This report is based on a fact-finding mission conducted in Bosnia and Hercegovina from October to Novermber 1996 by a staff member who must remain anonymous. It was co-written by Diane Paul. The report was edited by Holly Cartner, Joanna Weschler, Lotte Leicht, Ivan Lupis, Dinah PoKempner, Cynthia Brown, and Holly Burkhalter. Production assistance was provided by Emily Shaw. Special thanks to Aida Vejzagic for research assistance, Karmen Jelencic, Nusret Sivac, Jadranka Cigelj, and especially Anita Roddick.
We would also like to acknowledge, with gratitude, many individuals - both from the international community as well as the local population - whose help and information towards this report were invaluable, yet who cannot be named. The individuals who contributed information to this report, especially the ones working under the political and bureaucratic constraints of many of the international organizations operating in the area, are primarily concerned with addressing the most crucial aspect of a post-Dayton Bosnia: the state of human rights. They should be commended for their bravery in bringing forth information otherwise withheld from the public.
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Human Rights Watch/Helsinki
Human Rights Watch is a nongovernmental organization established in 1978 to monitor and promote the observance of internationally recognized human rights in Africa, the Americas, Asia, the Middle East and among the signatories of the Helsinki accords. It is supported by contributions from private individuals and foundations worldwide. It accepts no government funds, directly or indirectly. The staff includes Kenneth Roth, executive director; Michele Alexander, development director; Cynthia Brown, program director; Holly J. Burkhalter, advocacy director; Barbara Guglielmo, finance and administration director; Robert Kimzey, publications director; Jeri Laber, special advisor; Lotte Leicht, Brussels office director; Susan Osnos, communications director; Dinah PoKempner, acting general counsel; Jemera Rone, counsel; and Joanna Weschler, United Nations representative. Robert L. Bernstein is the chair of the board and Adrian W. DeWind is vice chair. Its Helsinki division was established in 1978 to monitor and promote domestic and international compliance with the human rights provisions of the 1975 Helsinki Accords. It is affiliated with the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights, which is based in Vienna, Austria. Holly Cartner is the executive director. Jonathan Fanton is the chair of the advisory committee and Alice Henkin is vice chair.
Website Address: http://www.hrw.org
Gopher Address: gopher://gopher.humanrights.org:5000/11/int/hrw
Listserv address: To subscribe to the list, send an e-mail message to majordomo@igc.apc.org with "subscribe hrw-news" in the body of the message (leave the subject line blank).
Civilian Members
Name Position
Milomir Stakic Mayor
Milan Kovacevic* President of Executive Committee
Simo Miskovic President of the Serbian Democratic Party (SDS)
Srdjo Srdic President of the "Serb Red Cross"
[B]Ranko Curcija** President of local Serbian Radical Party (party of Serbian-based paramilitary leader Vojislav Seselj)
Savan Rujo Teacher of "people's defense."
Miodrag Grubljesic Owner of private transport company
Unknown Mine officials from Rudnika Ljubija, Omarska, and Tomasica
*Alleged to have been responsible for overseeing the "transit centers," (his term) including Omarska. Now Director of Prijedor Hospital.
**May now be serving as Chief of Police in Kostajnica.
Military Members
Name Position
Col. Vladimir Arsic221 Bosnian Serb Army Military Commander
Major Radmilo Zeljaja Bosnian Serb Army Military Commander
Major Slobodan Kuruzovic* District Commander (possibly Chairman of Crisis Committee)
*Now Editor in Chief of the Kozarski Vjesnik.
Police Members
Name Position
Simo Drljaca Chief of Secret Police and Public Security (Civilian police)222
Zivko Knezevic Retired police commander
Vaso Skondric Retired policeman
Key Persons in Commercial /Service Activities in Prijedor Opstina During the War
Name Position
Dir. Ostoja Marjanovic Rudnik Ljubija (mine company)
Dir. Dragan Kaurin Celpak (paper mill)
Dir. Risto Banovic Prijedor Hospital
Dir. Marko Pavic* PTT (post office, telephone and telegraph)
Dir. Miljenko Vukic* EL (electricity)
Dir. Milan Nisevic Privredura Banka (bank)
Mile Mutic, Editor Kozarski Vjesnik (Kozara Tribune, newspaper), and Radio Prijedor
* Still holding these posts.
APPENDIX B: Letter from Republika Srpska President Biljana Plavsic to U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan
220 Information obtained in part from the Final Report of the U.N. Commission of Experts, Annex V. 221 See Footnote #93 222 The civilian police were subordinate to the Secret Police.