RIJEKA, Feb 24 (Hina) - Tihomir Oreskovic, the first defendant in the trial of the so-called Gospic Group on Monday made a five-hour closing argument at the Rijeka County Court, in which he stated that there had been no meeting on
October 16, 1991 which the charges refer to as the 'Death Meeting' that led to the murder of civilians at Pazariste.
RIJEKA, Feb 24 (Hina) - Tihomir Oreskovic, the first defendant in
the trial of the so-called Gospic Group on Monday made a five-hour
closing argument at the Rijeka County Court, in which he stated that
there had been no meeting on October 16, 1991 which the charges
refer to as the 'Death Meeting' that led to the murder of civilians
at Pazariste. #L#
Oreskovic told the panel of judges, presided by Judge Ika Saric,
that people going missing in Gospic at the time was considered quite
"normal" because there were huge fluctuations in the population at
the time.
He claimed that he only heard about the liquidation at Lipova
Glavica at the trial, while he read about the abduction and
liquidation of three Karlobag Serb nationals in the papers and then
heard about them in the trial.
The defendant said that he did not know nor had he heard of one Serb
national who was mentioned during the trial as missing.
He labelled the claims about "the Death Meeting" as "a fabrication
by Josip Manolic" which also involved the then Gospic police chief,
Ivan Dasovic and the then chief of the Gospic branch of the security
and intelligence service (SZUB), Mirko Kasumovic.
Oreskovic said that while he had held office of the secretary of the
crisis-management committee for Lika he had done exclusively
administrative jobs which involved liaison with journalists and
radio stations as well as interpreting at meetings with European
observers.
He claimed that at the beginning of the war Josip Manolic was Number
1 in the country and that he appointed the staff in all institutions
and in the executive authorities. The then Croatian president
Franjo Tudjman, according to Oreskovic, was in charge of only
foreign affairs.
Oreskovic claimed that someone with more power backed Manolic,
however he declined to say who.
He added that Manolic worked in opposition to Croatia's
independence and that is why he appointed Ante Karic as the
president of the crisis-management committee for Lika and that he
wished to replace Mirko Norac who had proven to be a successful
commander of the Croatian army in the Gospic area.
Oreskovic said that through Karic, Manolic ordered several fatal
actions in the Gospic area with the aim of weakening and destroying
Croatia's defence.
Oreskovic is charged with organising and ordering the abduction of
about 40 people, mostly of Serb origin, from their homes and then
having them murdered at Pazariste, Lipova Glavica and Mt. Velebit
in October and November 1991.
Monday's hearing was conducted following a one-month break due to
Oreskovic's ailing health. In addition to Oreskovic, the Gospic
Group charged with organising and implementing the liquidation of
civilians in the said region, includes Ivica Rozic, Mirko Norac,
Stjepan Grandic and Milan Canic.
The trial will continue on Tuesday with the continuation of
Oreskovic's closing argument.
(hina) sp ms