Čapljina

Čapljina Čapljina
—  Municipality and town  —
Location of Čapljina within Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Čapljina Location of Čapljina
Coordinates: 43°06′N 17°42′E
Country	Bosnia and Herzegovina
subdivisons	27 Mjesni Zajednica
Government
• Municipality president	Smiljan Vidić (HDZ BiH)
Area
• Total	256 km2 (98.8 sq mi)
Population (1991)
• Total	27,584
• Density	139/km2 (360/sq mi)
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Area code(s)	+387 036
Website	Official Web Site

Čapljina  Croatian pronunciation is a town and municipality of the same name in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is located in the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Čapljina is located on the border with Croatia a mere 20 kilometres (12 mi) from the Adriatic Sea.

The river Neretva flows through the municipality and flows into the Adriatic just over the border. The town's landmark is a statue of King Tomislav. The Church of Saint Francis Assisi is also a prominent facet of the town. The municipal coat of arms contains the Croatian chequy, the nearby tower in Pocitelj, and Saint Francis Assisi.

The municipality has a rich archaeological history and untouched wilderness and is starting to develop agricultural tourism. It is also home to Hutovo Blato Park, which contains one of the most diverse bird populations in all Europe. The Croatian town of Metković is located just over the border and there are significant commercial and other links between the two towns new Čapljina International Speedway.

History

Not much is known about this city but it was founded by Romans in 5 BC. However, ancient Greek, and later Roman maps clearly show that the area was populated by several native Illyrian peoples, the most notable being the Ardiaei, whom the ancient Greeks had trading relations with, and ancient Romans invaded. The current name of the town Čapljina derives from the South Slavic word čaplja, which means "heron". Coincidentally enough, the name of the most prominent of Illyrian natives of this area, the Ardiaei, who later created one of the most powerful Illyrian kingdoms, may as well derive from ancient Roman (Latin) word " Ardea", which precisely means "heron".

In World War II, Ustaše committed some of the most heinous atrocities in Čapljina and nearby villages. The town and the atrocities were celebrated in songs such as "Jasenovac i Gradiška Stara", where Capljina was especially highly praised for its role in the genocide against the Serbs. The Prebilovci massacre, in which around 4000 people were killed total, including 600 villagers from the Prebilovci thrown into a pit, is one of the most significant atrocities in this area. Out of about 1000 villagers from Prebilovci, less than 200 survived, 57 families were completely extinguished (including numerous children). After the war, the first conscript from Prebilovci that reached the army age was not until 1962 (Jovan Djurasovic).

Since World War II it has been an important road and rail transportation link, connecting the rest of Bosnia and Herzegovina with the port of Ploče in Croatia. During the 1992–1995 war in Bosnia and Herzegovina the city was taken over by the Croatian Defence Council who expelled the non-Croat population and set up concentration camps for Bosniaks in the Gabela camp.

During the Summer of 2007 wildfires caused extensive damage throughout the rural part of the municipality.

Settlements

• Bajovci • Bivolje Brdo • Crnići • Čapljina • Čeljevo • Doljani • Domanovići • Dračevo • Dretelj • Dubravica • Gabela • Gabela Polje • Gnjilišta • Gorica • Grabovina • Hotanj • Jasenica • Klepci • Lokve • Opličići • Počitelj • Prćavci • Prebilovci • Sjekose • Stanojevići • Struge • Svitava • Ševaš Njive • Šurmanci • Tasovčići • Trebižat • Višići • Zvirovići

Demographics

Population of Čapljina municipality
year of census	1991.	1981.	1971.
Croatians	14,969 (53,68%)	13,931 (53,51%)	12,603 (53,72%)
Bosniaks	7,672 (27,51%)	6,830 (26,23%)	6,781 (28,90%)
Serbians	3,753 (13,46%)	3,467 (13,31%)	3,672 (15,65%)
Yugoslavs	1,047 (3,75%)	1,566 (6,01%)	193 (0,82%)
others and unknown	441 (1,58%)	238 (0,91%)	210 (0,89%)
total	27,882	26,032	23,459

