Mladen Naletilić
Encyclopedia
Mladen Naletilić Tuta was Croatian
military commander of "Convicts' Battalion" of Croatian Defence Council
and war criminal.
in Herzegovina
region in Bosnia and Herzegovina
. As a youngster he went to West Germany
and joined to Croatian emigation organization "United Croats of Germany". He run a casino in Singen
and he was also a pimp. He cooperated with Bundesnachrichtendienst
, German intelligence agency and Bulgarian Committee for State Security
. Naletilić was also agent of Yugoslav Department of State Security.
In 1990 he returned to Croatia
and in 1991 he founded volunteer unit and named it "Convicts' Battalion" . In 1992 when Bosnian War
started, "Convicts' Battalion" was replaced in Široki Brijeg
and they operated in Herzegovina
. Members of the unit weren't only Croats but foreign volunteers also, including Germans, British, French, Paraguayans and Argentinians, some members were on Interpol
's wanted list.
As a unit of Croatian Defence Council
(shorten HVO), "Convicts' Battalion" fought against Yugoslav People's Army
and Army of Republika Srpska
. Naletilić was unit's commander subordinated to general Ivan Andabak. He was also close friend to Croatian Minister of Defence Gojko Šušak
.
On August 2, 1992 Naletilić gave an order to his unit to execute general of the Croatian Defence Forces
and general of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina Blaž Kraljević
. Assassination was succesfoul and Naletilić awarded 20 atentators with 5,000 Deutschmarks each.
In beginning of 1993 Jusuf Prazina
also joined Naletilić's unit. He was one of the organizers of the defence of Sarajevo and also a criminal. When Croat-Bosniak War
brake out in 1992, "Convicts' Battalion" fought against Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Jablanica
, Doljani
and Vakuf
. On April 17, 1993 Naletilić's unit attacked village Sovići and conducted forcible transfer of Bosniaks. On May 9, 1993 members of "Convicts' Battalion" were involved in siege of eastern part of Mostar
, they intensively shelled the city and pervented humanitarian aid.
In November 1993 Naletilić was in conflict with general of HVO
, Slobodan Praljak
, who was later forced to leave the post of Chief of Staff of HVO because of that.
In 1994 Naletilić was against the truce between Croats and Bosniaks and he was also against Washington Agreement
and abolition of Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia
, an unrecognized entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He accused Gojko Šušak
and Croatian President Franjo Tuđman for national treason.
After war ended, Naletilić left the army. In 1997 he was arrested and convinced because of murder of Robert Nosić, military policeman and member of Croatian Defence Forces
from Ljubuški
. He spent two years in Remetinec prison
. Because of health problems he was transferred to cardiovascular division of University Hospital Centre Zagreb on November 14, 1999. In March 2000 Naletilić was extradited to ICTY and was convicted to 20 years of prison because of war crimes against Bosniak civilians in Herzegovina
during Croat-Bosniak War
.
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...
military commander of "Convicts' Battalion" of 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:...
and war criminal.
Biography
Naletilić was born in Široki BrijegŠiroki Brijeg
-Name:The name of the city means "the wide hill" in Croatian . The city is also sometime referred to as "Široki Brig" and among the inhabitants of Herzegovina simply as "Široki" . Between 1945 and 1990, the name was officially Lištica, after the river that flows through it.-Geography:The river...
in Herzegovina
Herzegovina
Herzegovina is the southern region of Bosnia and Herzegovina. While there is no official border distinguishing it from the Bosnian region, it is generally accepted that the borders of the region are Croatia to the west, Montenegro to the south, the canton boundaries of the Herzegovina-Neretva...
region in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
. As a youngster he went to West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
and joined to Croatian emigation organization "United Croats of Germany". He run a casino in Singen
Singen
Singen is an industrial city in the very south of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany and just north of the German-Swiss border.-Location:...
and he was also a pimp. He cooperated with Bundesnachrichtendienst
Bundesnachrichtendienst
The Bundesnachrichtendienst [ˌbʊndəsˈnaːχʁɪçtnˌdiːnst] is the foreign intelligence agency of Germany, directly subordinated to the Chancellor's Office. Its headquarters are in Pullach near Munich, and Berlin . The BND has 300 locations in Germany and foreign countries...
, German intelligence agency and Bulgarian Committee for State Security
Committee for State Security
The Committee for State Security , popularly known as State Security was the name of the Bulgarian secret service during the Communist rule of Bulgaria and the Cold War ....
. Naletilić was also agent of Yugoslav Department of State Security.
In 1990 he returned to Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
and in 1991 he founded volunteer unit and named it "Convicts' Battalion" . In 1992 when Bosnian War
Bosnian War
The Bosnian War or the War in Bosnia and Herzegovina was an international armed conflict that took place in Bosnia and Herzegovina between April 1992 and December 1995. The war involved several sides...
started, "Convicts' Battalion" was replaced in Široki Brijeg
Široki Brijeg
-Name:The name of the city means "the wide hill" in Croatian . The city is also sometime referred to as "Široki Brig" and among the inhabitants of Herzegovina simply as "Široki" . Between 1945 and 1990, the name was officially Lištica, after the river that flows through it.-Geography:The river...
and they operated in Herzegovina
Herzegovina
Herzegovina is the southern region of Bosnia and Herzegovina. While there is no official border distinguishing it from the Bosnian region, it is generally accepted that the borders of the region are Croatia to the west, Montenegro to the south, the canton boundaries of the Herzegovina-Neretva...
. Members of the unit weren't only Croats but foreign volunteers also, including Germans, British, French, Paraguayans and Argentinians, some members were on Interpol
Interpol
Interpol, whose full name is the International Criminal Police Organization – INTERPOL, is an organization facilitating international police cooperation...
's wanted list.
As a unit of 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:...
(shorten HVO), "Convicts' Battalion" fought against Yugoslav People's Army
Yugoslav People's Army
The Yugoslav People's Army , also referred to as the Yugoslav National Army , was the military of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.-Origins:The origins of the JNA can...
and Army of Republika Srpska
Army of Republika Srpska
The Army of Republika Srpska ; Serbian, Bosnian, Croatian Vojska Republike Srpske ) also referred to as the Bosnian Serb Army, was the military of today's Republika Srpska which was then the "Serbian Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina", a self-proclaimed state within the internationally recognized...
. Naletilić was unit's commander subordinated to general Ivan Andabak. He was also close friend to Croatian Minister of Defence Gojko Šušak
Gojko Šušak
Gojko Šušak was the Croatian Minister of Defence from 1991 to 1998. A Bosnian Croat emigreé to Canada, he entered the political life of Croat diaspora in North America, subsequently becoming a close friend and associate to Franjo Tuđman, the leader of the Croatian Democratic Union, a nationalistic...
.
On August 2, 1992 Naletilić gave an order to his unit to execute general of the Croatian Defence Forces
Croatian Defence Forces
The Croatian Defence Forces was the military arm of the Croatian Party of Rights from 1991 to 1992 during the first stages of the Yugoslav wars....
and general of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina Blaž Kraljević
Blaž Kraljevic
Blaž Nikola Kraljević was a Bosnian Croat paramilitary leader during the first few months of the Bosnian War who commanded the Croatian Defence Forces...
. Assassination was succesfoul and Naletilić awarded 20 atentators with 5,000 Deutschmarks each.
In beginning of 1993 Jusuf Prazina
Jusuf Prazina
Jusuf "Juka" Prazina was a Sarajevan gangster and paramilitary warlord during the Bosnian war.A troubled teen, Prazina's youth allegedly contained numerous stays in various jails and correctional facilities of the former Yugoslavia...
also joined Naletilić's unit. He was one of the organizers of the defence of Sarajevo and also a criminal. When Croat-Bosniak War
Croat-Bosniak war
The Croat–Bosniak War was a conflict between the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the self-proclaimed Croatian Community of Herzeg-Bosnia supported by the Republic of Croatia, that lasted from June 19, 1992 – February 23, 1994...
brake out in 1992, "Convicts' Battalion" fought against Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Jablanica
Jablanica
Jablanica or Yablanitsa may refer to:* Jablanica, Bosnia and Herzegovina, a town in Herzegovina* Yablanitsa, a town in Lovech Province, Bulgaria* Yablanitsa, Sofia Province, village in Sofia Province, Bulgaria* Jablanica, Zlatibor, village in Serbia...
