Tihomir Blaškic
Encyclopedia
Tihomir Blaškić is a Bosnian Croat army officer who was sentenced in 2000 to 45 years imprisonment at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia
for war crimes as part of the Lašva valley ethnic cleansing
. In 2004, his command responsibility
for most of the charges was found non-existent on appeal, and his sentence was commuted to 9 years imprisonment.
municipality of SR Bosnia and Herzegovina, SFR Yugoslavia. Blaskic was a career military officer and graduated from the Belgrade Military Academy in 1983, having been beforehand a Captain in the Yugoslav People's Army
(JNA).
During the period referred to in the indictment, he held the rank of Colonel in the HVO (Croatian Defence Council
) and, from 27 June 1992, he was appointed Commander of the Regional Headquarters of the Armed Forces in central Bosnia. Subsequently, in August 1994, he was promoted to the rank of General and appointed Commander of the HVO, which had its headquarters in Mostar.
In November 1995, he was given the post of Inspector in the General Inspectorate of the Army of the Republic of Croatia.
, backed by the Croatian Army (HV). The zones which they had control over were contained within the Croatian Community of Bosnia-Herzegovina (HZBH).
Tihomir Blaskic was in command of the HVO troops in the Lašva valley
in central Bosnia, which was inhabited, in the majority, by Muslims and Croats.
Between May 1992 and January 1993, relations between the two communities became increasingly strained. The first destructions of mosques and Muslim houses, the first civilian murders and the first looting of property began to be witnessed.
On 2 January 1993, the Vance-Owen plan was put forward. This peace plan, amongst other elements, gave definition to a decentralised Bosnia-Herzegovina, organised into ten provinces, each benefiting from substantial autonomy and each being administered by a democratically elected local government.
Under this plan, the Lasva valley was attached, for the greater part, to a province where the principal responsibilities were attributed to the Croats.
The latter, and in particular the Bosnian Croats, in anticipation of the adoption of the Vance-Owen plan, resolved to implement it unilaterally, set about provoking open conflict between Croats and Muslims in central Bosnia.
On expiration of two ultimatums given to the Muslims in January and April 1993 requiring them to lay down their arms, the Croatian forces, whose hierarchical leader was General Blaskic, attacked various municipalities in the valley.
The Croatian forces, the HVO and independent units ran amok pillaging, burning down houses and farm buildings, murdering civilians without distinction as to age or sex, putting down livestock, destroying or damaging mosques, arresting certain civilians, forcibly transferring them to detention centres where living conditions were deplorable, and forcing them to dig trenches at various locations. On occasion, these same civilians were used as hostages or human shields.
(ICTY) indicted him for crimes committed by troops under his command against Bosniaks
in central Bosnia, particularly the Lašva
valley, including grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions
, violations of the laws or customs of war and crimes against humanity.
At first, Franjo Tuđman reacted to this indictment defiantly and named Blaškić Inspector General
of the Croatian Army. Later in the year Blaškić was told by his military superiors that it was his duty to voluntarily surrender and he reluctantly did so; his trial began in 1997. On 3 March 2000, The First Trial Chamber of the ICTY handed down its verdict, which condemned Blaskic to 45 years in prison.
The First Trial Chamber charged Tihomir Blaskic, based on his individual personal responsibility (Art. 7 § 1 ICTY Statute) and on his responsibility as hierarchical superior (Art. 7 § 3 ICTY Statute), on the following counts:
The case was in appeal
until July 2004 when the ICTY appeals panel dismissed 16 of 19 counts in the initial indictment, notably the claim that Blaškić had command responsibility
for the massacre in Ahmići
and that Ahmići were not a legitimate military target. The decision has left some dubieties which will have to be resolved: it did not assess the nature of Croat-Muslim war in Bosnia in 1993–1994; it accepted the defense claim that there existed a "double chain of command
".
The appeals panel did not completely dismiss him of all charges, as it reaffirmed the less serious charges of responsibility for the inhumane treatment of POWs (for example).
It reduced Blaškić's sentence to nine years of imprisonment, because of his good behavior, clear prior record, poor health, voluntary surrender and his young children. His defense applied for an early release because he served eight years and four months already, and the request was granted.
On July 29, 2005 chief ICTY prosecutor Carla Del Ponte
filed motion for new trial, citing new evidence about Tihomir Blaškić's guilt. The Appeals Chamber dismissed this motion on November 23, 2006.