Ethnic structure by settlements

Absolute ethnic majoruty

  Bosniaks

  Croatians

  Serbians

Relative ethnic majority

  Bosniaks

  Croatians

  Serbians

Ethnic structure of population of Čapljina municipality, by settlements, 1991. census
settlement	total	Croatians	Bosnians	Serbians	Yugoslavs	others
Bajovci	181	176	5	0	0	0
Bivolje Brdo	841	256	562	4	6	13
Crnići	50	50	0	0	0	0
Čapljina	7,461	3,067	2,191	1,267	707	229
Čeljevo	1,058	827	194	1	8	28
Doljani	365	357	0	5	0	3
Domanovići	1,270	326	727	186	21	10
Dračevo	630	582	0	41	0	7
Dretelj	576	508	53	3	11	1
Dubravica	7	1	3	3	0	0
Gabela	2,440	2,046	32	324	24	14
Gnjilišta	345	338	1	0	0	6
Gorica	456	380	65	1	4	6
Grabovina	947	817	29	57	29	15
Hotanj	275	178	93	0	4	0
Jasenica	165	1	157	0	0	7
Klepci	417	14	0	383	13	7
Lokve	587	0	395	192	0	0
Opličići	1,386	108	916	357	0	5
Počitelj	905	172	660	20	36	17
Prćavci	260	260	0	0	0	0
Prebilovci	174	1	0	171	0	2
Sjekose	169	146	10	12	0	1
Stanojevići	194	31	163	0	0	0
Struge	437	284	130	2	16	5
Svitava	319	317	0	0	0	2
Ševaš Njive	262	69	191	0	2	0
Šurmanci	403	354	47	0	2	0
Tasovčići	1,675	294	511	698	138	34
Trebižat	1,399	1,371	9	1	11	7
Višići	1,788	1,207	528	23	15	15
Zvirovići	440	431	0	2	0	7
total	27,882	14,969	7,672	3,753	1,047	441

Current

See also: Gabela camp

The Bosniak populations were expelled during the war in the early 1990s and today the majority of the population are Croats. No reliable estimates on the population exist since a census has not been conducted since 1991.

Culture

In the Capljina area, there are lots of Croatian cultural associations such as the following:

• HKUD Čapljina (Čapljina)
• HKUD Sv.Ante (Dretelj)
• HKUD Seljačka Sloga (Trebižat)
• HKUD " ZORA " Struge-Gorica

Famous People

• footballer Nikica Jelavić
• footballer Semjon Milosevic
• Serbian journalist Dada Vujasinović
• basketball trainer Jasmin Repeša
• croatian pop singer Pamela Ramljak
• football trainer Mirsad Fazlagić
• actor Dejan Aćimović

Sport

• HNK Čapljina - football club (previously named Borac) - currently in the 2nd division of the BiH South League. Nicknamed the Patriots, Capljina has been home to such talented players such as Kana Colic, Zlatan Vego, Ilija Ivankovic,Dadi Mulalic, Zara Zurovac, Milivoje Drasko, Seno Elezovic, Velija Kudra and Mladen Bartolovic.

Their home ground is at Bjelave which holds 5,000 people.

• GOŠK Gabela - football club known as the Blue Lions from village of Gabela, currently in the First Division of the Bosnia-Hercegovina Football League.
• HKK Čapljina Lasta - basketball club currently in the Bosnia-Hercegovina D1 League

References

• Official results from the book: Ethnic composition of Bosnia-Herzegovina population, by municipalities and settlements, 1991. census, Zavod za statistiku Bosne i Hercegovine - Bilten no.234, Sarajevo 1991.

• Wilkes, J. J. The Illyrians, 1992, ISBN 0-631-19807-5

• Stipčević, Aleksandar; "The Illyrians-History and Culture", 1989, page 54,(ISBN 0-8155-5052-9 ISBN 978-0-8155-5052-5 )

• Axhanela (Adžanela) Ardian,"Ethnolinguistic overeview of ancient Illyrian tribe names/Etnolingvistički osvrt na nazive drevnih ilirskih plemena/Rishqyrtimi etnolingvistik i emrave te fiseve ilire te lashte - Article (paragraph referring to the etymology of Ardiaei),Qendra per studime Ballkanike/Centre for Balkan Studies/Centar za balkanske studije, Prishtine/Priština, 2004