PRISONERS FROM SOUTHEASTERN SERBIA AT GOLI OTOK AND OTHER PRISONERS CAMPS

Abstract

This paper brings new facts and analyses regarding the number and structure of political prisoners from southeast Serbia, with emphasis to one from Leskovac and Jablanica municipality. Based on the documents available from the secret police archive, we can establish number, territorial dispersion, national, social and gender structure of political victims imprisoned in Goli Otok and other camps. Number of prisoners, 722 of them from south Serbia is below the Yugoslav average regarding the number prisoner per population from that area. Second, above the average numbers came from municipalities with significant Bulgarian minority, so nationality was an important factor in deciding Cominform activities of prisoners. Pirot and Pčinja municipalities are above average, while Jablanica, Toplica and Niš municipality below the average number of prisoners per population. Death rate in camps was low, only 9 people died, which can be contributed to younger prisoner population. Other social aspects of this problem are left to further studies and researchers.