charged with haying coramitted atrocities in Pakracka Poljana, Gospic, Vukovar, and Zagreb.
A Note on Sources of Evidence
Although Mercep is widely describedwarolid evidence is limited. Many of tbe charges against him are based on the testimony of surviving witnesses. The allegations have gained credence by the wide range of sources independently providing the same information. Many of the charges have been backed up by the fact-finding missions of reputable international human rights organizations, such as tbe UN, and the discovery of bodies and mass graves in areas where the atrocities reportedly occurred. |
' The HOS ts KfcMiflcdvarioushe ponnaltttry um of iht Cirmir Party of Ibe Right
Pakracka Poffana.
Pakrac and Pakracka Poljana, in tbe former UN Sector West, am the subjects of the most serious charges against Mercep. Using the term "mass2 Helsinki Watch letter toon several fact-finding missions and eyewitness accounts-alleges summary execution of civilians and disarmed combatants, torture and mistreatment of detainees, arbitrary arrests and disappearances, and the destruction of civUian property. West European press reports estimate that in the fall0 Serbs were expelled anderb villages destroyed. As manyerbs are missing from lhe area.1
fa late5 that fewereros remained in the Pakrac area. Indicating the large-scale disappearance or emigration of ethnic Serbs.
According to testimony collectedeputable international human rights organization, al leastivilians were killed aroundroatian press reportroatian Ministry of Internal Affairs document citing the execution ofivilians in Pakrac by troops commanded by Mercep.
UN Civilian Police investigating human rights abuses in Sector West have reported that torture and murderrisonoccer stadium in Pakracka Poljana, at Mercep's residence, androatian military base at Bjclovar.
N investigators identified and photographed mass grave sites in three places near the railway station at Pakrac. Bodies from two of the graves were subsequently removed by Croatian officials before observers could exhume them, and trees were planted over the site, according to official UN reports. Investigators believe that the third site, to which Croatian authorities denied access, may hold as manyodies.
Elsewhere in the area, investigators from NGOs contracted by lhe UN found nine unmarked burial areasotal ofodies in
3
officials alsorave near Facicrac containing the bodies of eight Serb civilians, according to press.
According to UN Gvilian Police investigators, persons claim to have witnessed that Mercep is responsible for the massacre of Serb civilians at Marino Sclo near Uljanik and that bodies from the massacre-as
many, according to Serbianbe buried between Pakracka Poljana and Marino Selo.
The former KraUna Serblong with Serbian and Croatian press reports, has alleged lhat as many asass gravesodies-el ocr with several smaller graves-exist in Ihc areas around Pakrac
Gospic
Mercep and troops under his command are alleged to have committed mass murders in Gospic in western Croatia in September andut details of Ihe case are sketchy. Numerous rumors, along with the testimony of witnesses have been carried in the local and West European press, bul Croatian press reports suggest that Zagreb has attempted to suppress information about incidents at Gospic.
8 September. Croatian forces razederb villages near Gospic, according to the Serbian press.
Balkan and Western European press reports indicate that onerccp's troopserbs. The bodies off those arrested were relumed to their families inhe omen remain unaccountedest European press report cites apparent witnesses who heard Merccp's units boast of havingSerb siupers."
ccording to German television, Serbian troops reportedostly Serb, bodies in the Orthodox cemetery in Gospic, among which was the body of the town's Croatian prosecutor, who had opposed Tudjman's rule.
Tbe US Embassy in Zagreb reported4roatian weekly detailed Merccp's alleged crimes in Gospic. based on classified Croatian Ministry of Internal Affairs documents,
Vukovar
Allegations of atrocities committed by Mercep while military commander in Vukovar are based largely on reports from Serbs expelled from tbe area in1 and from family members of individuals killed by Croatian forces, as well as Serbian and Croatian press reports.
After Serb troops won control of Vukovar from Croatian forces inrajina Serb officials reported to tte UN that they bad found several mass graves of Serb civilians-including tbe bodies of five children under age seven, whose throats had been slit or who had been shot at close range.
Tne Croatian press reported on the contents of an alleged confidential letter written to Tudjman3 from the former Croatian Representative to Vukovar alleging that Mercepey role in atrocities committed there.
