SINJ, Feb 24 (Hina) - Leaders of the local association of Croatian war veterans - volunteers in the Homeland Defence War in Split-Dalmatia County have expressed disappointment over the recent decision of the competent court to prolong
the detention of General Mirko Norac pending a final verdict in his case.
nizacije/savezi
SINJ, Feb 24 (Hina) - Leaders of the local association of Croatian war
veterans - volunteers in the Homeland Defence War in Split-Dalmatia
County have expressed disappointment over the recent decision of the
competent court to prolong the detention of General Mirko Norac
pending a final verdict in his case.#L#
"If the general and the honorary president of the county association,
Mirko Norac, be sentenced to one day in prison, we shall regard such a
verdict as the conviction of the Homeland Defence War and of the
Croatian people's struggle for independence," Ante Smoljo told a news
conference in the southern town of Sinj on Tuesday.
Smoljo said that the association would propose to all mayors of towns
in the Cetina river valley to post jumbo posters with the image of
Gen, Norac in main squares. The posters would also have a slogan
"General Mirko Norac - the Truth and the People Are on Your Side".
The County Court in the northern Adriatic city of Rijeka sentenced
Gen. Norac to 12 years in jail, after it found him guilty of war
crimes against civilians. Norac has been in custody in Rijeka since 21
February 2001. His two-year detention pending a final verdict which is
to be made by the Supreme Court expired on Sunday, February 22. Last
week, a panel of judges decided to extend his detention for another
nine months.
(Hina) ms sb