RIJEKA, August 12 (Hina)- The principle of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution (SZUP) in 2992, Jerko Vukas claimed on Monday during his testimony in the so-called Gospic trial that the liquidation of civilians on Lipova
glavica was the product of work conducted by foreign intelligence agencies that did not want a Croatian state.
RIJEKA, August 12 (Hina)- The principle of the Office for the
Protection of the Constitution (SZUP) in 2992, Jerko Vukas claimed
on Monday during his testimony in the so-called Gospic trial that
the liquidation of civilians on Lipova glavica was the product of
work conducted by foreign intelligence agencies that did not want a
Croatian state. #L#
At the trial that continued on Monday following a summer recess,
Vukas told the Rijeka County Court Council - presided by Judge Ika
Saric - that the events were not coincidental because in fact at
that time the struggle for Croatia's recognition was being waged
and that event in Gospic delayed Croatia's recognition.
Vukas said that during 1991 there was a conflict between two defence
concepts that existed in Gospic. One, he said, was official, backed
by the state while the other, more radical definitely included the
accused Tihomir Oreskovic.
That radical concept, Vukas claimed, disrupted the official
concept and did not allow people from the "former system" and Serbs
to be involved in the defence and establishment of the Croatian
state.
It was not in the state's interest, he said, to expel Serbs.
Vukas said that he had organised a meeting with the accused Mirko
Norac and his associates in Gospic in October 1991 so that he could
convince them of changing their concept. He said that he obtained
the impression that Norac had completely accepted this attitude at
that meeting.
Oreskovic was also invited to participate at the meeting but he did
not turn up.
Oreskovic estimated that the meeting and Vukas' appearance in
Gospic was made up.
Franjo Turek also testified at the trial today. Turek, a former SZUP
operationalist in Gospic said that he spent September and October
1991 in Gospic and that then he did not know anything about any
civilians being taken away. He stated that he learned about the
event from the media and from SZUP documents when he was appointed
the principle of that service.
The trial will continue on Tuesday when a statement will be made by
assistant interior minister in 1991, Smiljan Reljic.
(hina) sp lml