Croatia: Mass grave exhumation

Croatia: Mass grave exhumation

Serbian Documentation and Information Centre Veritas stated that the remains were all of Serbs from Banija and Kordun, killed by Croatian forces in a 1995 offensive in a UN-protected zone.

The exhumation, conducted by the Croatian government, will be continued.

The Hague Tribunal officials monitored the digging, in addition to those from the International Missing Persons Commission, as well as Serbian and Croatian Missing Persons organizations. 

Although the large mass grave in question was located in late 1995, the investigation took place "in complete media silence which, without question, is directly tied to the nationality of the victims,” Veritas stated.

According to the NGO, there are more graves of Serbs killed during Operation Storm at the same location.

The exhumation of these graves was still “awaiting the right political climate,”  Veritas representatives said.

During the attack of Croatian forces on the UN Sector North sector in 1995, 721 Serbs were killed, 441 civilians, 403 of which were women.

Of the victims, 531 are still listed as missing, 341 civilians, 185 of which are women.

There have been no indictments thus far by international or Croatian courts related to the war crimes committed against Serbs in Croatia.