ZAGREB, Nov 29 (Hina) - An investigation into Tihomir Oreskovic and four residents of Croatia's central town of Gospic, accused of war crimes against Serb civilians in 1991 was transferred Wednesday to Zagreb for the hearing of
retired General Mirko Norac, who had at the beginning of Croatia's Homeland Defence War been commanding officer of a Croatian Army brigade in the area.
ZAGREB, Nov 29 (Hina) - An investigation into Tihomir Oreskovic and
four residents of Croatia's central town of Gospic, accused of war
crimes against Serb civilians in 1991 was transferred Wednesday to
Zagreb for the hearing of retired General Mirko Norac, who had at
the beginning of Croatia's Homeland Defence War been commanding
officer of a Croatian Army brigade in the area. #L#
In the next two days four other former officials of Croatian secret
services will be heard.
General Norac was mentioned during the investigation as one of the
participants of a meeting held on October 16, 1991 in Gospic, during
which the liquidation of a group of Gospic Serbs had allegedly been
agreed.
Norac however claims he knows nothing about the liquidation of Serb
civilians in Gospic in 1991.
After the hearing, he told reporters he only answered questions as a
witness, and had no knowledge about the alleged meeting.
The first accused Oreskovic was not allowed to be present at the
hearing Wednesday.
As a sign of protest against such a decision, he insisted that his
defence counsel also not attend the hearing. As the second
attorney, Velimir Dosen, did, after all, attend the hearing,
Oreskovic rescinded his appointment, attorney Zeljko Dumancic told
reporters.
Dumancic told reporters the defence held very important the
testimonies of so-called direct witnesses Mirko Norac, Smiljan
Reljic, Jerko Vukas, Josip Perkovic and Josip Manolic, and warned
that the defence counsel had no opportunity to prepare for their
testimony.
On Thursday two former interior minister assistants for
intelligence services Smiljan Reljic and Jerko Vukas, as well as
Zeljko Bolf, former Gospic police commissioner, are expected to
testify.
On the last day of the investigation proceedings in Zagreb, on
Friday, the witness stand will be taken by the former head of the
Office for the Protection of Constitutional Order, Josip Manolic,
and former defence minister assistant, later the head of another
secret service, Josip Perkovic.
(hina) lml jn