, Doljani
Doljani
Doljani is a village in Herzegovina, in Čapljina municipality, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-Ethnic composition, 1991 census:total: 365* Croats - 357 * Serbs - 5 * others and unknown - 3...
and Vakuf
Vakuf
Vakuf is alternative spelling of waqf. Several places in Bosnia are called so:* Gornji Vakuf, in Bosnia and Herzegovina,* Donji Vakuf, in Bosnia and Herzegovina,* Kulen Vakuf, in Bosnia and Herzegovina* Vakuf , in Bosnia and Herzegovina...
. On April 17, 1993 Naletilić's unit attacked village Sovići and conducted forcible transfer of Bosniaks. On May 9, 1993 members of "Convicts' Battalion" were involved in siege of eastern part 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...
, they intensively shelled the city and pervented humanitarian aid.
In November 1993 Naletilić was in conflict with general of 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...
, Slobodan Praljak
Slobodan Praljak
Slobodan Praljak is a Croatian politician, HV and HVO general from Bosnia and Herzegovina...
, who was later forced to leave the post of Chief of Staff of HVO because of that.
In 1994 Naletilić was against the truce between Croats and Bosniaks and he was also against Washington Agreement
Washington Agreement
The Washington Agreement was a ceasefire agreement between the warring Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia and the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, signed in Washington on 18 March 1994 and Vienna. It was signed by Bosnian Prime Minister Haris Silajdžić, Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granić and...
and abolition of Croatian Republic of 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,...
, an unrecognized entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He accused Gojko Šušak
Gojko Šušak
Gojko Šušak was the Croatian Minister of Defence from 1991 to 1998. A Bosnian Croat emigreé to Canada, he entered the political life of Croat diaspora in North America, subsequently becoming a close friend and associate to Franjo Tuđman, the leader of the Croatian Democratic Union, a nationalistic...
and Croatian President Franjo Tuđman for national treason.
After war ended, Naletilić left the army. In 1997 he was arrested and convinced because of murder of Robert Nosić, military policeman and member of Croatian Defence Forces
Croatian Defence Forces
The Croatian Defence Forces was the military arm of the Croatian Party of Rights from 1991 to 1992 during the first stages of the Yugoslav wars....
from Ljubuški
Ljubuški
Ljubuški is a town and municipality in Bosnia and Herzegovina, located in thewestern part of Herzegovina.-1971:28.269 total* Croats - 26.198 * Muslims by nationality - 1.812 * Serbs - 118 * Yugoslavs - 49...
. He spent two years in Remetinec prison
Remetinec prison
Remetinec prison is a closed-type prison located in the Remetinec neighborhood of Zagreb, Croatia.The prison's capacity is 560 inmates, making it the largest prison in Croatia. , it housed 850 prisoners and detainees. The prison's overcrowding problem is also a major problem of the Croatian prison...
. Because of health problems he was transferred to cardiovascular division of University Hospital Centre Zagreb on November 14, 1999. In March 2000 Naletilić was extradited to ICTY and was convicted to 20 years of prison because of war crimes against Bosniak civilians in Herzegovina
Herzegovina
Herzegovina is the southern region of Bosnia and Herzegovina. While there is no official border distinguishing it from the Bosnian region, it is generally accepted that the borders of the region are Croatia to the west, Montenegro to the south, the canton boundaries of the Herzegovina-Neretva...
during Croat-Bosniak War
Croat-Bosniak war
The Croat–Bosniak War was a conflict between the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the self-proclaimed Croatian Community of Herzeg-Bosnia supported by the Republic of Croatia, that lasted from June 19, 1992 – February 23, 1994...
.