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			{{Short description\|1993 mass killing during the Bosnian War}}
	'''Massacre in Grabovica''' was a ] comitted by the troops of ] ,division “Crni Labudovi” (“Black swanns “ ) toward local Croatian poplation . In that massacre 33 civilians lost their lives. Destiny of 19 civilians is still unknown.
			{{Use dmy dates\|date=January 2021}}
			{{Infobox civilian attack
			\|title= Grabovica massacre
			\|partof = the ]
			\|image=
			\|caption=
			\|location= Grabovica, ]
			\|target= ]
			\|date= 8–9 September 1993
			\|time=
			\|timezone=
			\|type=]
			\|fatalities= –33<ref name="Grabovica Survivors Testify">{{cite web\|title=Grabovica Survivors Testify\|url=https://iwpr.net/global-voices/grabovica-survivors-testify\|access-date= 21 May 2023}}</ref><ref name="balkaninsight.com">{{cite web\|title=Croat Victims of Grabovica Massacre Losing Hope of Justice\|url=https://balkaninsight.com/2022/09/08/croat-victims-of-grabovica-massacre-losing-hope-of-justice/\|access-date= 21 May 2023}}</ref><ref name="Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Grabovica">{{cite web\|title=Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Grabovica Massacre: The Soldiers Who Couldn’t Forget\|url=https://balkaninsight.com/2020/09/09/bosnia-and-herzegovinas-grabovica-massacre-the-soldiers-who-couldnt-forget/\|access-date= 21 May 2023}}</ref>
			\|injuries=
			\|perps= ] (ARBiH)
			}}

			{{Campaignbox Bosnian War}}
	The massacre was comitted from 7th to 9th September in the village of Grabovica ,municipality of Jablanica, northern Hezegovina. The massacre was committed as the part of the ].

			The '''Grabovica massacre''' refers to the murders of 33 ethnic Croat inhabitants of the village of ] near ] by members of the ] (ARBiH) 9th Brigade and other unidentified members of ARBiH on 8 or 9 September 1993. The International Court Tribunal for former Yugoslavia concluded that the number of victims totaled 33.
	Two Bosniak soldier were found guilty at the court for this massace. In the September 2007 another three Bosniaks were found guilty for the war crime. No senior officer was convicted.

			==Background==
	== Grabovica today==
			{{main\|Croat–Bosniak War}}
			To conduct combat operations in Herzegovina to lift the HVO ] of ], units of the 9th Brigade, the 10th Brigade and the 2nd Independent Battalion, all subordinated to the ARBiH 1st Corps, were sent from ] to the Jablanica sector during ] of the ARBiH. This was the area where Grabovica was situated and it was at the time the area of responsibility of the 6th Corps. The ] (ICTY) found that those units were deployed to Herzegovina following an order issued by ].<ref name=auto>{{cite web\|url=https://www.icty.org/x/cases/halilovic/cis/en/cis_halilovic.pdf\|access-date=21 April 2023
			\|website=icty.org\|title=Case information sheet}}</ref>

