ZAGREB, Feb 13 (Hina) - Amnesty International on Tuesday "expressed its concern at statements reportedly made by local government officials and politicians during massive demonstrations" in the Croatian coastal city of Split where a
rally was organised last Sunday in protest against the issuing of a warrant for the arrest of retired General Mirko Norac. "Addressing a crowd estimated at numbering over 100,000 in Split, the mayors of Split and Sinj, as well as the Split-Dalmatia County Prefect and several opposition politicians and members of the Croatian parliament are reported to have openly criticised the warrant brought against General Mirko Norac. They implied that this was an attack on the legality of the Croatian state and the armed conflict following Croatia's declaration of independence," read a statement released by Amnesty International in London. Amnesty International said it could not
ZAGREB, Feb 13 (Hina) - Amnesty International on Tuesday "expressed
its concern at statements reportedly made by local government
officials and politicians during massive demonstrations" in the
Croatian coastal city of Split where a rally was organised last
Sunday in protest against the issuing of a warrant for the arrest of
retired General Mirko Norac.
"Addressing a crowd estimated at numbering over 100,000 in Split,
the mayors of Split and Sinj, as well as the Split-Dalmatia County
Prefect and several opposition politicians and members of the
Croatian parliament are reported to have openly criticised the
warrant brought against General Mirko Norac. They implied that this
was an attack on the legality of the Croatian state and the armed
conflict following Croatia's declaration of independence," read a
statement released by Amnesty International in London.
Amnesty International said it could not comment on General Norac's
guilt or innocence but "the Croatian criminal justice system has an
obligation to investigate and prosecute crimes under international
law, regardless of the ethnic origin of the perpetrators or their
victims," read the statement.
AI has called on Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Yugoslavia to
bring to justice those responsible for human rights violations and
crimes under international law.
A few days ago an arrest warrant was issued against Norac who is
under suspicion of having committed crimes against Serb civilians
in the central town of Gospic at the beginning of the war of
independence in Croatia in 1991. His former deputy was apprehended
on the same grounds, however, Norac has reportedly gone in hiding,
read the statement explaining the background of the Norac case.
(hina) ms