Sefer Halilovic
Encyclopedia
Sefer Halilović (born January 6, 1952) is a former general
and commanding officer of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
during the 1992-1995 war in Bosnia and Herzegovina
. In 2001, he was indicted for war crimes by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
and eventually acquitted. Today he is a prominent politician in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
municipality in the Sandžak
region of Serbia
, then Yugoslavia
. He attended the military academy in Belgrade
in 1971 for three years and in 1975 he attended the military school in Zadar
where he became an Officer in the Yugoslav People's Army
(JNA). On August 31, 1990 he went to Belgrade and attended a two-year course at the school for commanders.
When he left the People's Army in September 1991 he was a professional military officer and held the rank of Major. He returned to Bosnia-Herzegovina, created the Patriotic League
and planned the defense of the country.
(RBiH) as Commander of the Territorial Defence (TO) Staff of the RBiH, replacing Hasan Efendić, becoming the most senior Military Commander of the armed forces of the RBiH.
From his appointment in May to early July, while the TO evolved into an Army, Halilović also acted as a member of the War Presidency. After July 1992, he functioned as the Chief of the General Staff of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
. On August 18, 1992, the Presidency formed five corps of the ABiH with Halilović as Chief of the Supreme Command Staff / Chief of the Main Staff. On June 8, 1993, a new position was created, Commander of the Supreme Command Staff. Rasim Delić filled this post. Between July 18, 1993 to November 1, 1993, he held the post of Deputy Commander of the Supreme Command Staff of the ARBiH as well as Chief of the Supreme Command Staff.
After a meeting in Zenica
on August 20–21, 1993, Rasim Delić appointed him Head of an Inspection Team. At that same meeting he urged his fellow officers to prioritize the disciplining of BH soldiers. He was quoted as saying; "When are we going to start shooting people for not following orders"?
The assassin was a member of the State Security Service or SDB-s secret group for liquidation and their commander was Nedzad Ugljen, also the director of SDB.
and the leader of his own political party, the Bosnian-Herzegovinian Patriotic Party-Sefer Halilović and was known for his vocal criticism of Bosnian president Alija Izetbegović
. He was indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia
on July 30, 2001. He voluntarily surrendered on September 25, 2001 and pled not guilty two days later. Halilović was on a provisional release from December 13, 2001 until the beginning of the trial and from September 5, 2005 until November 14, 2005.
in September 1993. The ICTY prosecutors claimed that he was leader of Operation Neretva '93
which was conducted by the ARBiH in the area.
Sefer's lawyer, Faruk Balijagić, claims that Rasim Delić
, along with Fikret Muslimović, and Bakir Alispahić ordered Sefer's failed assassination which was attempted by two members of the secret state security group known as "Seve", and their commander Nedzad Ugljen, also the director of the state security service or SDB. While Sefer was not killed, his wife Mediha and her brother Edin Rondić were murdered.
Faruk further alleges that Alija Izetbegović
, the former president of Bosnia-Herezegovina and Delić's boss, attempted to discredit Halilović by framing him for the Neretva 93 massacre through mostly false documents provided by the security service bosses and directors: Munir Alibabić (SBD boss), Fikret Muslimović (SVB boss), Nedžad Ugljen (commander of "Seve" and director of SDB), Jusuf Jasarević (SVB boss), Enver Mujezinović (SDB in Sarajevo boss) and Bakir Alispahić(minister of MUP). Faruk tried to prove that the secret service agents bribed numerous witnesses for false account of what actually took place and that Halilović is simply a scapegoat. Halilović's recently published book "Cunning Strategy" details his side of the story.
between 1998 and 2001. In 2005 Halilović's son, Semir, published a book State Secret
(Državna Tajna
) which described some of the events which shaped wartime Bosnia. In April 2006 Semir Halilović was accosted and threatened with death by one of the people whom the book cast in a bad light, Ramiz Delalić
(now deceased), who was also a prosecution witness during his father's trial. On October 1, 2006 Sefer Halilović was elected to a 4 year term in the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina
. He is reportedly fluent in Russian
.
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
and commanding officer of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina was the military force of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina established by the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1992 following the outbreak of the Bosnian War...
during the 1992-1995 war in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnian War
The Bosnian War or the War in Bosnia and Herzegovina was an international armed conflict that took place in Bosnia and Herzegovina between April 1992 and December 1995. The war involved several sides...