			==Murders==
	Acording to the state in 2005 , there is no any Croatian resident in Grabovica today. Croatian houses are burned and demolished.
			{{Location map \| Bosnia and Herzegovina
	In some private houses of Croatian civilians today is placed a barrack of ] , religious objects and others.
			\| float = right
	Cementeries of Croatian residents are demolished . Monuments are crushed down , and some old graves even opened and bones dropped in Neretva river.
			\| caption = Location of Grabovica in ]
	==List of victims==
			\| label = Grabovica
	*Pero Čuljak , born 1913.
			\| lat_deg = 43 \| lat_min = 39 \| lat_dir = N
	* Matija Čuljak, born 1917.
			\| lon_deg = 17 \| lon_min = 45 \| lon_dir = E
	* Cvitan Lovrić, born 1936.
			}}
	* Jela Lovrić, born 1940.
			Grabovica was a village inhabited by Croats. It had been under ARBiH control since May 1993 and the relationship between the residents of Grabovica and the ARBiH soldiers who were stationed there was good and, as there was no other accommodation available for the arriving troops, they were supposed to be posted with the inhabitants of the village. The reputation of the arriving troops of the 9th and 10th Brigades was bad, because of "criminal and uncontrolled" elements within. According to ICTY, the evidence showed that members of both brigades not only demonstrated a lack of discipline, but also committed different forms of misappropriation (thefts etc.) The Trial Chamber noted in this respect the testimony of the 1st Corps Commander, Vahid Karavelić, who, while knowing of breaches of discipline and previous behaviour of members of these brigades, said that it never occurred to him that they might commit atrocities against civilians in Grabovica.<ref name="auto" />
	*Mara Mandić, born 1912.
	6. Ivan Mandić, born 1935.
	7. Ilka Miletić, born 1926.
	8. Anica Pranjić, born 1914.
	9. Franjo Ravlić, born 1917.
	* Pero Marić, born 1914.
	* Ivan Šarić, born 1939.
	* Dragica Marić, born 1914.
	* Josip Brekalo, born 1939.
	* Luca Prskalo, born 1939.
	* Andrija Drežnjak, born 1921.
	* Mara Drežnjak, born 1921.
	* Dragica Drežnjak, born 1953.
	* Ilka Marić, born 1921.
	* Ruža Marić, born 1956.
	* Martin Marić, born 1911.
	* Marinko Marić, born 1941.
	* Luca Marić, born 1944.
	* Marko Marić, born 1906.
	* Matija Marić, born 1907.
	* Ruža Marić, born 1935.
	* Ivan Marić, born 1906.
	* Matija Marić, born 1923.
	* Mladen Zadro, born 1956.
	* Ljubica Zadro, born 1956.
	* Mladenka Zadro, born 1989.
	* Živko Drežnjak, born 1933.
	* Ljubo Drežnjak, born 1932.

			With the arrival of the unit of the 9th Brigade acts of violence began to occur. Throughout the night of 8 September, shooting was heard in the village, as Bosniak soldiers went house to house, murdering civilians. None of the victims were able-bodied men, but were all women and the elderly,<ref name="balkaninsight.com">{{cite web\|title=Croat Victims of Grabovica Massacre Losing Hope of Justice\|url=https://balkaninsight.com/2022/09/08/croat-victims-of-grabovica-massacre-losing-hope-of-justice/\|access-date= 21 May 2023}}</ref> the oldest being an 87-year old man,<ref>{{cite web\|title=Veterans and families of victims mark 27th anniversary of Grabovica massacre\|url=https://n1info.ba/english/news/a460459-veterans-and-families-of-victims-mark-27th-anniversary-of-grabovica-massacre/\|access-date= 21 May 2023}}</ref> while the youngest victim was a four-year old girl.<ref name="Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Grabovica">{{cite web\|title=Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Grabovica Massacre: The Soldiers Who Couldn’t Forget\|url=https://balkaninsight.com/2020/09/09/bosnia-and-herzegovinas-grabovica-massacre-the-soldiers-who-couldnt-forget/\|access-date= 21 May 2023}}</ref>
	]

			The ICTY established that by the early afternoon of 9 September, a number of inhabitants had been murdered by members of the ARBiH units present in Grabovica at the time. The ICTY Trial Chamber found that it has been established beyond reasonable doubt that 13 inhabitants (Pero Marić, Dragica Marić, Ivan Zadro, Matija Zadro, Mladen Zadro, Ljubica Zadro, Mladenka Zadro, Josip Brekalo, Martin Marić, Živko Drežnjak, Ljuba Drežnjak, Ivan Mandić and Ilka Miletić), taking no active part in the hostilities, were murdered by members of the 9th Brigade and unidentified members of the ARBiH on 8 or 9 September 1993. The Trial Chamber found that the Prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that 14 persons listed in the indictment were killed by members of the ARBiH in Grabovica at the time relevant for the Grabovica case. The Trial Chamber noted that during trial, six of the alleged victims listed in the indictment were withdrawn.<ref name="auto" />

