Hajdučke Vrleti – the dream of a visionary 

The story of the Ruler of the Haiduk Republic is, we might say, rather simple. Vinko Vukoja – Lastvić was born on 7 December 1952, in Rakitno, as the first child of Iva and Stipe Vukoja. This is where he completed the first six grades of elementary school, not including the 2 grades subsequently passed 11 years later, in 1976. Diligence and determination were his hallmarks since early childhood. In a working-class family like his, he had always shown a great will to work. As they owned a lot of land and a family home in the nearby Blidinje, he used to spend summers there helping his family.

A small place like Rakitno couldn’t give Vinko all that he was striving for. In 1975, at the age of 23 he went to work for Sarajevo’s Hidrogradnja, which also operated in Čapljina, where Vinko stayed and worked for a while. His restless spirit takes him to Libya after a couple of years, where he got a job as a driver. Two years of living abroad brought him great experience and new life challenges. Love for his Herzegovina decided and in 1980 Vinko returned to Mostar. He got a job as a professional driver at Autoprevoz Mostar, where he spent next few years. In 1987, Vinko comes to his native Rakitno for the first time after 12 years of being away, this time full of new knowledge and experience. He continued to live in Mostar, now as an employee of the brown coal mine, again as a professional driver. However, in parallel, he begins to pursue another business opportunity, something he was naturally talented for. It was the interior decoration. He had plenty of ideas and there were more and more clients. He worked with extraordinary drive and determination, day and night.

After the outbreak of war, like most of the male population of the time, he went to the front line to defend his country and its people. During this period, he continued working with interior decoration, of course with less intensity than before because of the situation.

A spiritual oasis in a mountainous desert

However, in 1996 when wounds of war were still bleeding in Herzegovina, Vinko made a new decision – building a motel in Blidinje. At a time when this part of the country was just a desert, it was quite risky to even think of such a thing, financially impossible for him, and according to many without any chance of succeeding in the future. Blidinje was an area that was rarely traversed by, let alone someone staying there – but it did not prevent Vinko. Much to the surprise of his own family, and all of his friends and even passers-by, Vinko began building Hajdučke Vrleti motel, with no electricity, water or building materials within a radius of more than 30 km. And most interestingly, without much of start-up capital, but with a big loving heart for this region, which dated all the way back to his childhood. Although sceptical, people were helping him. After 3 years of construction, with the greatest support of his wife, Albina, and many of his many friends, on 5 June 1999, Vinko opened the still unfinished motel of Hajdučke Vrleti – a property that today is synonymous with Blidinje. Showing everyone that he was serious, he brought this region to a higher level. Skiing seasons began, hundreds of cottage houses were built, and he became known for his deeds far and wide.

Haiduk Republic of Mijat Tomić   

But he didn’t stop there. On 5 June 2002, Vinko founded the Haiduk Republic of Mijat Tomića; driven by his own ideals and guided by the fact that none of the three cantons of Herzegovina wanted jurisdiction over this territory. He proclaimed himself ruler, and appointed ministers among whom the most interesting are those in charge of ambiguities, failed carriers, ladies, unresolved cases, bachelors, and so on. He proclaimed Hajdučke Vrleti as its capital, and established the currency, anthem and flag as the true and sovereign state. Currency is the kubur (holster pistol), while the anthem is a traditional ganga song “St. Anthony, I will pay a mass for you, just tell me who is not of our lot“.

Continuous celebrations and festivities

That same year, the Ruler managed to get electricity connection for his Republic, with a grand celebration and roasted ox of 1,200 kg, and 1000 litters of wine for his guests. The asphalt paving of the main state road of this fairy-tale Republic began. These moves helped Vinko and his Vrleti making Blidinje the popular destination. The inexhaustible will and diligence and love for his work were his guiding principles.

In addition to numerous celebrations and festivities that were taking place continuously at Hajdučke Vrleti, in 2003 Vinko started a globally unique event called “Lie and stay alive”; an amateur competition in lying where the best liars are rewarded with homemade prosciutto and wine. From that year the event becomes traditional and takes place every first Saturday in November.

OFF road racing

Versatile as he was, he loved mountainous terrain and forest roads, so he was very keen on off-road jeep racing. He joined the Auto-Moto Association of BiH and began organizing rallies gathering more and more fans of this sport from all over BiH, and even Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia every year.

So, Vinko secured another very important and inescapable event for Blidinje attracting a wide variety of people to the area. Hajdučke Vrleti have become a recognizable brand that is associated with many interesting events and things so it became prestigious among both domestic and foreign visitors yet remaining inconspicuous.

Premature death and eternal memory

Much to the sorrow of his family, relatives and many friends, Vink’s haiduk heart still could not escape his sad fate. On 16 October 2009, he was involved in an accident just next to the property he had invested his life in, between Vran and Čvrsnica mountains, which he loved so much; in his Republic, the great heart of the visionary of this region, the man who lived for Blidinje, stopped beating. There remained great sadness and emptiness in the hearts of all who knew him, and especially in the hearts of his loved ones. After his death, his work was continued by wife Albina and daughter Marija.