Oral history

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Documenting War Crimes through Oral History Methodology in the Former Yugoslavia

Oral history

Description

Objectives

Methodology

Activities

Implementation Team

Duration and action plan

Oral history

Report from summer Instutute on Oral History 2005 Columbia University,
New York

Documenting War Crimes through Oral History Methodology in the Former Yugoslavia

Regional Project

Project Proposal the action :

1. Description

1.1 Title

Documenting War Crimes through Oral History Methodology in the Former Yugoslavia

1.2 Location

Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro, and Croatia

1.3 Project Summary

This Project proposes a regional approach to building the documentation of war crimes in order to help trigger the process of Dealing with the Past across the countries of the Former Yugoslavia. All documentation will be integrated into a comprehensive war crimes database, while at least six case studies will be prepared and published. This project will seek to shed light on past atrocities, foster an honest debate within the affected society, and facilitate the truth-telling and accountability aspects of the process of dealing with the past. The methodology which will be used for building up documentation on war crimes is the established methodology of oral history. The body of documentation produced in compliance with strict methodological standards will complement the existing written sources of evidence of past atrocity. It is generally acknowledged that written records often fail to provide a comprehensive account of events. Securing the testimony of witnesses, victims, and perpetrators of past crimes committed significantly expand the existing sources and documentation of war crimes. The merit of oral history methodology is, in this sense, that it elaborates the human dimensions of conflicts and violence.

The regional partners will publish at least of six case studies within the current project proposed. Each case study will feature background of the situation, interviews with the victims and their families; interviews with relevant witnesses; interviews with the perpetrators of the crimes where possible; and, if applicable, an analysis of relevant trial proceedings and the sentencing judgments. All Case Studies will be published in the BCS languages as well as English. The publications will be made available to the public and will be distributed to other civil society organizations, domestic prosecutors, as well as international donors. This activity will also include building an audio - video archive of all interviews. Finally, regional public debates will be organized in order to give voice to the victims of past crimes and to trigger the truth - telling process within societies in the Former Yugoslavia.

1.4 Background

The need for this project proposed is directly linked to creating the conditions necessary for the process of Dealing with the Past in the Former Yugoslavia, by facilitating both the truth-telling and justice / accountability. After the end of armed conflicts in ex - Yugoslavia and the initiation of political transitions in the countries of the region, the conditions and problems have changed. The legacy of armed conflicts needs to be addressed to establish the truth about the past and its atrocities, to bring justice to the victims of past crimes thus restoring their dignity, to hold accountable those who have committed human rights and humanitarian law violations, and to reconcile communities - both with their past and with other communities in the region. Because of the nature of the conflicts, only a regional approach to Dealing with the Past will render this goal attainable.

A regional partnership among the Humanitarian Law Center ( Belgrade , Serbia ), the Center for Research and Documentation ( Zagreb , Croatia ), and the Research and Documentation Center ( Sarajevo , Bosnia ) has been established. A regional approach to programmatic activities will help create the conditions necessary for Dealing with the Past across the region, triggering the process by facilitating its constituent elements: Truth , Justice/Accountability and Reconciliation for Deterrence . After a series of meetings, the cooperation between the aforementioned regional organizations has been formalized with a Protocol for Regional Cooperation in Researching and Documenting War Crimes in the Post-Yugoslavian Countries , signed on 6 April 2004 in Sarajevo . The Protocol confirms the commitment of these organizations to build compatible and methodologically uniform war crimes databases in the three countries, in this way facilitating Truth, Justice and Accountability in the process of Dealing with the Past in the former Yugoslavia . One of the areas which the regional partners have identified as a priority is the documentation of past atrocities committed during the conflicts in ex - Yugoslavia through strict oral history methodology. An oral history approach to documenting war crimes will provide a more comprehensive and personalized account of past atrocities.

1.5 Organization Background for Dealing with the Past

Currently, the Humanitarian Law Center is undergoing a strategic transformation whereby the primary focus of future undertakings will be to contribute to creating the social, cultural and political conditions necessary for Dealing with the Past in the post - conflict transition and to facilitate its constituent elements: Truth, Justice / Accountability, and Reconciliation for Deterrence. The major focus of the transformation is researching and documenting the conflicts in ex - Yugoslavia throughout the 1990s . The overall goals are to contribute to the process of truth - telling in the post - conflict transition; to terminate the stereotypes and distortions of the past; to set the historical record straight and to assist in the rehabilitation of the victims by giving them a voice; to provide the compiled documentation to domestic prosecutors, used in RDC activities against the denial and rejection of war crimes; and, to end impunity for those who have committed past crimes.

The RDC has extensive experience in documenting war crimes through oral history methodology. Currently, the RDC is preparing a Case Study on the Podujevo Case ( Kosovo ) before the Belgrade District Court in Serbia . This study includes the background of the case; an interview with a member of the Serbian special forces which committed the massacre; interviews with the victims and their families; interviews with the witnesses ( both Albanian and Serbian ); and analysis of the trial proceedings and the Sentencing Judgment.  The Case study will be published in Serbian, Albanian and English. This activity will also include building a video archive of all interviews and the text of the court documentation.