			Other sources state a higher death toll of 33 civilians killed by ARBiH.<ref name="Grabovica Survivors Testify">{{cite web\|title=Grabovica Survivors Testify\|url=https://iwpr.net/global-voices/grabovica-survivors-testify\|access-date= 21 May 2023}}</ref><ref name="balkaninsight.com">{{cite web\|title=Croat Victims of Grabovica Massacre Losing Hope of Justice\|url=https://balkaninsight.com/2022/09/08/croat-victims-of-grabovica-massacre-losing-hope-of-justice/\|access-date= 21 May 2023}}</ref><ref name="Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Grabovica">{{cite web\|title=Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Grabovica Massacre: The Soldiers Who Couldn’t Forget\|url=https://balkaninsight.com/2020/09/09/bosnia-and-herzegovinas-grabovica-massacre-the-soldiers-who-couldnt-forget/\|access-date= 21 May 2023}}</ref>

			==Investigation==
			After the information about the murders had reached Sarajevo, the ARBiH started investigating the crimes. The 6th Corps Security Service, the Military Police Battalion of the 6th Corps and the Military Police of the 44th Brigade, which was located in ], were involved in the investigation into the events in Grabovica. The Chief of Security of the ARBiH Main Staff Jusuf Jašarević was informed of the results of their investigations. The ICTY found that based on the ], it could not be concluded that Sefer Halilović had the material ability to punish the perpetrators of the crimes committed in Grabovica.<ref name="auto" />

			==ICTY Trial==
			Bosnian commander Sefer Halilović was indicted by ICTY on the basis of superior criminal responsibility (Article 7(3) of the Statute of the Tribunal) and charged with one count of violation of the laws and customs of war (Article 3 – murder). Having examined all the evidence presented to it and in light of its factual findings, the ICTY found that the Prosecution did not prove beyond reasonable doubt that Halilović had effective control over the troops in Grabovica on 8 and 9 September 1993, who the Trial Chamber has found committed the crimes. Halilović was subsequently acquitted and ordered released immediately.<ref name="auto" />

			==Verdicts==
			In 2008, the Supreme Court of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina confirmed three local court convictions of 13 years in prison against Nihad Vlahovljak, Sead Karagić and Haris Rajkić, former ARBiH soldiers for the crimes committed in Grabovica. The Court determined that Vlahovljak had ordered the killings, and the other two had carried out his orders.<ref>, rtvfbih.ba; Retrieved 24 February 2016 (in Serbo-Croatian).</ref>

			==See also==
			*]

			==Notes==
			{{Reflist}}

			==References==
			===Books===
			* {{cite book\|last=Hoare\|first=Marko Attila\|ref=Hoare\|year=2004\|publisher=Saqi Books\|title=How Bosnia Armed}}<!-- ISSN/ISBN needed -->
			* {{cite book\|last=Thomas\|first=Nigel\|ref=Thomas\|year=2006\| publisher=Osprey Publishing Ltd.\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a7cOQ9Nch2AC&q=The+Yugoslav+Wars+(2):+Bosnia,+Kosovo+and+Macedonia+1992+-+2001\|title=The Yugoslav Wars (2): Bosnia, Kosovo and Macedonia 1992–2001\|access-date=15 April 2013\|isbn=9781841769646}}<!-- ISSN/ISBN needed -->

			{{Bosnian War \|state=collapsed}}

			{{coord\|43.6500\|N\|17.7500\|E\|source:wikidata\|display=title}}

			{{DEFAULTSORT:Grabovica}}
			]
			]
			]
			]
			]
			]
			]
			]

