The following is a list of atrocity incidents reported
throughout Kosovo since late March 1999:
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The bulk of this report
describes sites of mass killings and mass graves reported
throughout Kosovo since late March 1999. Forensic teams and war
crimes investigators from the International Criminal Tribunal
for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and a number of governments
working on behalf of the ICTY, and from the Kosovo Force (KFOR),
have concentrated their efforts on investigating sites of mass
killings and mass graves. The most complete lists of mass
killings and mass grave sites have been compiled by the ICTY and
KFOR. In addition, other international organizations have
compiled less comprehensive lists of atrocity sites. The
following description of mass grave and killing sites also
includes refugee and press reports.
Sites have been ranked based on the taxonomies developed by
KFOR, and other sources for the ICTY.
KFOR uses a three-tiered classification ranging from
"reported" to "identified" to
"confirmed" to categorize killing and mass grave
sites:
KFOR's
"reported" sites are sites for which KFOR has received
a credible report of killings or a mass grave, but has not
conducted any form of site inspection, either on the ground or
by remote sensing reconnaissance to further validate the claims.
KFOR's
"identified" sites are sites that have been
"reported" to KFOR, and for which KFOR has conducted
some form of inspection to further identify the existence of a
reported killing or mass grave site. This may, for example,
include identification of a mound of dirt that appears to
conform to the reported description of a mass grave.
"Identified" sites, typically have not been inspected
to confirm the number of bodies, if any, that are at the site.
KFOR's
"confirmed" sites are those where an investigation has
been conducted by international sources and conclusive results
have been reached by the ICTY. The ICTY uses a two-tiered
classification; "reported" and "confirmed"
sites:
ICTY
"reported" sites are analogous to KFOR's
"reported" sites. They are credible reports of mass
killings or mass grave sites that have been received by the ICTY
but have not yet been further investigated.
ICTY
"confirmed" sites are the same as KFOR's
"confirmed" sites. They are reported sites where ICTY-supported
field investigations have been conducted and completed. The
"confirmed" designation does not necessarily confirm
the number of bodies "reported", it simply signifies
that a site investigation has been completed. The number of
bodies found at a "confirmed" site does not always
conform to the number of bodies cited in "reported" or
"identified" reports.
Discrepancies between the number of reported and confirmed
bodies does not necessarily preclude that the true number of
people killed at a particular site is not greater than the
numbered designated as confirmed. The remains of additional
victims documented in earlier reports may never be found and
added to the confirmed category.
At this time a full and accurate accounting of the number of
persons killed is incomplete. Although more accurate accounting
will emerge with time, due to the nature of the crimes and the
deliberate efforts of the perpetrators to cover their acts, it
is unlikely that an exact accounting of all of the war crimes or
violations of international humanitarian law committed by
Serbian forces in Kosovo will ever be fully known.
The investigation of atrocity sites and confirmation of death
claims is currently an ongoing, laborious and time consuming
task. The vast majority of death claims, though, have likely
been recorded by international authorities. In sum, over 500
mass grave and killing sites have been recorded by the ICTY,
KFOR and other international organizations. The total number of
bodies reported to the ICTY at over 500 gravesites is over
11,000. Of these 500-plus sites, the ICTY has confirmed
completion of field investigations at about 200 sites, as of
early November 1999. Over 2,100 bodies have been confirmed to be
found by investigators at over 160 sites, or an average of about
11 bodies per site.
The following is a list of
atrocity incidents reported throughout Kosovo since late March
1999:
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Place Name KFOR
Sector
Adam Mala U.S.
An alleged mass grave containing two decomposing bodies has been
reported to KFOR for Adam Mala on July 13, 1999.
Ade U.K.
An alleged mass grave of unknown size and contents has been
reported to KFOR for Ade on June 17, 1999, while an
international source has also reported Ade without a body count.
However, a report to an international organization on April 18,
1999 alleges that four people were killed in Ade.
Agusovi Mahala U.S.
On 2 August 1999, KFOR identified a mass grave suspected of
containing five bodies at Agusovi Mahala.
Ajvalija U.K.
On 13 & 15 June 1999, KFOR identified a mass grave
reportedly containing eight bodies at Ajvalija, while an
international source reported nine bodies at Ajvalija.
Alabak U.K.
According to ICTY information on November 10, 1999, a site
investigation has been completed and confirmed finding two
bodies for Alabak.
