RIJEKA, Nov 28 (Hina) - Retired General Mirko Norac, indicted of war crimes, has claimed that he never met Tihomir Oreskovic within the Rijeka prison, as Oreskovic had claimed the day before yesterday during the trial in Rijeka County
Court in court proceedings to the "Gospic group" for war crimes committed in 1991. On Monday, Oreskovic claimed Norac spoke to him and requested a change in the defence concept, that is, that they should stand mute, and for their attorneys to speak on their behalf, as in this way, they would treated more lightly. Norac said that he was being treated in the same manner as all other detainees, without any privileges from judge Ika Saric, nor with court policemen. His statement, relayed by his attorney Tomislav Sabljar, says that such accusations were aimed at discrediting him with the Croatian public as a person and general. Norac believes that the reason he was being discredited was the fa
RIJEKA, Nov 28 (Hina) - Retired General Mirko Norac, indicted of war
crimes, has claimed that he never met Tihomir Oreskovic within the
Rijeka prison, as Oreskovic had claimed the day before yesterday
during the trial in Rijeka County Court in court proceedings to the
"Gospic group" for war crimes committed in 1991.
On Monday, Oreskovic claimed Norac spoke to him and requested a
change in the defence concept, that is, that they should stand mute,
and for their attorneys to speak on their behalf, as in this way,
they would treated more lightly.
Norac said that he was being treated in the same manner as all other
detainees, without any privileges from judge Ika Saric, nor with
court policemen.
His statement, relayed by his attorney Tomislav Sabljar, says that
such accusations were aimed at discrediting him with the Croatian
public as a person and general.
Norac believes that the reason he was being discredited was the fact
that he had refused Oreskovic's defence concept, that is to blame
the state top officials as those who issued orders and to admit his
guilt and actions which, he said, he had not committed.
The concept of my defence, Norac continued, will remain in line with
the deposition given at the Zagreb County Court on November 29,
2000. The deposition maintains that Norac never attended a so-
called deadly meeting, and he had no knowledge that it had ever
taken place, that he never took part in any liquidations, not had
any knowledge about them. Also, he never orally or in written form
ordered any soldier, officer or commander during his military
service in the Croatian army to liquidate any person.
At the most recent court session, Oreskovic complained about the
different treatment of detainees from the Gospic group.
According to Oreskovic's testimony on Monday, detainees who agreed
to give evidence in favour of the prosecution were privileged,
while he was being "harassed and prevented from receiving medical
treatment".
(hina) lml sb