Other Charges
Charges that Mercep was involved in ibe murders of several Serb and Croatian citizens in other areas have been summarized in an expose in the weekly news magazine Globus, which reportedly was based on classified documents summarizing an investigation by Croatian intelligence. Although the charges are not confirmed by other sources, the article does provide names and dates of victims and alleged perpetrators.
According to the press accounts,ecember, four members of an Internal Affairs Ministry unit directly under Merccp's command killed Mihajlorajina Serb who lived in Zagreb andember of the HDZ. The killers then robbed Zee's bouse0 dinars and kidnapped bis wife and daughter, who were later shot and their bodies dumped outside Zagreb. Police investigating the murderetter in Zee's house ordering him to leave Zagreb byecember or be killed. Tbe letter was signed by the Croatian Defense Movement (HOP).1
* Vartow preti tome* refer to ibebe Croatian Defauer the CiohIm Liberation Movemeni. Pounded by Niholn Roxanfcorte and Useda. il is ttpooMly ihcCrc-iiaa tavgrtuKeote Inbc HOP wu one of scrcn right-wing pmleswuingle, national-level, rigfa-wbig party (bat eould effedifely dupbee tbe HDZ. The HOP alto hu eaabliibcd itself in Slovenia, where il*o lobby for Ibe minority righti of ethnic Croau in Out oououy. There hu been virtually no WMrtfatjMU^MUWrtlClhlUW ova the bat yew and no reporting linking it directly lo Mercep.]-
The same unit reportedly kidnapped Milos Ivosevic, the head of the Zagreb railyard customs house, along with two of his friends, onress reports allege that the three were takenillage near Pakrac and shot, along with nine residents of Pakracka Poljana. All of the bodies reportedly were returned to their families.
Merccp's unit is also accused of abducting and killing Stevan Brajenovic, head of the Dobovo customs house. He reportedly was taken lo Pakracka Poljana onecember and shot.
Finally, according to press, tbe Croatian Intelligence report implicates Merccp's unit in tbe abduction of Inaroatian woman who headed the HDS in Kraljevica. She was allegedly abducted on Merccp's orders for plotting his assassination. Her current whereabouts arc unknown.
Bywas widely accepted within senior
Croatian Government circles that Mercep committed atrocities at Pakracka Poljana and Gospic, but several influential Croatian officials wanted to protect him because they valued bis leadership and military skills.
After local officials in Eastern Croatia began to communicate their concerns about Merccp's activities as National Defense Secretary for Vukovar. and the allegations began to receive wide press play. Mercep was 'promoted* to Assistant Minister of Internal Affairs, according to various press reports.
Even in cases where investigations and arrests were attempted, they were unsuccessful, suggesting that Mercep. his superiors, or his allies intervened to derail them.
In tbe Zee family murder case, the suspects were arrested and
confessed to the crimes, according to press. There were no judges present at tbe hearings, however, making the confessions illegal under Croatian law. The suspects were released Press reports allege that tbe notes from tbe first interrogation of the suspects-which contained theirsubsequently removed from police files.
Inospic Police Chief Ivan Vekic publicly promised to investigate the disappearance of Serbs in Gospic, but left his post inlthough there is no corroborating reporting, some
Zagreb's Response
Croatian press alleged thai his departureesult of pressure from Zagreb.
Finally, inest European press reports indicate that Zagreb launched an inquiry into the leaking of the classified documents on Mercep that had been cited in Globus and other Croatian press. In public statements, then-Minister of Internal Affairs Ivan Jarajak threatened to fire those responsible for the leaks, but be never denied the existence of the documents or the veracity of their contents.
In the last six months, the Croatian Government has made only token moves to rein-in Mercep and his forces.
reporting indicates thai Tudjman expelled inner circles of tbe HDZ leadership on IS October, stating that the HDZ had no room for individuals of Mercep's reputation, despite his "valuable wartime services."
Nevertheless. Zagreb is likely to continue to avoid taking any serious action against Mercep and win downplay bis ties to the government, in tbe hopes that keeping his profile low will limit attention to his case. Zagreb is only likely to alter its stance in the face of concrete evidence of Mercep's role in atrocities, along with strong international pressure to redress these crimes.
To assuage Western criticism, the Croatian Government might decide to use Mercepcapegoat, but would pursue this alternative only after carefully weighing the political and military support Mercep enjoys and determining that the government could withstand any internal oppositionalculated effort to marginalize Mercep.
Original document.
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