Latest revision as of 23:01, 6 January 2025

1993 mass killing during the Bosnian War

Grabovica massacre
Part of the Bosnian War
Location	Grabovica, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Date	8–9 September 1993
Target	Croats
Attack type	Mass murder
Deaths	–33
Perpetrators	Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (ARBiH)

v t e Bosnian War
1992 Sarajevo Sarajevo JNA column JNA campaign Kupres Foča Zvornik Doboj Višegrad Prijedor cleansing Tuzla JNA column Galaja resistance Bihać Jackal Vrbas '92 Corridor 92 Gornje Kolibe Majevica front Korićani Cliffs Croat–Bosniak War Bura 1993 Munja '93 Azići Žepče Kravica Duša Štrpci Travnik Mostar Deny Flight Ahmići Trusina Sovići/Doljani Dobrinja Bugojno Sadejstvo Mokronoge Grabovica Neretva '93 Lukavac '93 Stupni Do Cazin Križančevo Selo 1994 1st Markale Banja Luka Buna 94 Tvigi 94 Brana '94 Washington Agreement Star '94 Bøllebank Amanda Tiger Sarajevo incident Spider 2nd Kupres Shield '94 Vučja Planina Udbina airstrike Winter '94 Leap 1 Vučja mountain 1995 Majevica Vlašić Orašje Pale airstrikes Tuzla Tekbir '95 Vrbanja Bridge Leap 2 Mrkonjić Grad Krivaja '95 Massacre Stupčanica '95 Vozuća Miracle Summer '95 Storm 2nd Markale Deliberate Force Mistral 2 Sana Prijedor '95 Una Southern Move

Bosnian War

1992

1993

1994

1995

The Grabovica massacre refers to the murders of 33 ethnic Croat inhabitants of the village of Grabovica near Jablanica by members of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (ARBiH) 9th Brigade and other unidentified members of ARBiH on 8 or 9 September 1993. The International Court Tribunal for former Yugoslavia concluded that the number of victims totaled 33.

Background

Main article: Croat–Bosniak War

To conduct combat operations in Herzegovina to lift the HVO blockade of Mostar, units of the 9th Brigade, the 10th Brigade and the 2nd Independent Battalion, all subordinated to the ARBiH 1st Corps, were sent from Sarajevo to the Jablanica sector during Operation Neretva '93 of the ARBiH. This was the area where Grabovica was situated and it was at the time the area of responsibility of the 6th Corps. The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) found that those units were deployed to Herzegovina following an order issued by Sefer Halilović.

Murders

Grabovicaclass=notpageimage| Location of Grabovica in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Grabovica was a village inhabited by Croats. It had been under ARBiH control since May 1993 and the relationship between the residents of Grabovica and the ARBiH soldiers who were stationed there was good and, as there was no other accommodation available for the arriving troops, they were supposed to be posted with the inhabitants of the village. The reputation of the arriving troops of the 9th and 10th Brigades was bad, because of "criminal and uncontrolled" elements within. According to ICTY, the evidence showed that members of both brigades not only demonstrated a lack of discipline, but also committed different forms of misappropriation (thefts etc.) The Trial Chamber noted in this respect the testimony of the 1st Corps Commander, Vahid Karavelić, who, while knowing of breaches of discipline and previous behaviour of members of these brigades, said that it never occurred to him that they might commit atrocities against civilians in Grabovica.

With the arrival of the unit of the 9th Brigade acts of violence began to occur. Throughout the night of 8 September, shooting was heard in the village, as Bosniak soldiers went house to house, murdering civilians. None of the victims were able-bodied men, but were all women and the elderly, the oldest being an 87-year old man, while the youngest victim was a four-year old girl.

