1992 Yugoslav People's Army column incident in Tuzla
June 14, 2023
The 1992 Yugoslav People's Army column incident in Tuzla, also known as Tuzla column (Bosnian: Tuzlanska kolona) was an attack on the 92nd Motorized Brigade of the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) in the Bosnian city of Tuzla on 15 May 1992. The incident occurred at the road junction of Brčanska Malta. At least 92 soldiers of the JNA were killed and 33 wounded during the attacks, with estimates reaching 200 killed. What started off as a peaceful retreat by agreement with local authorities but ended in an ambush when Patriotic League, Green Berets and Bosniaks from local police attacked the column.[1][unreliable source][neutrality is disputed] It was a repeat of a similar incident that occurred in Sarajevo a week prior.[2][irrelevant citation]
When the Bosnian War broke out in April 1992, there were four types of federal and Serb armed forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina. These were; the Yugoslav people's Army (JNA), volunteer units raised by the JNA, Bosnian Serb Territorial Defense (TO) detachments, and Bosnian Serb Ministry of Internal Affairs Police (MUP).[3] With the withdrawal of the JNA from Slovenia and much of Croatia, by early April 1992 the JNA in western Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina had around 100,000–110,000 troops, equipped with about 500 tanks, 400 medium artillery pieces, 48 multiple rocket launchers, and 350 120 mm mortars. In addition, the JNA had 120 fighter-bombers, 40 light helicopters and 30 transport helicopters. The Bosnian Serb MUP totalled about 15,000, including active, special and reserve police.[4] From March 1991, the leaders of Bosniak-based Party of Democratic Action (SDA) had been developing an armed force called the "Patriotic League of People's" or Patriotic League, and despite an arms embargo, weapons began to be issued in August 1991. By April 1992, the Patriotic League numbered around 40,000 troops, in nine regional commands, one of which was reportedly headquartered in Tuzla.[4]
When the war broke out, the Bosnia and Herzegovina TO was mobilised, but the JNA refused to return its weaponry, which it had confiscated in 1990. Bosniaks and Bosnian Croats had already left the JNA.[5] The priority for the JNA was the security of its bases, as this had proven to be a vulnerability during the Battle of the Barracks in Croatian War of Independence.[6] At the beginning of April, a number of towns in north-eastern Bosnia fell in quick succession to a combination of JNA, Serb volunteer and Bosnian Serb forces. These included Bijeljina,[7]Zvornik,[8]Višegrad,[9] and Foča.[10] On 15 April, Bosnian MUP and TO seized the arms, ammunition and equipment of the Tuzla Regional TO in the towns of Srebrenik, Lukavac and in Tuzla itself.[11] By the end of the month, the Bosnian Government had re-organised the Bosnia and Herzegovina TO, incorporating the troops of the Patriotic League. In total, the new force had around 100,000 men, but only about 40,000–50,000 small arms and virtually no heavy weapons.[12]
Attack
On May 15, 1992, Yugoslav People’s Army forces in Tuzla were pulling out of their barracks in Husinsko Brdo in Tuzla and were heading towards Bijeljina, which was under Serb control since late 1991. There was an exchange of fire with local Territorial Defence and police forces at the Brcanska Malta crossroads.[13] After an attempt to leave at 14:00, the convoy was stopped at a checkpoint by elements of the Bosnia and Herzegovina TO, and was sent back to the barracks. The column left the barracks again at 19:00, heading north-east towards Bijeljina via the Brčko road. The lead vehicle contained the commander of the JNA garrison, Lieutenant Colonel Mile Dubajić, and his vehicle was followed by one containing members of the Bosnia and Herzegovina TO. When the convoy reached the intersection with the road leading east to Simin Han, it came under small arms fire from members of the Bosnia and Herzegovina TO.[citation needed]