. In 2001, he was indicted for war crimes by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
The International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991, more commonly referred to as the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia or ICTY, is a...
and eventually acquitted. Today he is a prominent politician in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Pre-war life
Halilović was born in Taševo, a hamlet in the PrijepoljePrijepolje
Prijepolje is a town and municipality in the Zlatibor District of Serbia. According to the 2011 census, the municipality of Prijepolje has a population of 36,713 people, while the town itself has a population of 13,068...
municipality in the Sandžak
Sandžak
Sandžak also known as Raška is a historical region lying along the border between Serbia and Montenegro...
region of Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
, then Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
. He attended the military academy in Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
in 1971 for three years and in 1975 he attended the military school in Zadar
Zadar
Zadar is a city in Croatia on the Adriatic Sea. It is the centre of Zadar county and the wider northern Dalmatian region. Population of the city is 75,082 citizens...
where he became an Officer in the Yugoslav People's Army
Yugoslav People's Army
The Yugoslav People's Army , also referred to as the Yugoslav National Army , was the military of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.-Origins:The origins of the JNA can...
(JNA). On August 31, 1990 he went to Belgrade and attended a two-year course at the school for commanders.
When he left the People's Army in September 1991 he was a professional military officer and held the rank of Major. He returned to Bosnia-Herzegovina, created the Patriotic League
Patriotic League
The Patriotic League was the first military unit of Territorial Defence Force of the Republic of Bosnia and Hercegovina formed after the Bosnian Territorial Defense Forces were gained by the SDS party.- History :...
and planned the defense of the country.
War years
On May 25, 1992 he was appointed by the Presidency of Bosnia and HerzegovinaPresidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina is the head of state of Bosnia and Herzegovina.-Overview:...
(RBiH) as Commander of the Territorial Defence (TO) Staff of the RBiH, replacing Hasan Efendić, becoming the most senior Military Commander of the armed forces of the RBiH.
From his appointment in May to early July, while the TO evolved into an Army, Halilović also acted as a member of the War Presidency. After July 1992, he functioned as the Chief of the General Staff of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina was the military force of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina established by the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1992 following the outbreak of the Bosnian War...
. On August 18, 1992, the Presidency formed five corps of the ABiH with Halilović as Chief of the Supreme Command Staff / Chief of the Main Staff. On June 8, 1993, a new position was created, Commander of the Supreme Command Staff. Rasim Delić filled this post. Between July 18, 1993 to November 1, 1993, he held the post of Deputy Commander of the Supreme Command Staff of the ARBiH as well as Chief of the Supreme Command Staff.
After a meeting in Zenica
Zenica
Zenica is an industrial city in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is the capital of the Zenica-Doboj Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina entity...
on August 20–21, 1993, Rasim Delić appointed him Head of an Inspection Team. At that same meeting he urged his fellow officers to prioritize the disciplining of BH soldiers. He was quoted as saying; "When are we going to start shooting people for not following orders"?
Assassination attempt
During the war Halilović ran afoul of the political leaders of Bosnia who in turn were likely responsible for the failed attempt on Halilović's life. On July 7, 1993 at 14:10h Halilović's flat was bombed using a remote detonated explosive device. While Halilović, his son and daughter were not killed, his wife Mediha and her brother Edin Rondić died. Rondić appeared on the balcony in a military uniform at the same time that Halilović came home for lunch with his family. The assassins likely mistook Rondić for Halilović and detonated the device.The assassin was a member of the State Security Service or SDB-s secret group for liquidation and their commander was Nedzad Ugljen, also the director of SDB.
War crimes indictment
Before his indictment Halilović was a government minister in the Federation of Bosnia and HerzegovinaFederation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina is one of the two political entities that compose the sovereign country of Bosnia and Herzegovina . The two entities are delineated by the Inter-Entity Boundary Line...
and the leader of his own political party, the Bosnian-Herzegovinian Patriotic Party-Sefer Halilović and was known for his vocal criticism of Bosnian president Alija Izetbegović
Alija Izetbegovic
Alija Izetbegović was a Bosniak activist, lawyer, author, philosopher and politician, who, in 1990, became the first president of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He served in this role until 1996, when he became a member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, serving until 2000...
. He was indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia
International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
The International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991, more commonly referred to as the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia or ICTY, is a...
on July 30, 2001. He voluntarily surrendered on September 25, 2001 and pled not guilty two days later. Halilović was on a provisional release from December 13, 2001 until the beginning of the trial and from September 5, 2005 until November 14, 2005.
Charge
Halilović was indicted 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). The massacre he was accused of being responsible for took place in villages of Grabovica and UzdolUzdol
Uzdol is a village in Prozor-Rama municipality, Bosnia-Herzegovina-External links:*...
in September 1993. The ICTY prosecutors claimed that he was leader of Operation Neretva '93
Operation Neretva '93
Operation Neretva '93 was a Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina operation against the Croatian Defence Council and Croatian Army in September 1993 and was launched in order to end the siege of the Bosniak part of Mostar surrounded by Croat forces and severely destroyed, and to...
which was conducted by the ARBiH in the area.