The ICTY established that by the early afternoon of 9 September, a number of inhabitants had been murdered by members of the ARBiH units present in Grabovica at the time. The ICTY Trial Chamber found that it has been established beyond reasonable doubt that 13 inhabitants (Pero Marić, Dragica Marić, Ivan Zadro, Matija Zadro, Mladen Zadro, Ljubica Zadro, Mladenka Zadro, Josip Brekalo, Martin Marić, Živko Drežnjak, Ljuba Drežnjak, Ivan Mandić and Ilka Miletić), taking no active part in the hostilities, were murdered by members of the 9th Brigade and unidentified members of the ARBiH on 8 or 9 September 1993. The Trial Chamber found that the Prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that 14 persons listed in the indictment were killed by members of the ARBiH in Grabovica at the time relevant for the Grabovica case. The Trial Chamber noted that during trial, six of the alleged victims listed in the indictment were withdrawn.

Other sources state a higher death toll of 33 civilians killed by ARBiH.

Investigation

After the information about the murders had reached Sarajevo, the ARBiH started investigating the crimes. The 6th Corps Security Service, the Military Police Battalion of the 6th Corps and the Military Police of the 44th Brigade, which was located in Jablanica, were involved in the investigation into the events in Grabovica. The Chief of Security of the ARBiH Main Staff Jusuf Jašarević was informed of the results of their investigations. The ICTY found that based on the evidence, it could not be concluded that Sefer Halilović had the material ability to punish the perpetrators of the crimes committed in Grabovica.

ICTY Trial

Bosnian commander Sefer Halilović was indicted by ICTY on the basis of superior criminal responsibility (Article 7(3) of the Statute of the Tribunal) and charged with one count of violation of the laws and customs of war (Article 3 – murder). Having examined all the evidence presented to it and in light of its factual findings, the ICTY found that the Prosecution did not prove beyond reasonable doubt that Halilović had effective control over the troops in Grabovica on 8 and 9 September 1993, who the Trial Chamber has found committed the crimes. Halilović was subsequently acquitted and ordered released immediately.

Verdicts

In 2008, the Supreme Court of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina confirmed three local court convictions of 13 years in prison against Nihad Vlahovljak, Sead Karagić and Haris Rajkić, former ARBiH soldiers for the crimes committed in Grabovica. The Court determined that Vlahovljak had ordered the killings, and the other two had carried out his orders.

Notes

^ "Grabovica Survivors Testify". Retrieved 21 May 2023.
^ "Croat Victims of Grabovica Massacre Losing Hope of Justice". Retrieved 21 May 2023.
^ "Bosnia and Herzegovina's Grabovica Massacre: The Soldiers Who Couldn't Forget". Retrieved 21 May 2023.
^ "Case information sheet" (PDF). icty.org. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
"Veterans and families of victims mark 27th anniversary of Grabovica massacre". Retrieved 21 May 2023.
Vrhovni sud FBiH potvrdio kazne za ratni zločin u Grabovici, rtvfbih.ba; Retrieved 24 February 2016 (in Serbo-Croatian).

References

Books

Hoare, Marko Attila (2004). How Bosnia Armed. Saqi Books.
Thomas, Nigel (2006). The Yugoslav Wars (2): Bosnia, Kosovo and Macedonia 1992–2001. Osprey Publishing Ltd. ISBN 9781841769646. Retrieved 15 April 2013.

Bosnian War

Part of the Yugoslav Wars

Belligerents

Bosniak side	Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina 1st Corps 2nd Corps 3rd Corps 4th Corps 5th Corps 6th Corps 7th Corps Paramilitary Patriotic League Green Berets Croatian Defence Forces Bosnian mujahideen
Croat side	Croatian Defence Council 1OZ 2OZ 3OZ 4OZ Paramilitary Croatian Defence Forces Knights
Serb side	Army of Republika Srpska 1st Krajina Corps 2nd Krajina Corps 3rd Corps East Bosnia Corps Herzegovina Corps Sarajevo-Romanija Corps Drina Corps Paramilitary Wolves of Vučjak White Eagles Serb Volunteer Guard Scorpions Yellow Wasps
Western Bosnian side	National Defence of the Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia