ZAGREB, March 30 (Hina) - A commemorative service was held on Sunday at Plitvice Lakes marking the 12th anniversary of the death of Josip Jovic, the first Croatian police officer killed by Serb rebels.
ZAGREB, March 30 (Hina) - A commemorative service was held on Sunday
at Plitvice Lakes marking the 12th anniversary of the death of Josip
Jovic, the first Croatian police officer killed by Serb rebels.
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On behalf of the interior ministry, police director Ranko Ostojic
recalled the bloody Easter on 31 March 1991, when Jovic was killed
in a clash with Serb insurgents.
Ostojic added that policemen and other soldiers and Jovic's
comrades had unselfishly sacrificed their lives for peace,
security and progress thus setting an example to others.
He said that at the time the chief task of the police had been the
defence of the country, and today the duty of police officers was to
ensure peace, safety and security for other citizens.
Present at the commemoration, organised by the Interior Ministry,
were members of Jovic's family, a representative of the Military
Ordinariate, officials of the Defence Ministry, Lika-Senj County
and local authorities and representatives of the association
called "The First Croatian Police Officer".
They laid wreaths and lit candles in front of a memorial plaque at
the site of Jovic's killing.
One hour after the event, an association of war veterans, called
"Tigar", organised a separate commemoration.
This event gathered some 200 people, members of this and some other
veterans' associations.
Retired brigadier Ivan Rasic, a member of the Tigar association,
spoke about his comrade Mirko Norac and about other soldiers, who,
he said, were unfairly imprisoned or accused. In his speech, Rasic
said that war veterans, who had built Croatia, would fight for their
rights in a democratic, peaceful and non-violent manner.
The police's head Ostojic declined to comment on that
commemoration.
(hina) ms