According to an indictment issued by the Office of the War Crimes Prosecutor of the Republic of Serbia in the District Court of Belgrade War Crimes Chamber on 9 November 2007, at least 92 members of the JNA were killed in the attack on the convoy, a further 33 were wounded, and a number of military vehicles, including ambulances, were also destroyed. The names of those killed and wounded in the attack were listed in the indictment.[14]
Later developments
Years later, the Serbian War Crimes Prosecutor's Office indicted former head of Tuzla public security, an ethnic Croat[15] Ilija Jurišić, on suspicion that he committed a war crime by allegedly ordering the attack. The case was dismissed before Bosnian courts.[16] He was arrested at the Belgrade Airport in May 2007 and was found guilty of improper battlefield conduct in 2009 and sentenced to 12 years in prison.[2] In October 2010, an appeals court later overturned the sentence.[17] The Belgrade Appeals Court ordered a re-trial and released him from detention.[17][18] Tuzla citizens have continued to express their support for Ilija Jurišić.[19] Subsequently, Jurišić was welcomed by a large crowd upon his return to Tuzla on 11 October 2010 after his sentence was overturned.[20] The re-trial was held and he was sentenced again to 12 years in prison.[18] On 2 April 2015, an appeal commenced against the result of the re-trial.[21] In March 2016, his conviction was again overturned.[22]
The city of Tuzla celebrates 15 May as "City Liberation Day".[23]
^"Jutarnji list - Nakon tri i pol godine iz beogradskog zatvora pušten bosanski Hrvat Ilija Jurišić" (in Croatian). Jutarnji.hr. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
^. 24 Sata. Archived from the original on 28 July 2011. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
^ abGec, Jovana (12 October 2010). "Sentence for ex-Bosnian officer overturned". Associated Press.
^ ab"Opet 12 godina za tuzlansku kolonu (Again 12 Years for Tuzla Column)". b92.net. B92. 2 December 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
^. Balkan Investigative Reporting Network. 19 October 2009. Archived from the original on 18 February 2012. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
^"Jurisic given hero's welcome in BiH". SETimes. 12 October 2010. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
^"Ilija Jurišić u Beogradu, odbrana traži oslobađanje" [In Belgrade, the defence seeks the release of Jurišić]. E-novine.com. 2 April 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
^"Serbia Acquits Bosnian Policeman of Yugoslav Army Attack". 7 March 2016.
^Republika Srpska’s Eighth Report to the UN Security Council (November 2012), p. 32
Sources
Balkan Battlegrounds: A Military History of the Yugoslav Conflict. Central Intelligence Agency, Office of Russian and European Analysis. 2002.
"Indictment Office of the War Crimes Prosecutor v. Ilija Jurišić" (PDF). International Crimes Database. 9 November 2007. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
"Office of the War Crimes Prosecutor v. Ilija Jurišić". International Crimes Database. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
Ostojic, Mladen (2014). Between Justice and Stability: The Politics of War Crimes Prosecutions in Post-Milošević Serbia. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. ISBN978-1-4094-6742-7.
