Široka Kula massacre
Encyclopedia
The Široka Kula massacre was committed by rebel Croatian Serb forces in the Croatian village of Široka Kula during the Croatian War of Independence
beginning on 10 October 1991. On 13 October, 34 civilians were murdered, including 5 ethnic Serbs, who had reportedly refused to join the Serb paramilitaries against their co-villagers.
and 3 km from Lički Osik
; it lies within the area that was contested by the Serb rebels during the Croatian War of Independence. According to the 1991 census, there were 184 Croats (33%) and 346 Serbs living in Široka Kula.
Altogether, Široka Kula, Vukšić, Urije, Ostrvica and Lički Osik suffered a total of 164 fatalities, mostly civilians.
A monument in memory of the victims of Široka Kula massacre was built and is referred to as the "Portal hrvatske povijesti" ("Portal of Croatian history") .
In 1994, seven Serbs were tried in absentia
(in Croatian courts) and convicted for the Široka Kula crimes. One of the convicted men returned to Croatia and was promptly imprisoned. He was however later acquitted of the charges and released from prison
There are two sentencing judgments (in absentia) in Croatian courts, both in Županijski sud u Gospiću dealing with Široka Kula massacre. One judgment dates from 27 February 1997, against two persons, and one dates from 16 June 1994, against six people.
Croatian courts conducted investigations against 82 persons which, although temporarily suspended in 2001, are still not concluded.
"Široka Kula: Mjesto masakra 39 Hrvata", Novi list "Spontana podrška Vukovarcima", Novi list "Sahranjene žrtve divljanja arkanovaca - Široka Kula oprostila se od obitelji Rakić", Novi list Anniversary of Široka Kula massacre (picture of monument visible), Diocese of Gospić-Senj 15th anniversary of massacre of Croats from Široka Kula, Catholics on the Net website HKV Portal Events before the action in Medak Pocket "U hrvatskim zatvorima 55 osoba služi kaznu zbog ratnog zločina", Vjesnik "Široka kula, our pride and shame"
Milosevic trial, Hague Tribunal transcripts Dosje: Dosije: Hrvatska traži ove ljude Politika
Croatian War of Independence
The Croatian War of Independence was fought from 1991 to 1995 between forces loyal to the government of Croatia—which had declared independence from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia —and the Serb-controlled Yugoslav People's Army and local Serb forces, with the JNA ending its combat...
beginning on 10 October 1991. On 13 October, 34 civilians were murdered, including 5 ethnic Serbs, who had reportedly refused to join the Serb paramilitaries against their co-villagers.
Circumstances
Široka Kula is a village located 11 km from GospićGospic
Gospić is a town in the mountainous and sparsely populated region of Lika, Croatia. It is the administrative centre of Lika-Senj county. Gospić is located near the Lika River in the middle of a karst field....
and 3 km from Lički Osik
Lički Osik
Lički Osik is a village in Croatia. It is connected by the D25 highway....
; it lies within the area that was contested by the Serb rebels during the Croatian War of Independence. According to the 1991 census, there were 184 Croats (33%) and 346 Serbs living in Široka Kula.
The massacre
According to Croatian sources the most deadly single incident, which resulted in the deaths of eight civilians, was perpetrated on 13 October, when masked rebels reportedly set fire to two Croatian houses after forcibly imprisoning their inhabitants inside. In the days to follow, 32 more people died.Exhumations and remembrance
The remains of the majority of victims were later found in caves Golubnjača I and II. The death toll stands at 40 persons.Altogether, Široka Kula, Vukšić, Urije, Ostrvica and Lički Osik suffered a total of 164 fatalities, mostly civilians.
A monument in memory of the victims of Široka Kula massacre was built and is referred to as the "Portal hrvatske povijesti" ("Portal of Croatian history") .
War crimes trials
In 1991, Serb authorities convicted an unidentified male (called "Č.B.") of the murders of five members of a mixed family (Serb husband, Croat wife, and their children).After his release he moved to Serbia.In 1994, seven Serbs were tried in absentia
In absentia
In absentia is Latin for "in the absence". In legal use, it usually means a trial at which the defendant is not physically present. The phrase is not ordinarily a mere observation, but suggests recognition of violation to a defendant's right to be present in court proceedings in a criminal trial.In...
(in Croatian courts) and convicted for the Široka Kula crimes. One of the convicted men returned to Croatia and was promptly imprisoned. He was however later acquitted of the charges and released from prison
There are two sentencing judgments (in absentia) in Croatian courts, both in Županijski sud u Gospiću dealing with Široka Kula massacre. One judgment dates from 27 February 1997, against two persons, and one dates from 16 June 1994, against six people.
Croatian courts conducted investigations against 82 persons which, although temporarily suspended in 2001, are still not concluded.
External links
- http://www.un.org/icty/indictment/english/bab-ii031117e.htmICTY indictment against Milan BabićMilan BabicMilan Babić was from 1991 to 1995 the first President of the Republic of Serbian Krajina, a Croatian region at the time of the war largely populated by a Serbs of Croatia that wished to break away from Croatia.He was indicted for war crimes by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former...
], ICTY, 6 November 2003 - ICTY indictment against Milan Martić
- http://www.sense-agency.com/en/stream.php?sta=3&pid=9020&kat=3SENSE Agency on the closing arguments of the ICTY prosecution case against Milan MartićMilan MarticMilan Martić is a Serbian politician, former president of the Republic of Serbian Krajina...
] - "Serb leader jailed for war crimes", BBC News Europe
- "Milan Martić sentenced to 35 years for crimes against humanity and war crimes"
"Široka Kula: Mjesto masakra 39 Hrvata", Novi list "Spontana podrška Vukovarcima", Novi list "Sahranjene žrtve divljanja arkanovaca - Široka Kula oprostila se od obitelji Rakić", Novi list Anniversary of Široka Kula massacre (picture of monument visible), Diocese of Gospić-Senj 15th anniversary of massacre of Croats from Široka Kula, Catholics on the Net website HKV Portal Events before the action in Medak Pocket "U hrvatskim zatvorima 55 osoba služi kaznu zbog ratnog zločina", Vjesnik "Široka kula, our pride and shame"
Milosevic trial, Hague Tribunal transcripts Dosje: Dosije: Hrvatska traži ove ljude Politika