The following is a list of atrocity incidents reported throughout Kosovo since
late March 1999:
A-B
|| C-D ||
E-H || I-J
|| K-L ||
M-N || O-P
|| Q-R ||
S-T || U-V
|| W-Z
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:
A-B
|| C-D ||
E-H || I-J
|| K-L ||
M-N || O-P
|| Q-R ||
S-T || U-V
||
W-Z
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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