Vlasenica: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 44°11′N 18°56′E / 44.183°N 18.933°E / 44.183; 18.933
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* [[Catholics]] - 28 (0.003%)
* [[Catholics]] - 28 (0.003%)
* others 74 (0.093%)
* others 74 (0.093%)

==Vlasenica-War Crimes==
===Summary===

According to the 1991 census, 55.3 per cent of the 33,817 pre-war residents of Vlasenica municipality, located just south of [[Zvornik]], were [[Muslim]], 42.25 per cent Serb and 2.2 per cent other. Following the ethnic cleansing operations in the spring and summer of 1992, fewer than 3,000 non-Serb residents remained in the municipality. 270

In May 1992, Vlasenica territorial TO units, paramilitary units from [[Serbia]] and the [[JNA]] attacked the villages of [[Drum]] and [[Zaklopača]] in the Vlasenica municipality. The civilian populations of these villages were murdered or deported to Kladanj in nearby Bosniak territory. In Zaklopača paramilitaries executed at least 83 Bosniaks, including children and elderly on 16 May 1992.271 Serb authorities took control of the equipment and troops of the [[JNA]] [[Novi Sad Corps]], establishing a Serb administration in the town.

During the month of May, Serb forces burned houses and looted property, particularly the property of Bosniak [[Party of Democratic Action]] (SDA) members. In addition to Drum and Zaklopača, Serb forces reportedly arrested, beat and killed Bosniaks in the villages of [[Alihodžići]], [[Beroš]], [[Đamdići]], [[Durakovići]], [[Džemat]], [[Esmići]], [[Gradina]], [[Kuljančići]], [[Piskavice]], [[Pustaše]] and [[Šahmanovići]].272 According to accounts compiled in the UN Commission of Experts Report, during the month of June the new Serb authorities began a systematic expulsion, detention and execution campaign, starting with the town's most influential Bosniaks and [[SDA]] members. This systematic ethnic cleansing lasted until mid-September. On 15 June 1992, approximately 50 Bosniaks whom the Serbs considered politically important were placed on a bus and driven to the village of [[Zalakavlje]], approximately two kilometers away, where they were shot. Only one person survived the massacre.273 Other Bosniaks were reportedly brought to camps where they were tortured and killed.

The UN report claims that the local [[SDS]] President, along with six other local Serb authorities, directed the June campaign of ethnic cleansing. To facilitate the ethnic cleansing, the Serbs established eight concentration camps. They were a former chicken farm in [[Šašari]]; the high school and the hospital at Vlasenica; the primary schools at [[Cerska]], and Vlasenica; and the [[Milići]], [[Sušica]] and Vlasenica camps. Bosniak civilians from Vlasenica and the surrounding region were brought to these facilities,274 where large numbers of civilians were tortured, raped and murdered.

The activities at the Sušica camp and the horrible atrocities committed there are the subject of a [[war crimes]] case in The [[Hague]] against [[Dragan Nikolić]], the camp commander. According to former guards at the camp, executions of groups of prisoners were common. For example, at a ravine about five kilometres up the road towards [[Han Pijesak]] at least 1,000 prisoners were reportedly executed during the time in which the camp was operational. 275

===Radovan Karadžić===
On 13 September 1992, 140 detainees at Sušica were crammed into a small room and machine-gunned to death. “This mass killing”, the prosecution said today, “was carried out hours after the accused delivered a speech at a funeral in Vlasenica before an ‘embittered’ and ‘emotional’ crowd”. Their implication is that [[Radovan Karadžić]] whipped up the crowd and incited the killing.

Status: Presentably testifying in trial.

===Dragan Nikolić===
According to the Indictment, Dragan Nikolić was the Commander of the Sušica detention camp in Vlasenica from at least early June 1992 until about 30 September 1992. He is alleged to have detained Muslims and non-Serbs at the Sušica camp and assisted in the forcible transfer of those detained at the camp from the Vlasenica municipality. Dragan Nikolić was the first person to be indicted by the [[War Crimes Tribunal]]. The Indictment was confirmed on 4 November 1994.

'''Charges:''' The Indictment charges the accused on the basis of individual criminal responsibility (Article 7(1) of the Statute) with:
Four counts of crimes against humanity (Article 5 of the Statute – persecutions on political, racial and religious grounds; murder; rape; torture).

'''Sentencing Judgement:'''
The Sentencing Judgement was rendered on 18 December 2003. Dragan Nikolic was sentenced to 23 years’ imprisonment.