External links
Tuzla Column (Pros. v. Ilija Jurišić)
Novi Reporter: Incomplete Lineup (First indictments for Tuzla convoy)
June 14, 2023
1992, yugoslav, people, army, column, incident, tuzla, also, known, tuzla, column, bosnian, tuzlanska, kolona, attack, 92nd, motorized, brigade, yugoslav, people, army, bosnian, city, tuzla, 1992, incident, occurred, road, junction, brčanska, malta, least, sol. The 1992 Yugoslav People s Army column incident in Tuzla also known as Tuzla column Bosnian Tuzlanska kolona was an attack on the 92nd Motorized Brigade of the Yugoslav People s Army JNA in the Bosnian city of Tuzla on 15 May 1992 The incident occurred at the road junction of Brcanska Malta At least 92 soldiers of the JNA were killed and 33 wounded during the attacks with estimates reaching 200 killed What started off as a peaceful retreat by agreement with local authorities but ended in an ambush when Patriotic League Green Berets and Bosniaks from local police attacked the column 1 unreliable source neutrality is disputed It was a repeat of a similar incident that occurred in Sarajevo a week prior 2 irrelevant citation 1992 JNA Column Ambush in TuzlaPart of the Bosnian WarDate 7 00 PM 15 May 1992LocationTuzla Republic of Bosnia and HerzegovinaResultBosnian victory JNA Column largely destroyed large number of vehicles and ammunition destroyed due to fireBelligerents Bosnia and Herzegovina FR YugoslaviaCommanders and leadersIlija JurisicMile DubajicUnits involvedBosnian Army Tuzla BrigadeJNA 92nd Motorised BrigadeStrength 3 000 soldiers 215 600 SoldiersCasualties and lossesunknown92 killed 33 wounded Contents 1 Background 2 Attack 3 Later developments 4 See also 5 References 6 Sources 7 External linksBackground EditWhen the Bosnian War broke out in April 1992 there were four types of federal and Serb armed forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina These were the Yugoslav people s Army JNA volunteer units raised by the JNA Bosnian Serb Territorial Defense TO detachments and Bosnian Serb Ministry of Internal Affairs Police MUP 3 With the withdrawal of the JNA from Slovenia and much of Croatia by early April 1992 the JNA in western Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina had around 100 000 110 000 troops equipped with about 500 tanks 400 medium artillery pieces 48 multiple rocket launchers and 350 120 mm mortars In addition the JNA had 120 fighter bombers 40 light helicopters and 30 transport helicopters The Bosnian Serb MUP totalled about 15 000 including active special and reserve police 4 From March 1991 the leaders of Bosniak based Party of Democratic Action SDA had been developing an armed force called the Patriotic League of People s or Patriotic League and despite an arms embargo weapons began to be issued in August 1991 By April 1992 the Patriotic League numbered around 40 000 troops in nine regional commands one of which was reportedly headquartered in Tuzla 4 When the war broke out the Bosnia and Herzegovina TO was mobilised but the JNA refused to return its weaponry which it had confiscated in 1990 Bosniaks and Bosnian Croats had already left the JNA 5 The priority for the JNA was the security of its bases as this had proven to be a vulnerability during the Battle of the Barracks in Croatian War of Independence 6 At the beginning of April a number of towns in north eastern Bosnia fell in quick succession to a combination of JNA Serb volunteer and Bosnian Serb forces These included Bijeljina 7 Zvornik 8 Visegrad 9 and Foca 10 On 15 April Bosnian MUP and TO seized the arms ammunition and equipment of the Tuzla Regional TO in the towns of Srebrenik Lukavac and in Tuzla itself 11 By the end of the month the Bosnian Government had re organised the Bosnia and Herzegovina TO incorporating the troops of the Patriotic League In total the new force had around 100 000 men but only about 40 000 50 000 small arms and virtually no heavy weapons 12 Attack EditOn May 15 1992 Yugoslav People s Army forces in Tuzla were pulling out of their barracks in Husinsko Brdo in Tuzla and were heading towards Bijeljina which was under Serb control since late 1991 There was an exchange of fire with local Territorial Defence and police forces at the Brcanska Malta crossroads 13 After an attempt to leave at 14 00 the convoy was stopped at a checkpoint by elements of the Bosnia and Herzegovina TO and was sent back