Jadranko Prlic
Encyclopedia
Jadranko Prlić is a Croatian
politician who is among six accused by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY)
, in relation to the joint criminal enterprise (also known as Herzeg-Bosnia
case) which included mass war crimes and ethnic cleansing
against Bosnian Muslim population.
in Đakovo, in the then Socialist Republic of Croatia
, Yugoslavia
. He graduated from the Economics Faculty
in Mostar
, in the then Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
, and obtained his master's and doctor’s degrees at the Economics Faculty
in Sarajevo
. He served for a time as President of the Executive Council of Mostar
Municipality. In 1989, he became the Vice-President of the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina and, in late 1990, he became its acting President. On 15 May 1992, Mate Boban
appointed Jadranko Prlić head of the HVO Department of Finance, and on 14 August 1992, Mate Boban appointed Jadranko Prlić President of Herceg-Bosna's supreme executive, administrative and defence body - the HVO
. After the Croatian Community of Herceg-Bosna became the Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia in late August 1993, Jadranko Prlić's title or position changed from President to Prime Minister (with his functions remaining largely the same).
indictment states that as a leading politician of the Croatian Defence Council
or HVO
in the early 90's Prlić had almost total power and control of the Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia government. Therefore as the leader of the HVO
government he had the power to remove, military civilian commanders who had taken part of ordered crimes against humanity. He also had the power to close HVO
concentrations camps.UN
Croats
Croats are a South Slavic ethnic group mostly living in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and nearby countries. There are around 4 million Croats living inside Croatia and up to 4.5 million throughout the rest of the world. Responding to political, social and economic pressure, many Croats have...
politician who is among six accused by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY)
International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
The International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991, more commonly referred to as the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia or ICTY, is a...
, in relation to the joint criminal enterprise (also known as Herzeg-Bosnia
Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia
The Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia was an unrecognised entity in Bosnia and Herzegovina that existed between 1991 and 1994 during the Bosnian war. It was proclaimed on November 18, 1991 under the name Croatian Community of Herzeg-Bosnia, and claimed to be a separate or distinct "political,...
case) which included mass war crimes and ethnic cleansing
Ethnic cleansing
Ethnic cleansing is a purposeful policy designed by one ethnic or religious group to remove by violent and terror-inspiring means the civilian population of another ethnic orreligious group from certain geographic areas....
against Bosnian Muslim population.
History
Son of Mile, was born on June 12 1959in Đakovo, in the then Socialist Republic of Croatia
Socialist Republic of Croatia
Socialist Republic of Croatia was a sovereign constituent country of the second Yugoslavia. It came to existence during World War II, becoming a socialist state after the war, and was also renamed four times in its existence . It was the second largest republic in Yugoslavia by territory and...
, Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
. He graduated from the Economics Faculty
University of Mostar
The University of Mostar is the only Croatian language university in Bosnia and Herzegovina.Roots of University of Mostar date back to 1895 when the Franciscan theological school was established. In 1950 Higher teacher-training school started with its work in Mostar...
in Mostar
Mostar
Mostar is a city and municipality in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the largest and one of the most important cities in the Herzegovina region and the center of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton of the Federation. Mostar is situated on the Neretva river and is the fifth-largest city in the country...
, in the then Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina , known until 1963 under the name of People's Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, was a socialist state that was a constituent country of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia...
, and obtained his master's and doctor’s degrees at the Economics Faculty
University of Sarajevo
The University of Sarajevo is the first university in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was originally established in 1531 as a Madrasah or Islamic Law college, with a modern university being established and expanded on top of that in 1949. Today, with 23 faculties and around 55,000 enrolled students, it...
in Sarajevo
Sarajevo
Sarajevo |Bosnia]], surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated along the Miljacka River in the heart of Southeastern Europe and the Balkans....
. He served for a time as President of the Executive Council of Mostar
Mostar
Mostar is a city and municipality in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the largest and one of the most important cities in the Herzegovina region and the center of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton of the Federation. Mostar is situated on the Neretva river and is the fifth-largest city in the country...
Municipality. In 1989, he became the Vice-President of the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina and, in late 1990, he became its acting President. On 15 May 1992, Mate Boban
Mate Boban
Mate Boban was a Bosnian Croat politician and the only president of the short lived and self proclaimed Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia that existed between 1991−1994 during the Bosnian war.-Pre-war life:...
appointed Jadranko Prlić head of the HVO Department of Finance, and on 14 August 1992, Mate Boban appointed Jadranko Prlić President of Herceg-Bosna's supreme executive, administrative and defence body - the HVO
HVO
- Organizations :*Croatian Defence Council , a military formation of the self-proclaimed Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia during the Bosnian War*Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, a unit of the US Geological Survey...
. After the Croatian Community of Herceg-Bosna became the Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia in late August 1993, Jadranko Prlić's title or position changed from President to Prime Minister (with his functions remaining largely the same).
Indictment
The International Criminal Tribunal for the former YugoslaviaInternational Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
The International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991, more commonly referred to as the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia or ICTY, is a...
indictment states that as a leading politician of the Croatian Defence Council
Croatian Defence Council
The Croatian Defence Council was a military formation of the self-proclaimed Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia during the Bosnian War.-History:...
or HVO
HVO
- Organizations :*Croatian Defence Council , a military formation of the self-proclaimed Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia during the Bosnian War*Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, a unit of the US Geological Survey...
in the early 90's Prlić had almost total power and control of the Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia government. Therefore as the leader of the HVO
HVO
- Organizations :*Croatian Defence Council , a military formation of the self-proclaimed Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia during the Bosnian War*Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, a unit of the US Geological Survey...
government he had the power to remove, military civilian commanders who had taken part of ordered crimes against humanity. He also had the power to close HVO
HVO
- Organizations :*Croatian Defence Council , a military formation of the self-proclaimed Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia during the Bosnian War*Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, a unit of the US Geological Survey...
concentrations camps.UN
Charges
Taken from the UN press release:- 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).