===Goran Višković “Vjetar”===
[[Goran Višković]], a member of a Vlasenica special police unit, was allegedly active in the ethnic cleansing of the Vlasenica region and in the
deportation of Bosniaks to the Sušica and Batkovići concentration camps.284 In particular, witnesses have tied Višković to the ethnic cleansing—abuse
of civilians, deportation of civilians to concentration camps, and burning of their houses in the villages of [[Džemat]], [[Piskuvice]], [[Gradina]], [[Mršići]], [[Šadići]], [[Nedeljišta]] and other places in the Vlasenica municipality. He was allegedly the commander of a unit that murdered civilians while destroying the village of Gradina and slit the throat of at least one unarmed civilian in [[Baćino Brdo]].285 Local sources allege that Višković participated in the torture, rape and execution of prisoners at the Sušica camp and is notoriously well known to survivors of Vlasenica's death camps.286

According to a Hague witness in the trial against Dragan Nikolić, Višković participated in the vicious and repeated beatings of detainees in the police
building, above the courthouse and at other locations in Vlasenica, as well as in the deportation of prisoners to Sušica. The witness described a
beating he claimed he received from Višković during his half-month's detention above the courthouse, in which Višković fractured his skull.287
Today Goran Višković is a security guard at the Vlasenica Municipal Court. This means that non-Serb returnees may encounter a man who has been identified as committing atrocities against non-Serbs, now as an armed official of the court, as they enter to seek protection of their rights.

Status: Presentably testifying in trial.

===Predrag Bastah===
The State Prosecution charges [[Predrag Bastah]], known as Dragan, a former reserve policeman, with the capture, rape and murder of non-Serbs in Vlasenica in 1992 and "actions that contributed to the functioning of a detention camp system" in Sušica detention camp and other prisons in Vlasenica.

Status: Presentably testifying in trial.

===Veljko Bašić===
[[Veljko Bašić]] is considered to have committed, as commander of "Sušica" detention camp, the persecution of Bosniaks, the physical maltreatment, murder and deportation of civilians, and the sexual abuse and rape of women. He is also considered to have participated in the transfer of 700 prisoners to "Batkovići" detention camp near [[Bijeljina]] and in the forcible displacement of about 1,000 detained women and children to [[Kladanj]] or [[Cerska]].

Status: Presentably in trial, released due to poor health conditions at age 83.

===Rade Bjelanović===
[[Rade Bjelanović]], the former director of the “Boksit” mine, served as Chief of the Serb Police in the self-proclaimed Serb municipality of “Milići,”
located on the territory of the actual Vlasenica municipality. As such, he is alleged to have had responsibility over the forces which massacred 80
Bosniak civilians in Zaklopača.290 He is alleged to have participated, along with Rajko Dukić, in organising and ordering the destruction and ethnic
cleansing of the villages of [[Hera]], [[Vršinja]], [[Zilići]], [[Gerovi]], [[Pomol]], [[Nurići]], [[Bešići]], [[Žutići]], [[Stedrići]], [[Đile]] and Zaklopača in the Milići area of Vlasenica.291 Bjelanović lives in Milići. 292

===Rajko Dukić===
[[Rajko Dukić]] established himself as a major power broker in [[RS]] at the beginning of the war. Along with [[Radovan Karadžić]], Dukić was one of the
founding members of the SDS and served as the first President of the [[SDS]] Executive Committee for all of Bosnia, and as such participated in planning
the ethnic cleansing with Karadžić.276 Telephone wiretaps from 29 February 1992 and 24 February 1992 of conversations between Radovan Karadžić and Rajko Dukić indicate that Dukić played a major role in planning the placement of barricades in Sarajevo.277 At the start of the war, he allegedly helped orchestrate the massive illegal transfer of funds from Bosnian banks into accounts to support the Bosnian Serb Army.278 During the war Dukić served as President of the SDS Crisis Staff for all of Bosnia and as the coordinator for the Serb autonomous region of Birač, which included Vlasenica. As such, he allegedly bears command responsibility for ethnic cleansing operations conducted in Vlasenica and other areas under his control. Witnesses from the Vlasenica region allege that Dukić was responsible for the April 1992 massacre at Zaklopača.279 A Hague witness in the trial against [[Dragan Nikolić]] identified Rajko Dukić as one of the two principal organizers of the take-over of Vlasenica. He alleged that Nikolić, the Commander of the Sušica camp, and Dukić were close political associates before and during the war.280 In testimony relating to the case against Karadžić and [[Ratko Mladić]], witnesses indicated that Dukić was aware of camps operating in his area of responsibility.281 In 1997 Dukić became a member of [[Biljana Plavsić]]'s [[Serbian National Union]] (SNS) party and he serves on the Boards of Directors of several RS public companies. Since 1997 he has served as the director of the “[[Boksit]]” bauxite mine in Milići. He reportedly provided financial support to the SLOGA coalition totalling several million dollars.282 International community officials in the region acknowledge Dukić as the most politically and economically powerful person in the Vlasenica/Milići area. He reportedly runs his own “industrial police,” a quasi-paramilitary force that has been involved in intimidating local citizens.283 Today Rajko Dukić is the Director of “Boksit” Bauxite mine, a public company, and the largest employer in Vlasenica/Milići. He sits on the Board of Directors of several RS public companies and reportedly runs a quasi-paramilitary formation called the “industrial police.” The RS Ministry of Defence considers him potentially indictable for war crimes.