Atmadja German
On 3 July 1999, KFOR identified a mass grave suspected of
containing between 20 and 21 bodies near the Prizren airfield,
along the street leading to Djakovica.
Babaj Baks German
[Babaj Boks]
The ICTY has recorded a mass grave/exposed bodies site of
unknown size and contents for Babaj Baks.
Babice Italian
A mass grave/exposed bodies site of unknown size and contents
has been reported for Babice
Bajcina U.K.
A mass grave/exposed bodies site containing four bodies has been
reported for Bajcina.
Bajnici U.S.
According to ICTY information on November 10, 1999, a site
investigation was completed and has confirmed finding one body
at Bajnici.
Baks U.K.
On 15 July 1999, KFOR identified a mass grave containing eight
bodies, six of which were on the ground surface, at Baks.
Balance U.S.
According to ICTY information on November 10, 1999, a site
investigation was completed and has confirmed finding one body
at a site in Balance.
An alleged mass grave containing 25 bodies had been reported
to KFOR for Balance, while an international source had also
reported 25 bodies at Balance. This difference in number from
the confirmed site warrants further investigation. According to
the KFOR report, shortly after the NATO bombing began, the
Ministry of Interior Police (MUP) and Serbian paramilitary
killed 25 people from several villages in the area including
Balance. The people were killed using a variety of weapons. Many
were beaten to death with baseball bats to the point where the
victims' faces became unrecognizable and were shown to the rest
of the villagers before being placed into a mass grave.
Banja German
A mass grave/exposed bodies site containing 17 bodies has been
reported for Banja.
Banjica U.S.
According to ICTY information on November 10, 1999, a site
investigation was completed and has confirmed finding two bodies
at Banjica.
Bariljevo German
An alleged mass grave of unknown size and contents has been
reported to KFOR for Bariljevo on 17 & 18 June 1999, as well
as reported by another international source.
Bela Crvka German
According to ICTY information on November 10, 1999, a site
investigation was completed and has confirmed finding 77 bodies
near Bela Crvka. Prior to KFOR's entry into Kosovo, reporting
from various sources indicated that Serbian forces killed 35
people, then dumped their bodies near the Bellaja River between
the Rogova and Bela Crvka railroad. By 28 March, Serbian forces
reportedly had killed as many as 500 civilians in this town.
Belanica German
According to ICTY information on November 10, 1999, a site
investigation was completed and has confirmed finding three
bodies at Belanica.
Belegut Italian
A mass grave/exposed bodies site containing 17 bodies has been
reported for Belegut.
Belenica U.S.
[Bellenice]
An alleged mass grave containing six bodies has been reported to
KFOR for Belenica on 9 July 1999. According to earlier
reporting, Serbian forces reportedly executed 60 young male
Kosovar Albanians on 1 April.
Beljan
U.S.
According to ICTY information on November 10, 1999, a site
investigation was completed and has confirmed finding eight
bodies at two sites; four bodies at one site and four bodies at
another site.
Beljina French
According to ICTY information on November 10, 1999, a site
investigation was completed and has confirmed finding four
bodies at Beljina.
Belobrod German
[Belobrad]
A mass grave/exposed bodies site containing three bodies has
been reported for Belobrod.
Bernica U.S.
A mass grave/exposed bodies site containing seven bodies has
been reported for Bernica.
Biba German
According to ICTY information on November 10, 1999, a site
investigation was completed and has confirmed finding four
bodies at Biba. Earlier, an alleged mass grave of unknown size
reportedly containing an unknown number of victims killed by
Serbians and buried in and around a well had been reported to
KFOR for this site on 17 June 1999.
Bilusa German
According to ICTY information on November 10, 1999, a site
investigation was completed and has confirmed finding no bodies
at Bilusa.
Binac U.S.
According to ICTY information on November 10, 1999, a site
investigation was completed and has confirmed finding two bodies
at Binac.
Bistrazin Italian
According to ICTY information on November 10, 1999, a site
investigation was completed and has confirmed finding no bodies
at Bistrazin. However, on 19 June 1999, KFOR identified a mass
grave of unknown size and contents at Bistrazin. On 9 July 1999,
an alleged mass grave report was received by KFOR alleging that
100-plus bodies may be located in the mass grave. This
difference in number warrants further investigation.