The Project for Documenting War Crimes through Oral History Methodology in the Former Yugoslavia acquires crucial importance in facilitating the aspects of truth telling and accountability in the process of Dealing with the Past. The documentation will be able to inform discussions of the past in clear terms by personalizing history. By documenting war crimes though oral history methodology, the project will give voice to the victims and witnesses of war crimes and in this way will contribute to truth - telling in the post - conflict transition. Finally, all documentation will be made available as evidence to domestic prosecutors and thus, assist in securing justice for victims.

1.6 Objectives

• The overall objective of the Project is to help establish the conditions necessary for the process of Dealing with the Past in the countries of ex - Yugoslavia, by facilitating two of its constituent elements: Truth - telling and Justice / Accountability. The ultimate goal of the process of Dealing with the Past is to trigger reconciliation that would deter the perpetration of future atrocities. The road to reconciliation and deterrence is paved by the success of the other two elements of d\Dealing with the Past.

• Documenting war crimes and securing the testimony of witnesses and victims of the crimes will raise public awareness on the past, thereby facilitating the truth - telling process. The documentation will help establish a historical record of the conflicts by articulating an aspect of the atrocities of the past as viewed through the eyes, experiences, and memories of the people who suffered and/or witnessed the crimes committed during the conflict.

• The buildup up of comprehensive documentation of past crimes will be used also for facilitating domestic prosecution. Local judiciaries and civil society organizations will be provided access to relevant documentation through the war crimes databases. This documentation will serve as evidence for prosecutors to initiate investigations and to adjudicate war crimes and other violations of international humanitarian law.

• A specific objective of this Project is to foster the professional development of relevant implementing staff in the partner organization in Serbia, Croatia and Bosnia . The focus of the training will be developing skills and better understanding for utilizing oral history methodology in documenting past atrocities.

1.7 Methodology

The project implementation staff will pass through a comprehensive training program and develop standard procedures for documenting war crimes through oral history methodology. In regional meetings, the project implementation staff will identify and discuss the focus and subject - matter of each case study. The first step is to contact the potential interviewees for each of the six case studies. This will be followed by preliminary interviews which will provide general information about the life and experiences of the interviewees. Completed questionnaires and notes made during the preliminary interview are then used in making a summary of this preliminary interview. Following the initial interview, the implementing officers will research the regional setting and historical framework of the events of each case study. This will serve as a pretext for the questions in the main interviews. The project staff will then conduct the actual full - length interviews, with complete audio-video taping of the interviewee's testimony. After this, transcripts from the full - length interview are drafted. A case study will be drafted and will include questionnaires from the preliminary interview, summary of the information provided during the preliminary interview, research into the regional setting and historical context of the events, and transcripts and notes made during the full - length interview, and an analysis of relevant trial proceedings.

1.8 Activities

Activity 1: A one week training of the 4 Project Implementation Officers from Bosnia, Croatia, Kosovo, and Serbia and Montenegro in oral history methodology.

Activity 2: Create criteria for oral history methodologies that will assure high standards of selection of and working with interviewees: victims, witnesses and perpetrators

Activity 3: Access and evaluate the different steps defined as necessary for oral history as a method of documentation to be an effective resource in dealing with the past

Activity 4: Create criteria for disclosure of testimonies and assessment of users

Activity 5: Identify the six case studies and identify and select victims, witnesses and perpetuators for the six case studies.

Activity 6: Conduct all preliminary interviews with victims and witnesses and inform them about their options in pursuing justice or receiving assistance for psychological closure

Activity 7 : Complete the detailed interviews ( transcripts, summaries, audio-video and visual presentations are completed )

Activity 8: Completed evidence will be archived and non - confidential parts will be documented in the comprehensive war crimes database

Activity 9: Prepare and write six case studies

Activity 10: Publish Case Studies

Activity 11: Prepare regional public debates

1.8 Deliverables

• The major deliverables are the intended Six Case - Studies to be Published as One Book

• Documentation to be incorporated into the War Crimes Database

• A comprehensive Programmatic and Financial Report for the donor(s).

Implementation Team and partner organizations

2.1 Implementation Team

2.1.1 Regional Coordinator

•  Person Specification

•  Expertise and experience in oral history methodology as a form of documenting war crimes

•  Education in history and historical research

•  Excellent knowledge of the conflicts in ex - Yugoslavia

•  Excellent research and drafting skills

•  Fluent Serbian; working knowledge of English

•  Job Description

•  Coordinates the activities of the Researchers and sets up regional meetings

•  Manages all aspects of the implementation of the Project

•  Participates in interviewing victims, witnesses and perpetrators of crimes committed in ex - Yugoslavia and transcribing all interviews

•  Participates in writing case studies

•  Monitors timeline and budgeting issues

•  Produces final programmatic reports

2.1.2 Three Researchers

•  Person Specification

•  Education and expertise in oral history methodology and documentation of war crimes

•  Excellent knowledge of the conflicts in ex - Yugoslavia

•  Excellent research and drafting skills

•  Fluent Serbian

•  Job Description

•  Manages the implementation of the Project

•  Participates in interviewing victims, witnesses and perpetrators of crimes committed in ex - Yugoslavia and transcribing all interviews

•  Participates in writing case studies

•  Monitors timeline and budgeting issues

DURATION AND ACTION PLAN

3. Total Duration: 12 months (4 Quarters)

4. Action Plan