Croatian politics has seen its share of individuals from various political spectrums whose legacies are difficult to weigh—have they done more harm than good? One such figure, who once played a significant political role before fading into obscurity, is Dobroslav Paraga. During communist Yugoslavia, his biography was marked by harrowing experiences, from Lepoglava to Goli Otok. It is at this point that any part of his life deserving respect ends. What emerges is a different Paraga whose actions tilt the scales heavily toward “harm.”
For those interested in Dobroslav Paraga’s biography, the internet offers a plethora of pamphlets and writings by this self-styled “Poglavnik.” While these often delve into his life before the 1990s, this analysis focuses solely on the consequences of Paraga’s actions, particularly their devastating impact on Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina, reducing them to the most disenfranchised ethnic community in Europe.
HOS, NDH, and the Croatian-Muslim “Love Affair”
Throughout the wars in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, Paraga openly advocated for the restoration of the Independent State of Croatia (NDH). This was reflected in the nonsensical motto of his commanders in Bosnia and Herzegovina: “Croatia to the Drina, Bosnia to the Adriatic.” Of course, Paraga did not refer to the small stretch of Adriatic coastline that remains part of Bosnia and Herzegovina today. In speeches, manifestos, and party declarations, Paraga spoke of a referendum to be held in both Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, where, after the ethnic cleansing of Serbs, a confederation of the two states would be established—essentially NDH 2.0.
Paraga’s high-pitched voice frequently shouted “For the Homeland Ready” (“Za dom spremni”), although he never carried a weapon or donned a uniform. As the supreme commander of the Croatian Defence Forces (HOS), he was more a symbolic figure than a leader taken seriously by the majority of HOS fighters. As many of them stated, their primary goal was the defense of their homeland, not adherence to the proclamations of Paraga and his ilk. However, bogged down in trenches and far from political centers, they were often unaware of how Paraga and his loyalists were exploiting them for their own malicious agendas.
The Ljubuški Charter and International Ramifications
On June 13, 1991, Paraga and his followers issued the “Charter on the Establishment of the Independent State of Croatia” in Ljubuški, declaring eastern borders stretching to Subotica, Zemun, Drina, Sandžak, and Boka Kotorska. A month earlier, Croatia held a referendum on independence from Yugoslavia, and in the following months, it was fighting for international recognition. Paraga’s move, a mere month after the referendum, provided Serbian propaganda with a powerful argument: the supposed restoration of a Ustasha state, which fueled delays in Croatia’s recognition by politically influential nations.
HOS and the “Dretelj” Camp
Under Paraga’s command, HOS established the “Dretelj” camp, notorious for its atrocities. Paraga must have been aware of the actions of Edib Buljubašić, a serial killer and war criminal who commanded the camp. Buljubašić, who switched allegiance between the JNA, HOS, and the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, later terrorized Croats in Vareš as a member of the Bosnian Army. Among his subordinates was Zulfikar Ališpago Zuka, infamous for his retaliatory attacks on civilians and brutal treatment of prisoners in collaboration with Mujahideen forces.
Paraga as a Tool of Sarajevo’s Political Elites
Paraga’s delusional vision of NDH was a convenient weapon for Bosnian leadership to weaken the Croatian Defense Council (HVO) and Herceg-Bosna. Paraga accused Herceg-Bosna of being an UDBA (Yugoslav secret police) creation and painted its political and military leadership as pro-Serbian collaborators. His international friends, particularly in the U.S., took his claims seriously due to his anti-totalitarian advocacy during his imprisonment. Leveraging these connections, Paraga tarnished Herceg-Bosna’s reputation in the global arena, framing Croatian political and military efforts as aggressions against a neighboring state.
A Legacy of Betrayal and Controversy
Paraga’s actions and rhetoric consistently undermined Croatian efforts for independence and equality in Bosnia and Herzegovina. His unyielding adherence to outdated ideas of NDH damaged Croatia’s global standing, offering fodder for Serbian propaganda. Meanwhile, his alliances with figures like Stjepan Mesić and his public accusations against Franjo Tuđman and Gojko Šušak further fractured Croatian unity during a critical period.
In the post-war era, Paraga’s political relevance faded, but his actions left an indelible mark, complicating Croatia’s fight for sovereignty and tarnishing the efforts of countless patriots. His legacy, often overshadowed by myths he propagated, remains a contentious chapter in the history of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.