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According to
the official results of the 1991 census, the Travnik district had
70,402 residents:
26,008 Croats
(36,9%)
31,862 Moslems (45,3%)
7,751 Serbs (11,0%)
4,781 others (6,8%)
Since the beginning of the Serbian aggression against Bosnia- Herzegovina
(1992) the war has spread to the northwestern sections of the district.
The Serbian forces stationed on the Vlasic Mountain repeatedly fired
on the town of Travnik from the long range arms, and especially
on the Croat populated village of Paklarevo. On June 28th 1992,
the Serbian forces fired two "Luna" missiles on the village
of Paklarevo. During June the Serbian infantry massacred thirteen
persons. After the occupation of the neighbouring district of Jajce,
the Serbian forces occupied the villages of Karaula and Potkraj.
Eight persons were killed by shells fired from the Serbian positions
in the village of Brajkovici.
In August, September
and October (1992) many Moslem refugees arrived in the district
area from the occupied districts in the northwestern Bosnia, thus
causing differences between Croats and Moslems. Those differences
escalated in early April 1993 when B-H Army soldiers attacked the
Croat populated villages of Dolac, Rudnik Bila and Miletici during
which time five Croat civilians were killed.
On June 3rd
1993, B-H Army soldiers launched an attack on HVO soldiers and Croat
civilian residents of the town of Travnik and the village of Polje.
This attack was followed by the attacks on the villages of Podovi
and Bikose (June 5th 1993), Krpeljici, Grahovcici, Guca Gora, Brajkovici,
Cukle, Paklarevo, Maline, Ovnak and Dolac (June 8th 1993). In these
attacks B-H Army soldiers killed a large number of Croat civilians:
nine persons were killed in the village of Guca Gora; five persons
were killed in the village of Miletici; 31 persons were killed in
the village of Maline; one person was killed in the village of Ovnak;
four persons were killed in the village of Grahovcici; two persons
were killed in the village of Dolac Bila; one person was killed
in the village of Podovi; 19 persons were killed in the village
of Cukle; six persons were killed in the village of Brajkovici.
The total number of killed Croats in the town of Travnik has not
yet been established, however it is presumed to be considerable.
The surviving Croat residents were evicted from the Travnik district
area that had been occupied by B-H Army soldiers, and their properties
were looted, confiscated and/or destroyed.
Some Croat residents
of the Travnik district were deported to Moslem controlled camps
where they were terrorised, mentally and physically maltreated and
killed.
002 B-H - TRAVNIK - October 20, 1992
DESCRIPTION
OF REPORTED CRIME: Wilful wounding and willful killing of soldiers.
TIME AND LOCATION: October 20, 1992, 10:10 a.m., M5 Highway(Travnik-Vitez),
in front of the "Medresa" building, near the checkpoint.
SUMMARY OF REPORTED CRIME: Ivica Stojak (commander of the Travnik
Brigade, Croatian Defence Council) was killed, and Zvonko Gaso(head
of the local Croatian Defence Council staff) seriously wounded,
when "the 7th Muslim Brigade" (the B-H Army) fired at
the members of the "Travnik Brigade" of the Croatian Defence
Council, near a Muslim checkpoint. Both victims were taken to the
Travnik hospital where they were taken in by the chief surgeon Branimir
Markunovic and the hospital administrator, Mirsad Granov.
PERPETRATORS: Commander of the 7th Muslim Brigade, a major called
Tara (fired at the members of the Croatian Defence Council without
warning), members of the 7th Muslim Brigade among whom were noticed
Enes Alicic (fired at the vehicle from a distance of 2-3 meters).
EVIDENCE: Audio tape recording of an interview with a witness, supplemented
by a written statement currently kept in the archives of the Department,
no. 1J2TR01A002
NOTE: 30 minutes
after this took place, Captain Hasan Ribo (staff commander of the
Territorial Defense, and of the B-H Army forces), General Jasmin
Jaganjac, and Fikret Cuskic (commander of the 7th Krajina Brigade)
were notified of the incident, but failed to take any measures to
arrest the perpetrators.