to the barracks The column left the barracks again at 19 00 heading north east towards Bijeljina via the Brcko road The lead vehicle contained the commander of the JNA garrison Lieutenant Colonel Mile Dubajic and his vehicle was followed by one containing members of the Bosnia and Herzegovina TO When the convoy reached the intersection with the road leading east to Simin Han it came under small arms fire from members of the Bosnia and Herzegovina TO citation needed According to an indictment issued by the Office of the War Crimes Prosecutor of the Republic of Serbia in the District Court of Belgrade War Crimes Chamber on 9 November 2007 at least 92 members of the JNA were killed in the attack on the convoy a further 33 were wounded and a number of military vehicles including ambulances were also destroyed The names of those killed and wounded in the attack were listed in the indictment 14 Later developments EditYears later the Serbian War Crimes Prosecutor s Office indicted former head of Tuzla public security an ethnic Croat 15 Ilija Jurisic on suspicion that he committed a war crime by allegedly ordering the attack The case was dismissed before Bosnian courts 16 He was arrested at the Belgrade Airport in May 2007 and was found guilty of improper battlefield conduct in 2009 and sentenced to 12 years in prison 2 In October 2010 an appeals court later overturned the sentence 17 The Belgrade Appeals Court ordered a re trial and released him from detention 17 18 Tuzla citizens have continued to express their support for Ilija Jurisic 19 Subsequently Jurisic was welcomed by a large crowd upon his return to Tuzla on 11 October 2010 after his sentence was overturned 20 The re trial was held and he was sentenced again to 12 years in prison 18 On 2 April 2015 an appeal commenced against the result of the re trial 21 In March 2016 his conviction was again overturned 22 The city of Tuzla celebrates 15 May as City Liberation Day 23 See also Edit25 May 1995 Tuzla shelling 1992 Yugoslav People s Army column incident in SarajevoReferences Edit ZLOCIN BEZ KAZNE Milunovic Napad na kolonu JNA u Tuzli pucanj u mir u BiH a b Serbia jails Bosnian Croat for 1992 war crimes Reuters 28 September 2009 CIA 2002 p 129 a b CIA 2002 p 130 CIA 2002 p 135 CIA 2002 pp 136 137 CIA 2002 pp 135 136 CIA 2002 pp 137 138 CIA 2002 p 138 CIA 2002 pp 138 139 CIA 2002 p 165 CIA 2002 p 143 Mackic Erna 17 July 2018 Bosnian Policeman s Ten Year Battle to Prove Innocence Balkan Insight p 1 Ilija Jurisic Indictment Jutarnji list Nakon tri i pol godine iz beogradskog zatvora pusten bosanski Hrvat Ilija Jurisic in Croatian Jutarnji hr Retrieved 13 May 2015 Barasin Predmeti Tuzlanska kolona i Bradina i dalje aktivni 24 Sata Archived from the original on 28 July 2011 Retrieved 13 May 2015 a b Gec Jovana 12 October 2010 Sentence for ex Bosnian officer overturned Associated Press a b Opet 12 godina za tuzlansku kolonu Again 12 Years for Tuzla Column b92 net B92 2 December 2013 Retrieved 2 December 2013 Protest in Support of Ilija Jurisic Balkan Investigative Reporting Network 19 October 2009 Archived from the original on 18 February 2012 Retrieved 13 May 2015 Jurisic given hero s welcome in BiH SETimes 12 October 2010 Retrieved 13 May 2015 Ilija Jurisic u Beogradu odbrana trazi oslobađanje In Belgrade the defence seeks the release of Jurisic E novine com 2 April 2015 Retrieved 13 May 2015 Serbia Acquits Bosnian Policeman of Yugoslav Army Attack 7 March 2016 Republika Srpska s Eighth Report to the UN Security Council November 2012 p 32Sources EditBalkan Battlegrounds A Military History of the Yugoslav Conflict Central Intelligence Agency Office of Russian and European Analysis 2002 Indictment Office of the War Crimes Prosecutor v Ilija Jurisic PDF International Crimes Database 9 November 2007 Retrieved 7 May 2015 Office of the War Crimes Prosecutor v Ilija Jurisic International Crimes Database Retrieved 7 May 2015 Ostojic Mladen 2014 Between Justice and Stability The Politics of War Crimes Prosecutions in Post Milosevic Serbia Ashgate Publishing Ltd ISBN 978 1 4094 6742 7 External links EditTuzla Column Pros v Ilija Jurisic Novi Reporter Incomplete Lineup First indictments for Tuzla convoy Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1992 Yugoslav People 27s Army column incident in Tuzla amp oldid 1154873852, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
