Japaga Bugojno

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PHYSICIANSforHUMANRIGHTS

FORENSIC ASSISTANCE PROJECT

Consultant Report 1999-004Japaga Cave I

Federation Commission onMissing Persons - Croat Side12 A pril 1999

Noel T. Boaz, Ph.D.Forensic ConsultantForensic Assistance ProjectSarajevo, Bosna i HercegovinaNovember 1999

Physicians for Human Rights100 Boylston Street, Suite 702Boston, MA 02116 USATel. (617) 695-0041Fax. (617) 695-0307Email: [email protected] http://www.phrusa.org

Physicians for Human RightsHasana Kaimije br. 1171000 SarajevoBosna i HercegovinaTel: 387-71-232-941Fax:387-71-233-767

Financed with support of International Com mission on Missing PersonsICMP

International Commissionon Missing Persons
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JAPAGA CAVE I CONSULTANT REPORTSummary of EventsOn April 12, 1999 the Federation Commission on Missing Persons - Croat Side organized areconnaissance of the cave site of Japaga, a site of suspected dumping of bodies in 1993.This site was indicated as a possible repository for some of the missing persons from the"Bugojno 21." After a descent into the cave and reconnaissance of approximately one hour, ateam of four Croatian speleologists reported no human remains in either of two mainpassages of the cave. The President of the Federation Com mission on M issing Persons -Croat Side, Mr. Berislav Puic, accepted this report and terminated the reconnaissance.(Editor's note: In 1999, it was agreed that the "State Commission on Missing Persons(Bosniak Side)" and the '"Federal Commission on Missing Persons - Croat Side" wouldeventually be referred to as the "Federation Com mission on Missing Perso ns - Bosniak Side"and "Federation Com mission on Missing Persons - C roat Side ," respectively. For purposesof simplicity and clarity, any reference to either of these commissions in 1999 reports will usethe "Federation" names.)

PHYSICIANS/or HUMAN RIGHTS, November 1999


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JAPAGA CAVE I CONSULTANT REPORT

Participants and ObserversFederation Com mission on M issing Persons - Croat SidePUSIC Derislav PresidentCVITA NOV IC Berislav Member

BRL ETIC Marijan Crime Technician, TravnikMALEKOV1C Silvester Crime Technician, TravnikKAL AICA Josip Mem ber, Bugojno Family AssociationIVICA Zelic Mem ber, Bugojno Family AssociationVISK OV IC Ante Author from BugojnoFederation C omm ission on Missing Persons - Bosniak SideODO BASIC Jasmin Deputy PresidentDRAG ANOVIC Kemal MemberPhysicians for Human Rights (PHR)BOA Z Dr. Noel Forensic Consultant (Anthropologist)TOR LAK OV IC Azur Field AssistantOffice of the High Representative (OHR)VIZIN A Daniel Exhum ations Officer, Mo starBECO Abdel Field Assistant, MostarStabilization Force (SFOR)British Army unit under command of Lt. Karl RobertsPolice Federal Police from Bugojno were present.Media Two journalistsOther: Speleological Team from ZagrebLACKOVIC DamirJALZIC BrankoRESETAR SinisaTROHA Darko

Site DescriptionThe cave opening is in the corner of a fenced field at the terminus of an unpaved roadapproximately 3 km northwest of Bugojno in the area of Rovna (Figure 1). The sum mit ofMt. Kalin is observable from the cave. MG RS grid coordinate is YJ 005 853 (Map Nam e:Bugojno; Sheet 2683 III; Edition: 6-DMA; Series M709; Horizontal Datum; WGS84; Scale:1:50,000;Grid Zone designation: 33T; grid coordinate determined using a Global PositioningSystem Unit). The cave open ing is a vertical rock cleft surrounded by low trees and bushes(Photo 1). Its depth was eslimated by the speleological team at 30 m.

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Site HistoryBased on information from informants the cave was suspected of harboring the remains ofsome of the missing persons of the "Bugojno 21." These were a group of prominent citizensand intellectuals from Bugojno who were taken prisoner by Bosniak forces in 1993 and whodisappeared while in captivity. In 1941 the cave had been the depository for 12 bod ies. Acommemorative sign to this effect is posted by the cave.

Reconnaissance Process and FindingsA team of four speleologists from Zagreb rappelled into the cave (Photo 2) and undertook anhour-long inv estigation of the interior of the cave. They were interviewed by the ForensicCon sultant before and after tfieir reconn aissanc e. It was determined that if hum an rem ainswere discovered then the Forensic Consultant would also make a descent into the cave. Upontheir emergence the speleologists reported that there were two passages in the cave, oneaproximately 6 m in length and the other approxim ately 10 m in length. The re was a cone ofdebris, a "talus slope," under the cave opening, near which was found a skull of a sheep.Only two other "small bone s" were reported. These were though t to be of anim als but thiswas impossible to verify as Mr. Pusic refused a request for retrieval of these rem ains. Thespeleologists also reported a live, but immobilized dog which apparently had fallen into thecave, shell casings of bullets, a discarded anti-tank rocket launcher, a small mine ordetonator, and a variety of refuse, such as old tires, military belts, and old boots.

Maps and PhotosFigure 1 is a map of the area. Photos 1 and 2 show the cave entrance an d the descent byCroatian speleologists into the cave.

PHYSICIANS/or HUMAN RIGHTS, November 1999


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Figure 1. Map of the area.

PH YSIC IAN S/w HUMAN RIGHTS, November 1999


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Photo I. Japaga Cave is a vertical cleft in a karstic area surrounded by wood ed vegetation.

PHY SICIA NS/ur HUM AN RIGHTS, Novemb er 1999


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Photo 2. Speleologist descending into Japaga Cave.

PHY SICIAN S/w HUMAN RIGHTS, November 1999

Japaga Bugojno

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