002 B-H - TRAVNIK - April 25th, 1993
DESCRIPTION
OF REPORTED CRIME: Mass killing.
TIME AND LOCATION:
April 25th, 1993, the village of Miletici, Novi Travnik district.
SUMMARY OF REPORTED CRIME: B-H Army soldiers massacred five Croat
civilians in the village of Miletici, on April 25th, 1993. According
to a witness, about 50 B-H soldiers arrived in the village of Miletic:
"They were mujahadins joined by local Muslims. They forced
Croats to gather in front of Sreco Pavlovic's cowshed. Out of 40
Croats who came, only five were fit for army service. They tied
us with a rope, and those five who were fit for army service were
taken aside. The remaining 35 Croat civilians (women, children,
elderly men) were taken to the village of Mehurici. They locked
us up in the so-called Savic's house where we spent two days and
two nights. After that they allowed us to return to our village,
where we saw the bodies of the five men who were separated from
us. The killed were as follows:
1. Anto Petrovic
(50 years old, Stipo's son);
2. Frano Pavlovic (30 years old, Mijo's son);
3. Stipo Pavlovic (45 years old, Jozo's son);
4. Tihomir Pavlovic (19 years old, Sreco's son);
5. Vlado Pavlovic (19 years old, Zorko's son).
B-H Army soldiers
left the bodies of murdered Croats in Ivo Pavlovic's house.
The dead bodies
were lying face down. I saw rope marks on Frane Pavlovic's neck.
After some time,
members of UNPROFOR evacuated civilians from thevillage of Miletici
and transferred them to Nova Bila. The following civilians were
kept in the village against their will:
1. Ivo Pavlovic
(born 1919);
2. Marko Pavlovic;
3. Mara Pavlovic (Marko's wife);
4. Zdravko Pavlovic;
5. Mara Pavlovic (Zdravko's wife);
6. Sreco Pavlovic.
When in early
June 1993 B-H Army soldiers brought the imprisoned Croat villagers
of Maljine to the village of Miletici, they evicted the remaining
six Croat villagers of Miletici from the village."
PERPETRATORS:
B-H Army soldiers.
SOURCE OF INFORMATION:
A witness' account currently kept in the archives of the Centre.
001 B-H - TRAVNIK
- June 6, 1993
DESCRIPTION
OF REPORTED CRIME: Misuse of the UN colours and sign.
TIME AND LOCATION: June 6, 1993; Travnik (central Bosnia).
SUMMARY OF REPORTED CRIME: "... I testify that the UNPROFOR
transported Muslim soldiers from one battle position to another,
while they refused to transport our wounded, although several persons
were in critical state. That's right, they transported, during the
attack, the armed Muslims - Muslim Army - from one station to another.
I watched as they evicted our people from the village. Then the
armed Muslims got off their transporter vehicles. In the centre
of Travnik, the armed Muslims left the B-H Army barracks and got
on the UN transporter vehicles, and then they were transported to
the Vilenica Mountain, and to the Muslim populated villages of Turici
and Bijelo Bucje. In their transporter vehicles the British forces
of UNPROFOR carried Muslim soldiers. (...) The UNPROFOR ignored
Croats. They collaborated with Muslims. After taking Muslims in
front of the local hotel, the British UNPROFOR watched Muslims fire
from snipers at our refugees. There were 2,000 or 3,000 refugees.
The UNPROFOR transporter vehicle just stood there. They did nothing
while the Muslims fired at the stream of refugees from their positions.
Some refugees got killed. Ivo Zepina (70 years old) was hit by a
sniper in the belly, his sister was wounded in the thorax, while
their granddaughter was killed. The sniper also hit the police force
commander Velimir Matic. People panicked. We could not move the
dead, let alone bury them..."
PERPETRATORS:
Members of B-H Army stationed in Travnik; members of the UNPROFOR
British Battalion.
EVIDENCE: Audio
tape recording of an interview with a witness, supplemented by a
written statement currently kept in the archives of the Centre.
