Review article
Massacre Over Civilians During the War in Croatia
Alan Bosnar
Valter Stemberga
Dražen Cuculić
Miran Čoklo
Tamara Ćućić
Renata Dobi-Babić
Abstract
The 1991–1995War for independence of Croatia was a cruel armed conflict, provoked by the conquering aspirations of the »Yugoslav Federal Army« under Serbian command and Serbian terrorists. It took place on the territory of the Republic of Croatia and gave rise to a mass destruction of civilian and sacral buildings and civilian massacres. Here we present three representative cases as an example of the massacre over civilians that happened in the vicinity of Vrhovine, in northwestern Croatia. Seven civilians were taken from their homes in the village of Dabar, exposed to unprecedented, savage torture and cruel execution. Forensic medicine experts revealed that victims were beaten with blunt objects, probably the butt end of rifles or high boots, stabbed with sharp objects as they were dying, and finally killed by gunshots. Their dead bodies were mutilated by cutting auricles and exposed to post-mortem humiliation. Events at Vrhovine have all the characteristics of crimes against humanity and inapprehensible breaches of the Geneva Convention at the very end of 20th century.
Keywords
war; Croatia; mass grave; massacre; civilians
Hrčak ID:
5369
URI
Publication date:
15.12.2005.
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