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The
Sovi?i and Doljani killings
refers to war crimes committed against
Bosniaks
by
Croatian Defence Forces
(HVO) on 17 April 1993, and afterwards in the villages of
Doljani
and
Sovi?i
.
According to the
ICTY
, Croat/HVO forces attacked the villages of Doljani and Sovi?i, about 50 kilometers north of
Mostar
in the morning on 17 April 1993. The attack was part of a larger Croatian Defence Forces offensive aimed at taking
Jablanica
, the main Bosnian Muslim dominated town in the area. The HVO commanders had calculated that they needed two days to take Jablanica. Sovi?i's geopolitical location was of strategic significance for the HVO as it was en route to Jablanica. For the Bosnian Army, it was a gateway to the plateau of
Risovac
, which could create conditions for further progression towards the Adriatic coast.
[2]
The larger HVO offensive on Jablanica had already started on 15 April 1993. The artillery destroyed the upper part of Sovi?i. The Bosnian Army fought back, but at about 5 p.m., the Bosnian Army commander in Sovi?i surrendered, along with approximately 70 to 75 soldiers. At least 400 Bosnian Muslim civilians were detained and the HVO advance towards Jablanica was halted after a cease-fire agreement was negotiated.
[2]
Muslim houses in the area were burned and mosques were systematically destroyed to ensure the Bosniak population would not return.
[2]
A number of captured Bosniaks were tortured and killed by the
Ka?njeni?ka Bojna
, a unit known by its cruelty to Bosniaks. It was commanded by
Mladen Naletili? Tuta
. Some prisoners were transported to the
Heliodrom concentration camp
[2]
or other camps such as the one in
Ljubu?ki
where they were beaten and mistreated.
[3]
[4]
General
Milivoj Petkovi?
attributed responsibility for Sovi?i and Doljani to
Mate Boban
.
[5]
References
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External links
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