003 B-H - TRAVNIK
- June 8th, 1993
DESCRIPTION
OF REPORTED CRIME: Mass killing.
TIME AND LOCATION:
June 8th, 1993; the village of Maljine, Travnik district.
SUMMARY OF REPORTED
CRIME: On June 8th, 1993, in the section of the village of Maljine
called Bikosi, B-H Army soldiers executed 31 persons of Croat nationality.
After the execution, B-H Army soldiers walked from one dead body
to another and fired on them.
Two Croats managed
to survive and escaped from the scene of the crime, due to the confusion
caused by a B-H Army soldier who shot himself with his own weapon.
The executed were as follows:
1. Ante Balta
(Franjo's son);
2. Ivo Balta (Niko's son);
3. Jozo Balta (Franjo's son);
4. Luka Balta (Matan's son);
5. Nikica Balta (Franjo's son);
6. Bojan Barac (Zvonko's son);
7. Davor Barac (Zvonko's son);
8. Goran Bobas (Niko's son);
9. Marjan Bobas;
10. Niko Bobas;
11. Pero Bobas (Mijo's son);
12. Slavko Bobas;
13. Srecko Bobas (Franjo's son);
14. Bozo Djakovic (Ante's son);
15. Dalibor Jankovic (Stipo's son);
16. Dragan Jurcevic (Niko's son);
17. Mirko Kramar (Drago's son);
18. Slavko Kramar (Mijo's son);
19. Franjo Martinovic (Niko's son);
20. Tihomir Pesa (Drago's son);
21. Ana Pranjec (Drago's daughter);
22. Zdravko Pranjes (Ante's son);
23. Darko Puselja (Bozo's son);
24. Predrag Puselja (Kazimir's son);
25. Vlado Puselja (Andrija's son);
26. Zeljko Puselja (Mijo's son);
27. Jako Tavic (Ivo's son);
28. Mijo Tavic (Ivo's son);
29. Stipo Tavic (Pero's son);
30. Ivo Volic (Jozo's son);
31. Stipan Volic (Ivo's son).
The most of
350 Croat villagers of Maljine were taken to the village of Mehurici
by B-H Army soldiers on June 8th, 1993.
PERPETRATORS:
B-H Army soldiers.
SOURCE OF INFORMATION:
Document currently kept in the archives of
the Centre.
005 B-H - TRAVNIK - June 8, 1993
DESCRIPTION
OF REPORTED CRIME: Forced displacement of the civilian population
(ethnic cleansing), murder, destruction and looting of civilian
property.
TIME AND LOCATION: June 8, 1993, village of Ovnak (east of Travnik).
SUMMARY OF REPORTED CRIME: There were 23 Croatian family homes in
the village of Ovnak. Stipo Kafandar (born 1917) was shot in his
home by a machine gun. He was buried in Ovnak on June 12, 1993.
The remaining civilians were forced to flee to Nova Bila. Two Croatian
houses were set on fire, while members of the B-H Army moved into
5 other Croatian houses. The rest of the houses were looted and
livestock taken.
PERPETRATORS: Members of the B-H army.
SOURCE OF INFORMATION: The Zenica Commission official report completed
following the investigation in the village of Ovnak, July 18, 1993.
The report was published in the newspaper "Vjesnik", July
19, 1993, page 8, titled: "Seventy Lives - No Return".
Written document currently kept in the archives of the Department.
006 B-H - TRAVNIK - June 8, 1993
DESCRIPTION
OF REPORTED CRIME: Forced displacement of the civilian population
(ethnic cleansing), murder, destruction and looting of civilian
property.
TIME AND LOCATION:
June 8, 1993, village of Grahovcici (east of Travnik).