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...
for war crimes as part of the Lašva valley ethnic cleansing
Lašva Valley ethnic cleansing
The Lašva Valley ethnic cleansing, also known as the Lašva Valley case, refers to numerous war crimes committed during the Bosnian war by the Croatian Community of Herzeg-Bosnia's political and military leadership on Bosnian Muslim civilians in the Lašva Valley region of Bosnia-Herzegovina...
. In 2004, his command responsibility
Command responsibility
Command responsibility, sometimes referred to as the Yamashita standard or the Medina standard, and also known as superior responsibility, is the doctrine of hierarchical accountability in cases of war crimes....
for most of the charges was found non-existent on appeal, and his sentence was commuted to 9 years imprisonment.
Early life
Tihomir Blaškić was born on 2 November 1960 in the village of Brestovsko in the KiseljakKiseljak
Kiseljak is a small town and municipality in central Bosnia and Herzegovina, located northwest of Sarajevo and south of Zenica. Kiseljak lies in the valley of the rivers Fojnica , Lepenica and Kreševka, which are a tributary of the Bosna, and it is on the intersection of roads from Visoko, Fojnica,...
municipality of SR Bosnia and Herzegovina, SFR Yugoslavia. Blaskic was a career military officer and graduated from the Belgrade Military Academy in 1983, having been beforehand a Captain in the 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...
(JNA).
During the period referred to in the indictment, he held the rank of Colonel in the HVO (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, from 27 June 1992, he was appointed Commander of the Regional Headquarters of the Armed Forces in central Bosnia. Subsequently, in August 1994, he was promoted to the rank of General and appointed Commander of the HVO, which had its headquarters in Mostar.
In November 1995, he was given the post of Inspector in the General Inspectorate of the Army of the Republic of Croatia.
Bosnian War
Following international recognition of Bosnia on 6 April 1992, armed conflict erupted between the different communities. As a result, on 8 April 1992, the Bosnian Croats created the HVOCroatian Defence Council
The Croatian Defence Council was a military formation of the self-proclaimed Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia during the Bosnian War.-History:...
, backed by the Croatian Army (HV). The zones which they had control over were contained within the Croatian Community of Bosnia-Herzegovina (HZBH).
Tihomir Blaskic was in command of the HVO troops in the Lašva valley
Lašva Valley
A region used to characterize some parts of Central Bosnia, the Lašva Valley is understood to be defined geographical by the Lašva River's route. It is a tributary of the Bosna River which travels from Travnik through Vitez but also touches Busovača, Kiseljak, Novi Travnik and Travnik.-Ancient...
in central Bosnia, which was inhabited, in the majority, by Muslims and Croats.
Between May 1992 and January 1993, relations between the two communities became increasingly strained. The first destructions of mosques and Muslim houses, the first civilian murders and the first looting of property began to be witnessed.
On 2 January 1993, the Vance-Owen plan was put forward. This peace plan, amongst other elements, gave definition to a decentralised Bosnia-Herzegovina, organised into ten provinces, each benefiting from substantial autonomy and each being administered by a democratically elected local government.
Under this plan, the Lasva valley was attached, for the greater part, to a province where the principal responsibilities were attributed to the Croats.
The latter, and in particular the Bosnian Croats, in anticipation of the adoption of the Vance-Owen plan, resolved to implement it unilaterally, set about provoking open conflict between Croats and Muslims in central Bosnia.
On expiration of two ultimatums given to the Muslims in January and April 1993 requiring them to lay down their arms, the Croatian forces, whose hierarchical leader was General Blaskic, attacked various municipalities in the valley.
The Croatian forces, the HVO and independent units ran amok pillaging, burning down houses and farm buildings, murdering civilians without distinction as to age or sex, putting down livestock, destroying or damaging mosques, arresting certain civilians, forcibly transferring them to detention centres where living conditions were deplorable, and forcing them to dig trenches at various locations. On occasion, these same civilians were used as hostages or human shields.
War crimes
In 1996 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...
(ICTY) indicted him for crimes committed by troops under his command against Bosniaks
Bosniaks
The Bosniaks or Bosniacs are a South Slavic ethnic group, living mainly in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a smaller minority also present in other lands of the Balkan Peninsula especially in Serbia, Montenegro and Croatia...
in central Bosnia, particularly the Lašva
Lašva
The Lašva is a river in Central Bosnia, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is a left tributary of the Bosna.It originates from the confluence of two "little Lašva", Karaula Lašva and Komarska Lašva in Turbe. The Lašva flows through Travnik, then through Vitez before draining into the Bosna....
valley, including grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions
Geneva Conventions
The Geneva Conventions comprise four treaties, and three additional protocols, that establish the standards of international law for the humanitarian treatment of the victims of war...
