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==During the war==
==During the war==
He drew public attention in 1991 when he voluntarily joined the newly formed [[Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia|Croatian Armed Forces]] after the outbreak of the [[Croatian War of Independence]]. He formed a unit composed of the Zagreb artists and intellectuals with whom he held positions in [[Sunja, Sisak-Moslavina County|Sunja]].<ref name="Jutarnji"/> Although he did not have any military education, he successfully defended this position from the technically superior forces of the [[Yugoslav People's Army]] and the [[Army of the Republic of Serb Krajina]]. After the [[Vance plan#Implementation Agreement|Sarajevo Agreement]], he was made Major General, received a number of responsibilities in the Ministry of Defense, and became one of the 14 members of the Croatian National Defense Council and a member of the Croatian State Commission for Relations with [[United Nations Protection Force]] (UNPROFOR). He was the High Representative of the [[Ministry of Defence (Croatia)|Ministry of Defense]], and since May 13, 1993, representative of the Ministry of Defense in the [[Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia]] and [[Croatian Defence Council]] (HVO).<ref name="Jutarnji"/>
He drew public attention in 1991 when he voluntarily joined the newly formed [[Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia|Croatian Armed Forces]] after the outbreak of the [[Croatian War of Independence]]. He formed a unit composed of the Zagreb artists and intellectuals with whom he held positions in [[Sunja, Sisak-Moslavina County|Sunja]].<ref name="Jutarnji"/> After the [[Vance plan#Implementation Agreement|Sarajevo Agreement]], he was made Major General, received a number of responsibilities in the Ministry of Defense, and became one of the 14 members of the Croatian National Defense Council and a member of the Croatian State Commission for Relations with [[United Nations Protection Force]] (UNPROFOR). He was the High Representative of the [[Ministry of Defence (Croatia)|Ministry of Defense]], and since May 13, 1993, representative of the Ministry of Defense in the [[Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia]] and [[Croatian Defence Council]] (HVO).<ref name="Jutarnji"/>


From 24 July to 8 September 1993, Praljak was the Chief of Staff of the Croatian Defense Council. Among his decisions, the one to let through the [[United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees|UNHCR]]'s humanitarian convoy for [[Mostar]], which was stopped in [[Čitluk]], was particularly emphasized. He was also accused of ordering the destruction of Mostar's [[Stari Most]] in November 1993, an act that was, according to the [[International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia|ICTY]] justified by military necessity, and wasn't carried out to "cause disproportionate damage to the Muslim civilian population" as claimed before.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.rt.com/news/411290-hague-war-crimes-poison/|title=Convicted Bosnian Croat ex-general dies after 'drinking poison' at Hague tribunal (VIDEO)|work=RT International|access-date=2017-11-29|language=en-US}}</ref> However, during the trial, Praljak denied the accusation because in the same month when the destruction occurred, he came into conflict with the commander of the HVO's so-called ''Punishment Battalion'' [[Mladen Naletilić Tuta]] which resulted in his resignation from the positions of HVO's Chief of Staff, one day before the destruction of the bridge. He claimed that the bridge was demolished by activation of the explosive charge set on the left bank of the Neretva, where the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina was located.<ref name="Jutarnji"/>
From 24 July to 8 September 1993, Praljak was the Chief of Staff of the Croatian Defense Council. Among his decisions, the one to let through the [[United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees|UNHCR]]'s humanitarian convoy for [[Mostar]], which was stopped in [[Čitluk]], was particularly emphasized. He was also accused of ordering the destruction of Mostar's [[Stari Most]] in November 1993, an act that was, according to the [[International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia|ICTY]] justified by military necessity, and wasn't carried out to "cause disproportionate damage to the Muslim civilian population" as claimed before.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.rt.com/news/411290-hague-war-crimes-poison/|title=Convicted Bosnian Croat ex-general dies after 'drinking poison' at Hague tribunal (VIDEO)|work=RT International|access-date=2017-11-29|language=en-US}}</ref> However, during the trial, Praljak denied the accusation because in the same month when the destruction occurred, he came into conflict with the commander of the HVO's so-called ''Punishment Battalion'' [[Mladen Naletilić Tuta]] which resulted in his resignation from the positions of HVO's Chief of Staff, one day before the destruction of the bridge. He claimed that the bridge was demolished by activation of the explosive charge set on the left bank of the Neretva, where the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina was located.<ref name="Jutarnji"/>

Revision as of 23:38, 29 November 2017

Slobodan Praljak
Slobodan Praljak in 2013
Born(1945-01-02)2 January 1945
Čapljina, Independent State of Croatia
(now Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Died29 November 2017(2017-11-29) (aged 72)
The Hague, Netherlands
Allegiance
Service/branchCroatian Army
Croatian Defence Council
Years of service1991–95
RankLieutenant general
Battles/wars
Other workWriter, Businessman
Websiteslobodanpraljak.com

