Bosnia: Information on the ethnic/religious composition of Bosnian government forces during the period May 1992 until May 1993
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 October 1994 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | BOS18670.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Bosnia: Information on the ethnic/religious composition of Bosnian government forces during the period May 1992 until May 1993, 1 October 1994, BOS18670.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6acff48.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. |
Information on the ethnic/religious composition of the Bosnian army from May 1992 to May 1993 is scarce, however sources indicate that Bosnian government forces between May 1992 and May 1993 were predominantly Muslim (AFP 27 Sept. 1993; HRW 1993, 263). Another source indicates that Bosnian government forces were composed mainly of Muslims during this period, but also included Croats and Serbs (Helsinki Watch 1992, 32-33). International press reports also mentioned ethnic Croats or Serbs who served in the Bosnian army (The Atlanta Journal and Constitution 27 Apr. 1993, 2; The Independent 5 Apr. 1993, 12), including the Serbian deputy commander of the Bosnian army, Colonel Jovan Divjak. (The New York Times 15 Mar. 1993, 3).
In a telephone interview, an analyst with the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Research Institute in Munich indicated that while the Bosnian government forces were mainly comprised of Muslims, Croats and Serbs have also served alongside Muslims (27 Oct. 1994). This information was corroborated by a representative from Helsinki Watch in New York (27 Oct. 1994). The analyst from Radio Free Europe was not aware of any systematic purges of Croats or Serbs from the Bosnian army. However, as tensions between the Bosnian army and the Croatians led to war in 1993, and as the war between Serbian forces and Bosnian government forces continued, there were conflicts and rivalries at different levels throughout the Bosnian forces, which may have led to a number of Croats and Serbs leaving the Bosnian army. The source also indicated that there have been accounts of Serbs in the army being assigned unpleasant or dangerous work (ibid).
According to the representative from Helsinki Watch, between May 1992 and May 1993 there was a gradual decrease in the number of Croats serving in the Bosnian army (27 Oct. 1994). This source did not have any knowledge of systematic government-sanctioned purges, but she indicated that Serbs or Croats who remained in the Bosnian forces may have been less likely than Muslims to be considered for promotions and would possibly have been viewed with suspicion by their Muslim counterparts (ibid). For general information on the conflict in Bosnia-Hercegovina, including general information on the Bosnian army, please see the attached documents.
This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
Agence France Press (AFP). 27 September 1993. Francis Curta. "Violents affrontements croato-musulmans en Bosnie centrale." (NEXIS)
The Atlanta Journal and Constitution. 27 April 1993. Nancy Nusser. "Come to Bosnia for 'Bang-Bang': Soldiers Hire on to Serve or to Seek Danger." (NEXIS)
Helsinki Watch, New York. 27 October 1994. Telephone interview with representative.
. 1992. War Crimes in Bosnia-Hercegovina. New York: Human Rights Watch.
Human Rights Watch (HRW). Human Rights Watch World Report 1993. New York: Human Rights Watch.
The Independent. 5 April 1993. Marcus Tanner. "Tolerance Survives Sarajevo's Bombs." (NEXIS)
The New York Times. 15 March 1993. John F. Burns. "Bosnia Government Sets Conditions for Accepting Proposal to End War." (NEXIS)
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) Research Institute, Munich. 27 October 1994. Telephone interview with analyst.
Attachments
Helsinki Watch. 1992. War Crimes in Bosnia-Hercegovina. New York: Human Rights Watch, pp. 32-37.
Jane's Intelligence Review [London]. February 1993. No. 2. Milan Vego. "The Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina," pp. 63-67.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) Research Institute . 4 June 1993. RFE/RL Research Report [Munich]. Vol. 2, No. 23. James Gow. "One Year of War in Bosnia and Herzegovina," pp. 1-13.