===Milenko Stanić===
During the 1992 atrocities described above [[Milenko Stanić]] served as Mayor of the Serb municipality of Vlasenica, as well as a member of the SDS presidency, and local Crisis Staff. He is alleged to have been part of the chain of command that planned, ordered, and carried out the ethnic cleansing in Vlasenica, and reportedly held a position of significant authority in the local area.288 Following the war, Stanić served as Managing Director of [[RS Telecom]].289 Today Milenko Stanić resides in Vlasenica, where he maintains a low profile.

- 271 War Crimes in Bosnia and Hercegovina, Helsinki Watch, August 1992.<br />
- 272 UN report, Prison Camps, op. cit.<br />
- 274 Ibid.<br />
- 275 Ibid.<br />
- 276 See SDS Executive Committee documents Br. 521-02/92 of 24 February 1992 and Br. 490-02/92 of 19 February 1992, signed by Dukić. This document is in the possession of the ICTY.<br />
- 277 ICG has examined transcripts of these telephone wiretaps. These documents are currently in the possession of the ICTY. See also “One Bosnian Muslim Family, Torn Apart and Scattered by War,” New York Times, 31 December 1994.<br />
- 278 "Miljašev kredit Rajku Dukiću," Slobodna Bosna, 23 June 1992, p.3.<br />
- 279 ICG has reviewed the statements of twelve witnesses. These statements are in the possession of the ICTY.<br />
- 280 International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, Case No. IT-94-2-R61, Testimony of Witness, 12 October 1995.<br />
- 281 Ibid.<br />
- 282 Source B.<br />
- 283 Rule over Law: Obstacles to the Development of an Independent Judiciary in Bosnia and
Herzegovina, 5 July 1999. ICG Balkan Report No. 72.<br />
- 284 ICG has reviewed 30 witness statements about Višković's participation in the ethnic cleansing of villages in the Vlasenica municipality the rounding up and deporting of civilians to concentration camps, and the mistreatment of prisoners. These statements are in the possession of the ICTY. See also “One Bosnian Muslim Family, Torn Apart and Scattered by War,” New York Times, 31 December 1994.
- 285 Based on witness statements reviewed by ICG. These statements are in the possession of the ICTY.<br />
- 286 Source A, Source B.<br />
- 287 International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, Case No. IT-94-2-R61, Testimony of Witness, 12 October 1995.<br />
- 288 ICG has reviewed the statements of five witnesses. Stanic, as a member of the local Serb government, signed a protocol with local Muslim representatives on 11 April 1991. Source A, Source B. <br />
- 289 “Bosnian Serb telecommunications system divided into two entities,” Bosnian Serb Television, Banja Luka, 13 February 1998.<br />
- 290 ICG has reviewed 18 witness statements about Bjelanovic's position of authority in Milići during ethnic cleansing operations, and in particular his role in the massacre of 80 Bosniak civilians in Zaklopača. These statements are in the possession of the ICTY.<br />
- 291 Source B.<br />
- 292 ICG was unable to learn of his current activities.<br />

War Criminals in Bosnia’s Republika Srpska: Who Are the People in Your Neighbourhood?
International Crisis Group: '''ICG Balkans Report No. 103, 2 November 2000'''
[http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/3ae6a6f53.html]


==See also==
==See also==

Revision as of 16:54, 7 September 2009

Vlasenica
Власеница
Location of Vlasenica within Bosnia and Herzegovina
Location of Vlasenica within Bosnia and Herzegovina
CountryBosnia and Herzegovina
Government
 • MayorMladen Popović [1] ((SNSD))
Population
 (1991)
 • Total33,817
 • Municipality
?
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Area code56
Websitehttp://www.vlasenica.info
New edition

Vlasenica (Cyrillic: Власеница) is a municipality and town in the northeastern part of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Republika Srpska entity. Administratively it is part of Vlasenica Region.

It is the hometown of bosnian author Isnam Taljić, famous soccer players such as 1899 Hoffenheim's Vedad Ibišević and Cork City F.C.'s Fahrudin Kudozović, among others Salko Zildžić former world champion in 86kg Low-Kick category.

Population

1879

According to the 1879 census (Jahrbuch für Volks- und Staatswirthschaft aller Länder der Erdes p.321), Vlasenica had 18,579 citizens.

1910

According to the 1910 census, the majority of citizens in the Vlasenica municipality were Orthodox Christians (64.3%).

1912

According to the book notes out of "Bosnischer Bote" ("Bosanski Glasnik", translated by Fikret Bahtijarević, s.r.) in 1912 Vlasenica had 1.917 citizens, out of which 1.480 were Muslims, 398 Serbs, 72 Croats and 12 Evangelics.

1971

26.623 total

1981

30.498 total

1991

In the 1991 census the municipality had a population 33,817. The distribution was:

The town itself had a population of 7,916. The distribution was:

See also

External links

44°11′N 18°56′E / 44.183°N 18.933°E / 44.183; 18.933

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