Slobodan Praljak (pronounced [sloˌbǒdan ˈprǎːʎak]; 2 January 1945 – 29 November 2017) was a Bosnian Croat engineer, film and theatre director, businessman, author and retired general in the Croatian Army and the Croatian Defence Council, an army of the Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia. In 2013, he was among six Bosnian Croat politicians convicted at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) for war crimes against the Bosnian Muslim population during the Croat-Bosniak War.[1] He was sentenced to 20 years in jail.[2] An appeal was heard in early 2017; upon hearing the guilty verdict upheld in November 2017, Praljak committed suicide by drinking poison in the courtroom;[3] he died a few hours later.[4][5][6][7]

Background

Slobodan Praljak was born on 2 January 1945 in Čapljina. His father Mirko worked for Yugoslav security agency OZNA.[8] Praljak had three university degrees. In 1970, he graduated as an electrical engineer at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering in Zagreb with a GPA of 4.5/5. He wrote his thesis on the correction of the chromatic image in the main of an electrical signal for television work. In 1971, he graduated from the Zagreb Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, majoring in philosophy and sociology. In 1972, he graduated from the Zagreb Academy of Dramatic Art. At first, he worked as manager of the electronics laboratory at the Nikola Tesla Vocational High School, and since 1972 as a freelance artist. Praljak was also a theater director in theaters in Zagreb, Osijek and Mostar. He directed the television series Blesan i Tulipan [Blesan and Tulipan], television dramas Novela od Stanca and Sargaško more [Sargasso Sea], documentaries Smrt psa (1980) [Death of a Dog], Sandžak and Duhan [Tobacco] (both in 1990), and film Povratak Katarine Kožul (1989) [Return of Katarina Kožul].[8][9][10]

During the war

He drew public attention in 1991 when he voluntarily joined the newly formed Croatian Armed Forces after the outbreak of the Croatian War of Independence. He formed a unit composed of the Zagreb artists and intellectuals with whom he held positions in Sunja.[9] After the Sarajevo Agreement, he was made Major General, received a number of responsibilities in the Ministry of Defense, and became one of the 14 members of the Croatian National Defense Council and a member of the Croatian State Commission for Relations with United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR). He was the High Representative of the Ministry of Defense, and since May 13, 1993, representative of the Ministry of Defense in the Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia and Croatian Defence Council (HVO).[9]

From 24 July to 8 September 1993, Praljak was the Chief of Staff of the Croatian Defense Council. Among his decisions, the one to let through the UNHCR's humanitarian convoy for Mostar, which was stopped in Čitluk, was particularly emphasized. He was also accused of ordering the destruction of Mostar's Stari Most in November 1993, an act that was, according to the ICTY justified by military necessity, and wasn't carried out to "cause disproportionate damage to the Muslim civilian population" as claimed before.[11] However, during the trial, Praljak denied the accusation because in the same month when the destruction occurred, he came into conflict with the commander of the HVO's so-called Punishment Battalion Mladen Naletilić Tuta which resulted in his resignation from the positions of HVO's Chief of Staff, one day before the destruction of the bridge. He claimed that the bridge was demolished by activation of the explosive charge set on the left bank of the Neretva, where the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina was located.[9]

His actions and thinking during the war, from treatment of prisoners to condemnation of Ustaše insignia, was praised by fellow veterans.[9]

Post war

After the war, Praljak became a businessman. He founded the company Oktavijan. Since 2005, the company is managed by his stepson Nikola Babić Praljak. It has around 20 million kunas of revenue per year. Praljak was also a co-owner of Liberan, a company that has a share in Ljubuški Tobacco Factory.[10]

ICTY indictment

Praljak was among six accused by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), in relation to the Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia.[1] On 5 April 2004 he surrendered and was transferred to the ITCY. In his indictment it was alleged that Praljak as a senior military official commanded, directly and indirectly, the Herceg-Bosna/HVO armed forces which committed mass war crimes against Bosnian Muslim population in around 30 municipalities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In his role as a high-ranking official in the Ministry of Defense, he was closely involved in all aspects of not only the Herceg-Bosna/HVO military planning and operations but the actions of the Herceg-Bosna/HVO civilian police too.

Taken from the UN press release (2004):

  • nine counts of grave breaches of the Geneva conventions (wilful killing; inhuman treatment (sexual assault); unlawful deportation of a civilian; unlawful transfer of a civilian; unlawful confinement of a civilian; inhuman treatment (conditions of confinement); inhuman treatment; extensive destruction of property, not justified by military necessity and carried out unlawfully and wantonly; appropriation of property, not justified by military necessity and carried out unlawfully and wantonly).
  • nine counts of violations of the laws or customs of war (cruel treatment (conditions of confinement); cruel treatment; unlawful labour; wanton destruction of cities, towns or villages, or destruction not justified by military necessity; destruction or wilful damage done to institutions dedicated to religion or education; plunder of public or private property; unlawful attack on civilians; unlawful infliction of terror on civilians; cruel treatment), and
  • eight counts of crimes against humanity (persecutions on political, racial and religious grounds; murder; rape; deportation; inhumane acts (forcible transfer); imprisonment; inhumane acts (conditions of confinement); inhumane acts).

