Yugoslavia: Information on whether the Yugoslav National Army is still engaging in conscription and whether conscription is conducted on the basis of ethnicity
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 April 1992 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | YUG10630 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Yugoslavia: Information on whether the Yugoslav National Army is still engaging in conscription and whether conscription is conducted on the basis of ethnicity, 1 April 1992, YUG10630, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6abf158.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
For information on this topic before November 1991, please consult the Response to Information Request YUG9688 of 6 November 1991.
The Yugoslav national army apparently continued to engage in conscription in November and December 1991 (Research Associate with the Centre for Russian and East European Studies 8 Nov. 1991; Correspondent with Vreme 3 Dec. 1991). A research associate with the Centre for Russian and East European Studies stated that although Yugoslavia was not conscripting Croats from Croatia, Croats from other republics were being conscripted (8 Nov. 1991). This source further stated that the president of Montenegro had invited Montenegrin conscripts to return home without penalty (Ibid.). A military affairs correspondent with the independent Serbian newsmagazine, Vreme, indicated that only Serbia and Montenegro were available as a manpower pool for the armed forces, and that the republics of Macedonia and Bosnia-Herzegovina had refused to conscript their youths and reserve soldiers, although some youths were joining voluntarily (3 Dec. 1991). The correspondent also specified that Hungarians from Vojvodina were being called up for service regularly (Ibid.).
For additional information on conscription in Yugoslavia in November and December 1991, please see the Indexed Media Review available at Regional Documentation Centres.
According to an Urgent Action notice released by Amnesty International on 18 December 1991, "large numbers of reservists have been called up, mainly from the republics of Serbia and Montenegro."
An open letter from Helsinki Watch to Serbian President Miliosevic and Acting Defence Minister General Adzic published in January 1992 alleges that the Serbian government has engaged in forced mobilization "to silence anti-war activists and opposition figures by sending them to the battlefields in Croatia" (21 January 1992).
Various media reports indicate that the Yugoslav armed forces have met resistance in recruiting and conscripting soldiers, including the refusal of some republics such as Macedonia and Bosnia-Herzegovina to send conscripts to the national armed forces (Narodna Armija 14 Dec. 1991; Tanjug Domestic Service 13 Jan. 1992; Radio Sarajevo Network 18 Jan. 1992; Vjesnik 7 Feb. 1992, 1; RFE/RL 14 Feb. 1992, 69). Furthermore, demonstrations were held in Belgrade in March 1992 demanding, among other things, that an amnesty be granted "for all those who refused to be called up for military service" (Tanjug 12 Mar. 1992).
In March, federal officials announced plans to reform the Yugoslav armed forces which might include the introduction of professional staff (Narodna Armija 12 Mar. 1992, 2). According to Vice-president Kostic, one idea is to "begin bringing professional soldiers into the JNA [national armed forces], which will enable us to shorten the length of military service for conscripts" (Ibid.).
There is no further information currently available to the IRBDC on this topic.
References
Amnesty International. 18 December 1991. Urgent Action. (AI Index: EUR 48/33/91). London: Amnesty International.
Helsinki Watch. 21 January 1992. Open letter to Serbian President Miliosevic and Acting Defence Minister General Adzic.
Military Affairs Correspondent with Vreme [Belgrade, in Serbo-Croatian]. 3 December 1991. Fax received in response to questions submitted by a research officer.
Narodna Armija [Belgrade, in Serbo-Croatian]. 12 March 1992. "Vice President Kostic Indicates Changes in Army." (FBIS-EEU-92-053 18 march 1992, p. 19).
. 14 December 1991. "Decrease in Number of JNA Recruits Viewed." (FBIS-EEU-92-003 6 January 1992, p. 38).
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). 14 February 1992. RFE/RL Research Report [Munich]. Vol. 1, No.7. "Military and Security Notes," pp.68-69.
Radio Sarajevo Network [Sarajevo, in Serbo-Croatian]. 18 January 1992. "Defense Ministry Condemns Forced Mobilization." (FBIS-EEU-92-013 21 January 1992, pp. 54-55).
Research Associate with the Centre for Russian and East European Studies, University of Toronto. 8 November 1991. Telephone Interview.
Tanjug [Belgrade, in English]. 12 March 1992. "Demands Expand." (FBIS-EEU-92-049 12 March 1992, 38).
Tanjug Domestic Service [Belgrade, in Serbo-Croatian]. 13 January 1991. "Bosina-Herzegovina: Army Recruits Told to Ignore Draft Notices." (FBIS-EEU-92-009 14 January 1992, p. 53).
Vjesnik [Zagreb, in Serbo-Croatian]. 7 February 1992. "JNA Attacks Deserters Along Danube," p. 1. (FBIS-EEU-92-036 24 February 1992, p. 25).