OSIJEK: TRIAL OF BARANJA SERBS ACCUSED OF WAR CRIMES BEGINS

OSIJEK, Nov 4 (Hina) - The trial of ten Serbs from the Baranja village of Luca, accused of war crimes against civilians, began before the Osijek County Court on Monday. #L# Only one of the ten indictees, Dragan Marjanovic, is attending the trial, while the others are tried in absentia since they left Croatia during the peaceful reintegration of the Danube River region. Under the indictment, from August 1991 to May 1995 the accused, at the time members of the so-called Territorial Defence, physically and psychologically tortured Luca residents, restricted the movement of local Croats, fired them from work, arrested and intimidated them by opening fire at their houses. Marjanovic, who today pleaded not guilty, is accused of having, together with several other persons, plundered the Catholic church in the village, forcibly mobilised local Croats and organised forced labour. The trial continues on Tuesday with witness testimonies. (hina) rml sb