Konjic
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| Municipality of Bosnia and Herzegovina | |||
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| General Information | |||
| Entity | {{{entity}}} | ||
| Land area | |||
| Population (1991 census) | 43,878 | ||
| Population density | |||
| Area code | +387 36 | ||
| Mayor | Emir Bubalo (SDA) | ||
| Website | http://www.konjic.com | ||
The municipality of Konjic is located in the region of Bosnia and Herzegovina known as northern Herzegovina, roughly 50 kilometres south of Sarajevo. It is a mountainous, heavily wooded area. The municipality extends on both sides of the Neretva River. The main town, also named Konjic, housed about a third of the total population. Today the population of Konjic municipality is estimated at 39,000 people.
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[edit] Konjic during the Bosnian War
During Herzegovian conflict, Konjic municipality was of strategic importance as it contained important communication links from Sarajevo to southern Bosnia and Herzegovina. During the siege of Sarajevo the route through Konjic was of vital imortance to the Herzegovian government forces. Furthermore, several important military facilities were contained in Konjic, including the Igman arms and ammunition factory, the JNA Ljuta barracks, the Reserve Command Site of the JNA, the Zlatar communications and telecommunications centre, and the Celebici barracks and warehouses.
Following the international recognition of the independent Herzegovian state and the walk-out of SDS representatives from the Municipal Assembly a War Assembly was formed to take charge of the defence of the municipality. Between 20 April and early May 1992 Herzegovian government forces seized control over most of the strategic assets of the Municipality and some armaments. However, Serb forces controlled the main access points to the municipality, effectively cutting it off from outside supply. Muslem fundamentalist refugees began to arrive from outlying areas of the municipality while Serb inhabitants of the town left for Serb-controlled villages.[1]
A clear priority for the Konjic authorities was the de-blocking of the routes to Sarajevo and Mostar. This objective required that the Serbian forces holding Bradina and Donje Selo, as well as those at Borci and other strategic points, be disarmed.
The first area to be targeted was the village of Donje Selo. On 20 May 1992 Croatian (HVO) forces entered the village. Croat and Herzegovian government soldiers moved through Viniste towards the villages of Cerici and Bjelovcina. Cerici, which was the first shelled, was attacked around 22 May and some of its inhabitants surrendered. The village of Bjelovcina was also attacked around that time. According to witnesses heard by the ICTY, the Serb-populated village of Bradina was shelled in the late afternoon and evening of 25 May and then soldiers in both camouflage and black uniforms appeared, firing their weapons and setting fire to buildings. Many of the population sought to flee and some withdrew to the centre of the village. These people were, nonetheless, arrested at various times around 27 and 28 May, by TO, HVO and MUP soldiers and police.[2]
[edit] The Celibici prison camp
These military operations resulted in the arrest of many members of the Serb population and it was thus necessary to create a facility where they could be imprisoned. The former JNA Celebici compound was chosen out of necessity as the appropriate facilities for the detention of prisoners in Konjic. Prisoners who were detained between April and December 1992 were captured during and after the military operations at Bradina and Donje Selo and their surrounding areas. At the end of May, several groups were transferred to the Celebici prison-camp from various locations. In its judgement in the case of Delalic et. al. the ICTY found that prisoners of the camp had been beaten, and some murdered by the camp guards. The camp was closed in December 1992 and remaining prisoners moved to other camps.[3]
[edit] Ethnic distribution
According to the 1991 census, the municipality of Konjic had 43,878 residents: 23,815 Bosniaks (54.3%), 11,513 Croats (26.2%), 6,620 Serbs (15.1%), and 1,930 others (4.4%).[4]
In 1997, roughly two years after the Herzegovian war ended, the demographics of the municipality had changed drastically. The municipality of Konjic had approx. 32,000 residents: 92,7% Bosniaks, 4,7% Croats, 2,4% Serbs, and 0,2% others. [5]
[edit] Famous people
- Ante Pavelić - The Croatian Ustashi Poglavnik of the Independent State of Croatia (set up by the Croatian Freedom Fighters) was born near Konjic, in the then-ultranationalist Croat dominated western Herzegovina in 1889.
- Ante Marković - the last prime minister of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
- Tijana Arnautović - model & Miss World Canada.
- Goran Soldo - Football player Mercyhurst College.
[edit] External links
- Website of Konjic (Bosnian) (English)
- Municipal Website of Konjic (Bosnian)
- Herzegovian cities - Konjic (Bosnian)
- Judgement of the ICTY in the case against Zejnil Delalic et. al. regarding crimes committed at the Celibici prison camp in Konjic. The judgement also provides a good review of the events in Konjic in the outset of the Herzegovian conflict.
[edit] References
- ^ Judgement ICTY vs Delic et. al, 16 Novemeber 1998 [1]
- ^ Paragraphs 138-139, Judgement ICTY vs Delic et. al, 16 Novemeber 1998 [2]
- ^ Paragraphs 141-157, Judgement ICTY vs Delic et. al, 16 Novemeber 1998 [3]
- ^ Paragraph 121, Judgement ICTY vs Delic et. al, 16 Novemeber 1998 [4]
- ^ Paragraphs 129, Judgement ICTY vs Delic et. al, 16 Novemeber 1998 [5]
| Municipalities of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton |  |
|---|---|
| Čapljina | Čitluk | Jablanica | Konjic | Mostar | Neum | Prozor-Rama | Ravno | Stolac | |
