Jadranko Prlić

Jadranko Prlić (born 1959) is a Bosnian-Croat politician who is among six defendants charged by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY),in relation to the Croatian Republic of Herceg-Bosna.

History

Son of Mile, was born on June 12 1956 in Đakovo, in the then Socialist Republic of Croatia, Yugoslavia. He graduated from the Economics Faculty in Mostar, in the then Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and obtained his master's and doctor’s degrees at the Economics Faculty in Sarajevo. He served for a time as President of the Executive Council of Mostar Municipality. In 1989, he became the Vice-President of the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina and, in late 1990, he became its acting President. On 15 May 1992, Mate Boban appointed Jadranko Prlić head of the HVO Department of Finance, and on 14 August 1992, Mate Boban appointed Jadranko Prlić President of Herceg-Bosna's supreme executive, administrative and defence body - the HVO. After the Croatian Community of Herceg-Bosna became the Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia in late August 1993, Jadranko Prlić's title or position changed from President to Prime Minister (with his functions remaining largely the same).

Indictment

The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia indictment states that as a leading politician of the Croatian Defence Council or HVO in the early 90's Prlić had almost total power and control of the Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia government. Therefore as the leader of the HVO government he had the power to remove, military civilian commanders who had taken part of ordered crimes against humanity. He also had the power to close HVO concentrations camps. [http://www.un.org/icty/pressreal/2004/p836-e.htm UN]

Charges

Taken from the [http://www.un.org/icty/pressreal/2004/p836-e.htm UN press release] :
*"nine counts of grave breaches of the Geneva conventions (wilful killing; inhuman treatment (sexual assault); unlawful deportation of a civilian; unlawful transfer of a civilian; unlawful confinement of a civilian; inhuman treatment (conditions of confinement); inhuman treatment; extensive destruction of property, not justified by military necessity and carried out unlawfully and wantonly; appropriation of property, not justified by military necessity and carried out unlawfully and wantonly)."

*"nine counts of violations of the laws or customs of war (cruel treatment (conditions of confinement); cruel treatment; unlawful labour; wanton destruction of cities, towns or villages, or destruction not justified by military necessity; destruction or wilful damage done to institutions dedicated to religion or education; plunder of public or private property; unlawful attack on civilians; unlawful infliction of terror on civilians; cruel treatment), and"

*"eight counts of crimes against humanity (persecutions on political, racial and religious grounds; murder; rape; deportation; inhumane acts (forcible transfer); imprisonment; inhumane acts (conditions of confinement); inhumane acts)."

External links

* [http://www.un.org/icty/indictment/english/prl-ii040304e.htm initial indictment] .