, violations of the laws or customs of war and crimes against humanity.
At first, Franjo Tuđman reacted to this indictment defiantly and named Blaškić Inspector General
Inspector General
An Inspector General is an investigative official in a civil or military organization. The plural of the term is Inspectors General.-Bangladesh:...
of the Croatian Army. Later in the year Blaškić was told by his military superiors that it was his duty to voluntarily surrender and he reluctantly did so; his trial began in 1997. On 3 March 2000, The First Trial Chamber of the ICTY handed down its verdict, which condemned Blaskic to 45 years in prison.
The First Trial Chamber charged Tihomir Blaskic, based on his individual personal responsibility (Art. 7 § 1 ICTY Statute) and on his responsibility as hierarchical superior (Art. 7 § 3 ICTY Statute), on the following counts:
- serious breaches of the Geneva Conventions of 1949 (Art. 2 ICTY Statute: wilful murder, wilfully causing great suffering or serious injury to body or health; widespread destruction of property; inhumane treatment, taking of civilian hostages);
- violations of the laws and customs of war (Art. 3 ICTY Statute: devastation not justified by military necessity; illegal attacks on civilians; illegal attacks on civilian property, murder; infliction of grievous bodily harm; looting of public or private property; destruction or wilful damage to institutions dedicated to religion or education; cruel treatment; hostage taking;
- crimes against humanity (Art. 5 ICTY Statutes: persecutions on political, racial or religious grounds; murder; inhumane acts).
The case was in appeal
Appeal
An appeal is a petition for review of a case that has been decided by a court of law. The petition is made to a higher court for the purpose of overturning the lower court's decision....
until July 2004 when the ICTY appeals panel dismissed 16 of 19 counts in the initial indictment, notably the claim that Blaškić had command responsibility
Command responsibility
Command responsibility, sometimes referred to as the Yamashita standard or the Medina standard, and also known as superior responsibility, is the doctrine of hierarchical accountability in cases of war crimes....
for the massacre in Ahmići
Ahmici massacre
Ahmići massacre was the culmination of the Lašva Valley ethnic cleansing committed by the Croatian Community of Herzeg-Bosnia's political and military leadership on Bosniak civilians during the Croat-Bosniak war in April 1993...
and that Ahmići were not a legitimate military target. The decision has left some dubieties which will have to be resolved: it did not assess the nature of Croat-Muslim war in Bosnia in 1993–1994; it accepted the defense claim that there existed a "double chain of command
Chain of Command
Chain of Command may refer to:* Chain of command, in a military context, the line of authority and responsibility along which orders are passed* "Chain of Command" , the fifth episode of the first season of Beast Wars...
".
The appeals panel did not completely dismiss him of all charges, as it reaffirmed the less serious charges of responsibility for the inhumane treatment of POWs (for example).
It reduced Blaškić's sentence to nine years of imprisonment, because of his good behavior, clear prior record, poor health, voluntary surrender and his young children. His defense applied for an early release because he served eight years and four months already, and the request was granted.
On July 29, 2005 chief ICTY prosecutor Carla Del Ponte
Carla Del Ponte
Carla Del Ponte is a former Chief Prosecutor of two United Nations international criminal law tribunals. A former Swiss attorney general, she was appointed prosecutor for the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in August...
filed motion for new trial, citing new evidence about Tihomir Blaškić's guilt. The Appeals Chamber dismissed this motion on November 23, 2006.
Further reading
- Shahram Dana, Revisiting the Blaškić Sentence: Some Reflections on the Sentencing Jurisprudence of the ICTY, 4 International Criminal Law Review 321-348 (2004). http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/mnp/icla/2004/00000004/00000003
- Heiko Meiertöns, Superior Responsibility and Mens Rea-The Appeals Decision in the Blaskic-Case, 18 Journal of International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict, 53-58 (2005)http://www.ifhv.rub.de/imperia/md/content/publications/huv-i/huv_01_05_second_version.pdf
- Blaskic Judgement overturned Due to Judge Jorda's Errors, Brian Gallagher, GlobusGlobus (weekly)Globus is a Croatian weekly news magazine published in Zagreb.The magazine was started in 1990, having some of its first issues published during the Croatian War of Independence. Originally devised as tabloid, it never took an openly chauvinist approach of Slobodni tjednik and always tried to give...
, 15 October 2004