SUMMARY OF REPORTED CRIME: B-H Army aggression against Croatians
in the village of Grahovcisi left 4 civilians dead. The following
were killed: Stipo Cuturic (born 1928, father's name Dragan) was
killed by machine-gun fire in his home and was buried on June 12,
1993 in Ovnak; Ana Cuturic (born 1927, wife of Stipo) was shot by
a machine-gun while in her home (there were severe burn marks on
the body) and was buried on June 12, 1993 in Ovnak; an unknown elderly
woman was buried on June 12, 1993 in Ovnak; an unknown young man,
a civilian, was killed by machine-gun fire and his body was found
in Grahovcici Lake. There were 200 Croatian family homes in the
village of Grahovcici. All of the survivors of B-H Army aggression
were displaced to the village of Nova Bila. 23 houses were set on
fire. The rest of the homes were looted and livestock taken.
PERPETRATORS: Members of the B-H army.
SOURCE OF INFORMATION: The Zenica Commission official report completed
following the investigation in the village of Grahovcici, July 18,1993.
The report was published in the newspaper "Vjesnik", July
19, 1993, page 8, titled: "Seventy Lives - No Return".
Written document currently kept in the archives of the Department.
007 B-H - TRAVNIK - June 8, 1993
DESCRIPTION
OF REPORTED CRIME: Forced displacement of the civilian population
(ethnic cleansing), murder, destruction and looting of civilian
property.
TIME AND LOCATION: June 8, 1993 village of Dolac Bila (east of Travnik).
SUMMARY OF REPORTED CRIME: B-H Army aggression in the village of
Dolac Bila left 2 Croatian civilians dead. The victims include:
Jadranko Kurt (born 1973, father's name Pero) and Franjo Brkic (born
1970, father's name Srecko). Both were buried at the Gradac cemetery.
There were 65 Croatian family homes in the village of Dolac Bila.
All of the survivors of B-H Army aggression were displaced to the
village of Nova Bila. 11 houses were burnt
Down. The rest
of the homes were looted and livestock taken.
PERPETRATORS: Members of the B-H army.
SOURCE OF INFORMATION: The Zenica Commission official report completed
following the investigation in the village of Dolac Bila, June 18,
1993. The report was published in the newspaper "Vjesnik",
July 19, 1993, page 8, titled: "Seventy Lives - No Return".
Written document currently kept in the archives of the Department.
008 B-H - TRAVNIK - June 8, 1993
DESCRIPTION
OF REPORTED CRIME: Forced displacement of the civilian population
(ethnic cleansing), internment of civilians, destruction and looting
of civilian property.
TIME AND LOCATION: June 8, 1993, in the village of Podovi (east
of Travnik)
SUMMARY OF REPORTED CRIME: B-H Army aggression against the village
of Podovi left one person dead, Ivo Barac (Croat, born 1927, father's
name Ante). The victim was physically handicapped. He was buried
near the house of Alojzije Bobas. There were 75 Croatian family
homes in the village of Podovi. The survivors of B-H Army aggression
have been interned to the village of Mehurici. The village of Mehurici
is in the south of the Busovaca district. In the village of Podovi,
4 Croatian houses were burnt down, while Muslims moved into 10 Croatian
homes. The rest of the homes were looted and livestock taken.
PERPETRATORS: Members of the B-H army.
SOURCE OF INFORMATION: The Zenica Commission official report completed
following the investigation in the village of Podovi, June 18, 1993.
The report was published in the newspaper "Vjesnik", July
19, 1993, page 8, titled: "Seventy Lives - No Return".
Written document currently kept in the archives of the Department.
009 B-H - TRAVNIK - June 8, 1993
DESCRIPTION
OF REPORTED CRIME: Murder.
TIME AND LOCATION:
June 8, 1993, the village of Cukle (north-east of Travnik).
SUMMARY OF REPORTED CRIME: B-H Army aggression against the village
of Cukle left 9 unarmed Croatian civilians dead. Also killed were
10 Croatians who attempted to resist B-H Army aggression. The following
civilians were killed: Vinko Jankovic(born 1933, father's name Marko)
was killed in his home and was buried close to the restaurant owned
by Luka Galic; Tomo Stojak(born 1936, father's name Jozo) was killed
in the village and buried close to the restaurant owned by Luka
Galic; Dragun Marijanovic (born 1924, father's name Marko) was killed
in the village and was buried in a field, 40 metres from the house
of Marinka Pesa; Ivo Laus (born 1940, father's name Fabijan) was
killed in the village and buried in front of the house of Drago
Tadic-Karagan; Franjo Stojak (born 1928, father's name Jozo) was
killed in the village and buried in an unknown location; Berta Kozina
(born 1933, husband's name Ivo) was killed in front of her home
and was buried by her barn; an unidentified elderly man with a grey
mustache and grey hair was killed in the village and buried in front
of the house of Mate Kozina; Mara Gazibaric (born 1925, husband's
name Pero) was killed in front of her house, and her body was brought
into the house which was later set on fire by members of the B-H
army; Ivo Galic (born 1928, father's name Luka) was killed in his
house and buried in an unknown location.
Croatians killed
while resisting B-H Army aggression include: Fabijan Laus (born
1961, father's name Ivo) was found shot by a machine gun in Ovnak
and was buried there on June 12, 1993; Zlatko Marijanovic (born
1955, father's name Stipo) was killed close to the village and buried
close to the water reservoir; Drago Eric (born 1958, father's name
Ivo) was killed in the village and buried by the water reservoir;
Pero Kozina (born 1956, father's name Ivo) nature of death unknown,
as well as burial place; Pero Kolenda (born 1964, father's name
Ivica) was killed in the village, burial place unknown; unidentified
young man, small build, blond hair, was killed in the village and
buried in front of the house of Mate Kozina; Branko Mrkonja (born
1967, father's name Drago); Miroslav Kozina (born 1967, father's
name Stipo); Anto Stojak (born 1972, father's name Mate); Kazimir
Kozina (born 1967, father's name Mate).
PERPETRATORS:
Members of the B-H army.
SOURCE OF INFORMATION: The Zenica Commission official report completed
following the investigation in the village of cukle. The report
was published in the newspaper "Vjesnik", July 19, 1993,
page 8, titled: "Seventy Lives - No Return". Written document
currently kept in the archives of the Department.
010 B-H TRAVNIK,
June 8, 1993
DESCRIPTION
OF REPORTED CRIME: Forced displacement of the civilian population
(ethnic cleansing), destruction and looting of civilian property.
TIME AND LOCATION: June 8, 1993, village of Cukle (north-east from
Travnik).
SUMMARY OF REPORTED CRIME: There were 175 Croatian family homes
in the village of Cukle. During B-H Army aggression, 19 people were
killed. One group of Croatian civilians from this village was interned
to the villages of Brajkovici (10 individuals) and Susanj (east
of Travnik). A second group of Croatian civilians was interned to
the village of Mehurici (north of Busovaca). In the village of Cukle,
32 Croatian houses were set on fire and Muslim families moved into
11 houses owned by Croatians. The rest of the homes were looted
and livestock taken.
PERPETRATOR: Members of the B-H army.
SOURCE OF INFORMATION: The Zenica Commission official report completed
following the investigation in the village of Cukle. The report
was published in the newspaper "Vjesnik", July 19, 1993,
page 8, titled: "Seventy Lives - No Return". Written document
currently kept in the archives of the Department.
011 B-H - TRAVNIK, June 8, 1993
DESCRIPTION
OF REPORTED CRIME: Murder.
TIME AND LOCATION: June 8, 1993, village of Brajkovici (east of
Travnik).
SUMMARY OF REPORTED CRIME: During B-H Army aggression against the
village of Brajovici, 3 unarmed Croatian civilians were killed.
Also, 3 Croats were killed while attempting to resist B-H Army aggression.
The following Croatian civilians were killed: Stjepan Bobas (born
1926, father's name Marko) was killed in his home and was buried
close to his house; Marko Josipovic (born 1934, father's name Pero)
was killed in his home and buried close to his house; Alfonz Matkovic
(born 1933, father's name Jozo), physically handicapped (without
a leg), was killed in the village of Grahovcici and was buried in
Ovnak on June 12, 1993. The following were killed while attempting
to resist B-H Army aggression against the village of Brajovici:
Pero Matkovic (born 1970, father's name Matija) was killed close
to the village and was not buried; Anto Klaric (born 1946, father's
name Mato) was killed in his home; Marijan Baric (approximately
40 years of age, father's name Niko).
PERPETRATORS: Members of the B-H army.
SOURCE OF INFORMATION: The Zenica Commission official report completed
following the investigation in the village of Brajkovici on June
18, 1993. The report was published in the newspaper "Vjesnik",
July 19, 1993, page 8, titled: "Seventy Lives - No Return".
Written document currently kept in the archives of the Department.
012 B-H - TRAVNIK,
June 8, 1993
DESCRIPTION
OF REPORTED CRIME: Forced displacement of the civilian population
(ethnic cleansing), destruction and looting of civilian property.
TIME AND LOCATION: June 8, 1993, village of Brajkovici (east of
Travnik).
SUMMARY OF REPORTED CRIME: There were 100 Croatian family homes
in the village of Brajkovici. 21 Croatian civilians from this village
were held prisoner in the house belonging to Lovro Simic. In addition,
there were 10 other Croatian civilians from the village of Cukle,
2 civilians from the village of Podovi and a married couple, Jela
and Lovro Simic, all held in the same house. The rest of the Croatian
residents of the village of Brajkovici were displaced to Nova Bila.
In the village of Brajkovici, 6 Croatian houses were set on fire
and Muslims moved into 6 Croatian houses. The rest of the homes
were looted and livestock taken.
PERPETRATORS: Members of the B-H Army.
SOURCE OF INFORMATION: The Zenica Commission official report completed
following the investigation in the village of Brajiovici on June
18, 1993. The report was published in the newspaper "Vjesnik"
on July 19, 1993, page 8, titled: "Seventy Lives - No Return".
Written document currently kept in the archives of the Department.
001 B-H - TRAVNIK,
June 8, 1993
DESCRIPTION
OF REPORTED CRIME: Destruction of the Catholic church, vandalism,
looting of church property.
TIME AND LOCATION: June 8, 1993, village of Brajkovici (east of
Travnik).
SUMMARY OF REPORTED CRIME: Members of the B-H Army damaged the church
belfry in a grenade attack. Then they broke into the church, devastating
the sacristy. They held prisoners inside the church for several
hours. The rectory was also broken into - the front doors shot open
by machine gun fire, several windows were broken, and all of the
rooms were ransacked and looted. Two valuable paintings were damaged.
The "Caritas" storage room was also looted.
PERPETRATORS: Members of the B-H army.
EVIDENCE: The Zenica Commission official report completed following
the investigation in the village of Brajiovici on June 18, 1993.
The report was published in the newspaper "Vjesnik" on
July 19, 1993, page 8, titled: "Seventy Lives - No Return".
Written document currently kept in the archives of the Department.
021 B-H - TRAVNIK - June 10-13, 1993
DESCRIPTION
OF REPORTED CRIME: Armed attack on civilians,expulsion and killings
of civilians, detention in the concentration camp.
TIME AND LOCATION: June 10-13, 1993, the entire Travnik district
(Central Bosnia).
SUMMARY OF REPORTED CRIME:
June 10, 1993,
infantry fire directed towards civilian objects and primary roads
from the position of a high-rise building in Kalibunar (part of
town). The commander of the Croatian Defence Council military police,
Filip Matic, was killed.
June 12/13,
1993, An armed attack launched on civilians and the Croatian Defence
Council from the part of town controlled by the members of the B-H
Army. Civilians were driven towards the Vlasic Mountain where they
were captured by members of the Serbian Army. The Serbian Army separated
men (aged 18 to 60) and interned them to the Manjaca camp, while
the other civilians were by intercession of the UNPROFOR taken to
the Republic of Croatia.
PERPETRATORS:
Members of the B-H Army, and members of the Serbian Army.
EVIDENCE: Audio-tape recording of an interview with a witness, supplemented
by a written statement currently kept in the archives of the Department,
no. 1E3TR07A001
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