Trial
The trial against Sefer Halilović began on January 31, 2005. The Prosecution completed its case on June 2. There were 39 prosecution witnesses and two witness statements. The Trial Chamber admitted 287 exhibits tendered into evidence by the prosecution. The defence case commenced on June 27 and lasted until July 14, 2005. There were three defence witnesses and 12 witness statements. The parties made their closing arguments on August 30 and 31, 2005. The Trial Chamber admitted 207 exhibits tendered into evidence by the defence. Halilović's defence claimed at the time of the murders that he had been removed from command time and no longer a commander with the relevant responsibility, but a notional inspector without proper authority.Sefer's lawyer, Faruk Balijagić, claims that Rasim Delić
Rasim Delić
Rasim Delić was the Chief of Staff of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He was a career officer in the Yugoslav National Army but left the army when Yugoslavia dissolved.- Yugoslavian National Army :...
, along with Fikret Muslimović, and Bakir Alispahić ordered Sefer's failed assassination which was attempted by two members of the secret state security group known as "Seve", and their commander Nedzad Ugljen, also the director of the state security service or SDB. While Sefer was not killed, his wife Mediha and her brother Edin Rondić were murdered.
Faruk further alleges that Alija Izetbegović
Alija Izetbegovic
Alija Izetbegović was a Bosniak activist, lawyer, author, philosopher and politician, who, in 1990, became the first president of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He served in this role until 1996, when he became a member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, serving until 2000...
, the former president of Bosnia-Herezegovina and Delić's boss, attempted to discredit Halilović by framing him for the Neretva 93 massacre through mostly false documents provided by the security service bosses and directors: Munir Alibabić (SBD boss), Fikret Muslimović (SVB boss), Nedžad Ugljen (commander of "Seve" and director of SDB), Jusuf Jasarević (SVB boss), Enver Mujezinović (SDB in Sarajevo boss) and Bakir Alispahić(minister of MUP). Faruk tried to prove that the secret service agents bribed numerous witnesses for false account of what actually took place and that Halilović is simply a scapegoat. Halilović's recently published book "Cunning Strategy" details his side of the story.
Verdict and appeals
On November 16, 2005, Halilović was acquitted on all charges and released. The Court found that, while murders considered war crimes did occur at those places, Halilović did not have command authority, being only an inspector, and that he cannot be considered responsible for them. The prosecution appealed the verdict. On October 16, 2007 the appeals chamber ruled against the prosecution appeal and confirmed the acquittal verdict rendered almost two years earlier by the trial chamber.Other
In 1996 Halilović founded his own political party the Bosnian-Herzegovinian Patriotic Party-Sefer Halilović. In 1997 Halilović published his memoir Lukava Strategija (Cunning Strategy). He served as the Minister of Refugees and Displaced Persons in the government of the Federation of Bosnia and HerzegovinaFederation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina is one of the two political entities that compose the sovereign country of Bosnia and Herzegovina . The two entities are delineated by the Inter-Entity Boundary Line...
between 1998 and 2001. In 2005 Halilović's son, Semir, published a book State Secret
State Secret
State Secret is a 1950 British drama film directed by Sidney Gilliat and starring Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Jack Hawkins, Glynis Johns and Herbert Lom. It was released in the United States under the title The Great Manhunt.-Cast:...
(Državna Tajna
Državna Tajna
Državna Tajna is a book by Semir Halilović, son of Bosnian general Sefer Halilović, published in 2005. He published his second book, Državna Tajna 2:Vojska poražene ideje in 2007, which obviously is a follow up or sequel to the first.- About the book :The book described some of the events which...
) which described some of the events which shaped wartime Bosnia. In April 2006 Semir Halilović was accosted and threatened with death by one of the people whom the book cast in a bad light, Ramiz Delalić
Ramiz Delalić
Ramiz Delalić , widely known by his nickname Ćelo is known as commander of 9th Mountain Brigade in Sarajevo, and also as main suspect who stood trial before a local court for the killing of Nikola Gardović on March 1, 1992 during a Serb wedding in front of the old Orthodox Church in Sarajevo - an...
(now deceased), who was also a prosecution witness during his father's trial. On October 1, 2006 Sefer Halilović was elected to a 4 year term in the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina is the bicameral legislative body of Bosnia and Herzegovina...
. He is reportedly fluent in Russian
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
.