On 29 November 2017, the ICTY trial was concluded finding him guilty, and although some parts of his conviction overturned the judge did not reduce the initial sentencing of 20 years.[5][6][12] He was charged with crimes against humanity over persecution, murders, expulsions, and imprisonment of Bosnian Muslims, and was acquitted of some charges related to the destruction of Stari Most.[13] As he already served more than two-thirds of the sentence, he would probably have been released soon.[13][14]

Death

On 29 November 2017, Praljak died in hospital soon after ingesting a liquid (presumably poison[13]) in front of the judges in the courtroom during reading of the ruling on appeal against him.[5][6][12] Presiding Judge Carmel Agius suspended the hearings, and the courtroom was declared a crime scene for investigation.[7]

Praljak's last words after hearing his conviction:[15][16]

Croatian: Suci, Slobodan Praljak nije ratni zločinac, s prijezirom odbacujem vašu presudu!, lit. 'Judges, Slobodan Praljak is not a war criminal, with disdain I reject your verdict!'

Subsequently he concluded:[15][16]

Croatian: To je otrov koji sam popio., lit. 'What I drank was poison.'

Reaction

The Croatian government offered condolences to Praljak's family and claimed the ICC misrepresented its officials in the 1990s, and Croatian PM Andrej Plenković stated the "act during the announcement of the verdict by the Appeals Chamber, when he took his own life, speaks the most of deep moral injustice towards the six Croats from Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Croatian people".[17] Miroslav Tuđman stated it was a "consequence of his moral position not to accept the verdict that has nothing to do with justice or reality",[5] Dragan Čović stated that he "showed before the whole world what kind of sacrifice he is ready to make to prove that he is not a war criminal",[13] while Martin Bell described him as a "theatrical character" who has "died in a theatrical way".[5] Almost a thousand Bosnian Croats gathered in a Mostar square to light candles to pay respect to Praljak.[13]

Private life

Praljak was married to Kaćuša Babić. The couple had no children, but Praljak was close to his two stepchildren Nikola and Nataša, who took his last name.[9]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Prlic et al. Initial Indictment". ICTY.
  2. ^ Mike Corder (29 May 2013). "UN war crimes tribunal convicts 6 Bosnian Croats of persecution of Muslims during Bosnian war". News1130.
  3. ^ "War crimes suspect 'takes poison' in court". BBC News. 29 November 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  4. ^ "Statement on passing of Slobodan Praljak". ICTY. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  5. ^ a b c d e Alan McGuinness (29 November 2017). "War criminal Slobodan Praljak dies after taking poison in court". Sky News. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  6. ^ a b c Owen Bowcott. "Bosnian Croat war criminal dies after taking poison in UN courtroom". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  7. ^ a b Stephanie van den Berg; Bart H. Meijer (29 November 2017). "Bosnian Croat war crimes convict dies after taking 'poison' in U.N. court". Reuters. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  8. ^ a b Ivica Radoš (29 November 2017). "Tko je bio Slobodan Praljak? Slao je oružje Bošnjacima u opkoljeno Sarajevo" [Who was Slobodan Praljak? He sent weapons to Bosnians in the besieged Sarajevo] (in Croatian). Večernji list. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  9. ^ a b c d e f "Tko je bio Slobodan Praljak: Imao je tri diplome, kontroverzan ratni put, ali i nevjerojatnu obiteljsku priču sa suprugom i velikim prijateljem..." [Who was Slobodan Praljak: He had three diplomas, a controversial war trail, and an incredible family story with his wife and great friend...] (in Croatian). Jutarnji list. 29 November 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  10. ^ a b Oriana Ivković Novokmet (29 November 2017). "Tko je bio Slobodan Praljak? Osuđeni ratni zločinac koji je zaradio milijune nakon rata" [Who was Slobodan Praljak? A guilty war criminal who has earned millions after the war] (in Croatian). Index.hr. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  11. ^ "Convicted Bosnian Croat ex-general dies after 'drinking poison' at Hague tribunal (VIDEO)". RT International. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  12. ^ a b Marlise Simons (29 November 2017). "Croatian War Criminal Dies After Swallowing Poison in Court". The New York Times. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  13. ^ a b c d e "'I am not a war criminal,' convicted Bosnian Croat cries as he takes a fatal dose of poison". Los Angeles Times. 29 November 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017. Ironically, Praljak, who surrendered to the tribunal in April 2004 and had already been jailed for 13 years, could have soon walked free because those who are convicted are generally released after serving two-thirds of their sentences.
  14. ^ Davor Ivanković (29 November 2017). "Da nije popio otrov, Praljak bi uskoro bio na slobodi" [If he did not drank the poison, Praljak would soon be at liberty] (in Croatian). Večernji list. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  15. ^ a b "Na izricanju presude Slobodan Praljak popio otrov i preminuo" [At the pronouncement of the verdict Slobodan Praljak drank the poison and passed away] (in Croatian). Croatian Radiotelevision. 29 November 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  16. ^ a b Willa Frej (29 November 2017). "Former Bosnian Croat Official On Trial For War Crimes Dies After Drinking Poison In Court". Huffington Post. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  17. ^ "PM: Praljak's act speaks of deep moral injustice towards Bosnian Croats". vlada.gov.hr. Government of Croatia. 29 November 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
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