TRIAL OF GOSPIC SO-CALLED GOSPIC GROUP CONTINUES

RIJEKA, March 13 (Hina) - In a trial of the so-called Gospic group in Rijeka which resumed Wednesday, the head of Gospic office for defence in 1991, Jure Premuz, said he does not know anything about the execution of civilians in Pazariste, near Gospic. Premuz said before the Panel of Judges, chaired by judge Ika Saric, that he came to the so-called 'fatal meeting' when participants were leaving, that he was last in a line of cars to go towards the execution site in Pazariste, and that due to a car fault he arrived when the execution was completed. He did not come any closer, he said, because only then, "some things became more clear" to him. Premuz said he never discussed the incident with those he saw at the execution site, and explained he wanted to forget the incident as soon as possible. He said he regretted that circumstances led him to the site and that he did not file an official report about the case because he thought this was the duty of the executive and judicial authorities. Principal defendant Tihomir Oreskovic said individuals from the judicial and police system, as well as those outside the system, pressured Premuz by illegal and repressive methods for this "rigged trial", and added this is why Premuz could not say the whole truth. The trial resumes on Thursday. (hina) np sb