Bistrazin-Barn Italian
[Bistrazin]
According to ICTY information on November 10, 1999, a site
investigation was completed and has confirmed finding two bodies
at Bistrazin-Barn.
Bjeshka Italian
A mass grave/exposed body site containing eight bodies has been
reported for Bjeshka.
Blace German
An alleged mass grave consisting of an unknown number of bodies
in a well has been reported to KFOR for Blace on 20 June 1999,
as well as reported by another international source.
Blaq German
[Blac, Bljac]
A mass grave/exposed bodies site containing two bodies has been
reported for Blaq.
Bllagaje
Italian
[Bllagaj]
According to ICTY information on November 10, 1999, a site
investigation was completed and has confirmed finding two bodies
at Bllagaje.
Bozevce French
An alleged mass grave of unknown size and contents has been
reported to KFOR for this site on 2 June 1999, as well as
reported by another international source.
Brasaljce U.S.
According to refugee reports, Serbian troops on 23 March
executed 11 Kosovar Albanians and detained another 11 whose fate
is unknown.
Brestovac German
Two alleged mass graves containing a total of 28 bodies has been
reported by civilians to KFOR for Brestovac on 4 July 1999.
Brezna German
On 28 July 1999, ICTY completed a site investigation and has
confirmed finding six bodies at Brezna.
Breznenik Italian
A mass grave/exposed bodies site containing 13 bodies has been
reported for Breznenik.
Brnjaca German
On 9 July 1999, a mass grave/exposed bodies site containing two
bodies was reported for Brnjaca by an international source,
while an earlier KFOR alleged mass grave site report reported
that two bodies were found in the woods northwest of the
village.
Brocna
French
[Brojna]
On 28 July 1999, ICTY completed a site investigation and has
confirmed finding no bodies at Brocna. On 23 June 1999, KFOR had
received a report of an alleged mass grave containing 200-250
bodies at this site. This difference in number warrants further
investigation.
Brodosavce German
An alleged mass grave report to KFOR on 27 June 1999 stated that
according to the local population, a suspected mass grave
contains the bodies of 70 women and children, while another
international source has also reported a mass grave/exposed
bodies site containing 70 bodies at Brodosavce.
Brut German
A mass grave/exposed bodies site containing 40 bodies has been
reported for Brut.
Bruznic French
[Bruznik]
The ICTY has completed a site investigation and has confirmed
finding 28 bodies at Bruznic. According to earlier refugee
reports, Serbian forces reportedly burned down this village near
Vucitrn in early April, and a Kosovar Albanian refugee claimed
that Serbian forces killed 100 Kosovar Albanians there following
the Rambouillet conference. Subsequently, KFOR received two
reports--on 16 June and 9 July 1999--of an alleged mass grave
containing 60 bodies, with the graves marked with stakes dated
5-6 June 99. This difference in number warrants further
investigation.
Bucane Italian
According to ICTY information on November 10, 1999, a site
investigation was competed and has confirmed finding no bodies
at Bucane. Earlier, a mass grave/exposed bodies site of unknown
size and contents had been reported for Bucane. It remains
uncertain at this time whether this was the ICTY site.
Buce German
According to ICTY information on November 10, 1999, a site
investigation was completed and has confirmed finding no bodies
at Buce.
Budokovo U.K.
A mass grave/exposed bodies site containing 20 bodies has been
reported for Budokovo.
Bujaki U.S.
On 4 July 1999, KFOR identified a mass grave that according to
unconfirmed reporting contains the bodies of villagers massacred
on 7 April. This grave may contain bodies of massacred villagers
from Bujaii (unlocated), Rashiq, Strell (unlocated), Prelip,
Ljubenic, Oyshk (unlocated) and Sterlia Gashit (unlocated), who
were gathered at a seasonal camp in Stawi Shales.
Bujanovac Serbia
According to refugee reports, Serbian forces removed all the
young Kosovar Albanian males from this town within Serbia near
the Kosovo border on 26 and 27 April, dressed them in Serbian
military uniforms, and used them as human shields or decoys to
escort military convoys.
Bukos I German
An alleged mass grave containing 60 bodies has been reported to
KFOR for this site on 16 June 1999, while another international
source has also reported 60 bodies for Bukos I.
Bukos II German
An alleged mass grave containing 22 bodies has been reported to
KFOR for this site on 18 June 1999, while another international
source has also reported 22 bodies at Bukos II.
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