THE HAGUE, April 4 (Hina) - The prosecution of the Hague-based international war crimes tribunal on Thursday began the cross-examination General Slobodan Praljak at a trial against Bosnian Croat Mladen Naletilic Tuta.
THE HAGUE, April 4 (Hina) - The prosecution of the Hague-based
international war crimes tribunal on Thursday began the cross-
examination General Slobodan Praljak at a trial against Bosnian
Croat Mladen Naletilic Tuta. #L#
The prosecution wanted to know whether Praljak was from March 1992
through November 1993 a Croatian army officer who was ordered by the
former Croatian president Franjo Tudjman and former defence
minister Gojko Susak to do their job in Bosnia with the aim of
supporting the idea of a greater Croatia.
After Praljak categorically stated this was not correct,
prosecutor Kenneth Scott presented a transcript of talks between
Tudjman and representatives of the Croatian Defence Council (HVO)
in Central Bosnia dating March 1993, in which Tudjman said he would
let Praljak return, as well as other people from Bosnia. In the
transcripts, Tudjman spoke about Bosnian provinces as "our"
provinces.
The prosecution thus wished to prove the international character of
conflicts in Herzegovina, that is, the involvement of Croatia into
the war in neighbouring Bosnia.
Is it not true that you were sent to Bosnia by Tudjman and that you
and others knew that you were doing this under orders by the
Croatian state, Scott asked.
Praljak was adamant in stating that he left for Bosnia on a
voluntary basis, not under orders.
He said the transcripts showed nothing about an order being
issued.
Praljak said his motive to go to Bosnia was to "help where help was
needed", not under orders by Tudjman or Susak.
Naletilic's attorney Kresimir Krsnik objected several times to the
fact that the prosecution was using transcripts whose authenticity
was questionable according to the defence.
Naletilic has been indicted of crimes against Moslem civilians and
prisoners in Mostar in 1993.
(hina) lml