Mass grave

Crkvina

Gornja Crkvina bb, 76230 Bosanski Šamac

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Crkvina

1992

This mass grave was found at the site of a former gravel pit in Gornja Crkvina in Bosanski Šamac. It was discovered in 2008 and the remains of 16 people were exhumed from it. The victims were mostly Croats and Bosniaks killed in 1992. They had previously been detained in a detention camp in the Agropromet warehouse.

Court facts

ICTY

Early in the morning of April 17, 1992, Serb forces, paramilitary formations, and police forcibly took over Bosanski Šamac. Members of the paramilitary formations, police, and the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) participated in the capture of Bosanski Šamac, as well as in the arrest and detention of Bosniaks and Croats. (paras. 1028-1029. Stanišić and Župljanin, vol. I, p. 333.), (paras. 442., 446., 455. Blagoje Simić et al., pp. 140, 141, 143.), (para. 218. Stanišić and Simatović, ICTY Trial Judgment, p. 100.)

From April 17 until the end of 1992, Serb forces carried out arbitrary arrests of Bosniaks and Croats. From May 1992 until the end of the year, 50 to 100 people were detained in the building of the Secretariat of Internal Affairs (SUP). Around 200 people were detained in the Territorial Defence (TO) building. Around 1,000 people were taken to facilities in Zasavica and Crkvina. (para. 1030. Stanišić and Župljanin, vol. I, p. 334.), (para. 654. Blagoje Simić et al., p. 201.), (para. 221. Stanišić and Simatović, ICTY Trial Judgment, pp. 101-102.)

Serb police officers and paramilitaries regularly beat detainees in the Public Security Station (SJB) building, the TO building, and a warehouse in Crkvina. These beatings were intended to punish and intimidate the detainees. (para. 1039. Stanišić and Župljanin, vol. I, p. 335.), (para. 770. Blagoje Simić et al., p. 237.), (para. 9., 36-41. Stevan Todorović, p. 4, 13-15.)

In mid-May 1992, a group of Croats was taken to Crkvina where they were detained with men and elderly people in the following facilities: the youth centre, a warehouse, and the football stadium. Hundreds of non-Serbs were detained in these facilities for periods ranging from one night to one week. (para. 665. Blagoje Simić et al., pp. 207-208.)

In the warehouse in Crkvina, members of paramilitary formations killed 17 detained Bosniaks and Croats on May 7, 1992. (paras. 1033., 1037. Stanišić and Župljanin, vol. I, pp. 334-335.), (para. 225. Stanišić and Simatović, first instance judgment of the ICTY, p. 104.)

Some were held in private houses and when Crkvina was evacuated people from the surrounding villages were detained in Zasavica and were not allowed to leave the area unless they wanted to be exchanged. (para. 666. Blagoje Simić et al., p. 208.)