ZAGREB, Oct 16 (Hina) - Croatia's Defence Ministry on Saturday absolutely refuted claims of a drafted soldier, Bruno Grguric, published in the "Nacional" weekly, in which Grguric dramatically accused the Croatian Army of the torture
he is exposed to while he is doing the military service. After conducting an investigation, the Ministry rejects Grguric's statements describing them as grave libels. We refuse completely statements made by a soldier, Bruno Grguric, as libels the purpose of which is to "discredit Croatian Army and tarnish its reputation in the public," read a statement released by the Ministry on Saturday. The October 13 issue of "Nacional" quotes Grguric as saying that he was exposed to harassment in the Croatian Army. He said he had injured his hand using a sponge in which several razor blades were hidden. According to him, he was not allowed to go to the doctor, although he wa
ZAGREB, Oct 16 (Hina) - Croatia's Defence Ministry on Saturday
absolutely refuted claims of a drafted soldier, Bruno Grguric,
published in the "Nacional" weekly, in which Grguric dramatically
accused the Croatian Army of the torture he is exposed to while he is
doing the military service.
After conducting an investigation, the Ministry rejects Grguric's
statements describing them as grave libels.
We refuse completely statements made by a soldier, Bruno Grguric,
as libels the purpose of which is to "discredit Croatian Army and
tarnish its reputation in the public," read a statement released by
the Ministry on Saturday.
The October 13 issue of "Nacional" quotes Grguric as saying that he
was exposed to harassment in the Croatian Army. He said he had
injured his hand using a sponge in which several razor blades were
hidden. According to him, he was not allowed to go to the doctor,
although he was suffering from great pain. He also claimed that his
superior had try to hit him with a knife.
Several days ago, the Trieste-based "Il Piccolo" newspaper also
published Grguric's story about his torture in the Croatian Army.
This is the unprecedented case of blackmailing the Croatian Army,
with the intention to dent the international reputation of Croatia
and its Army via that Italian paper, the Ministry's statement
read.
The Ministry added that it possesses dozen written testimonies of
soldiers and Grguric's superiors who say that there was no improper
treatment, let alone abuse, of Grguric.
He got cuts on his hand by pieces of a broken razor blade in a sponge
which he took while he was doing regular cleaning of some rooms, but
Grguric used this to claim that it was a deliberate act of torture,
and informed his parents and friends of it.
According to the Ministry, Grguric was dissatisfied as his
commander did not let him play music in evenings for commercial
purpose, since soldiers cannot earn money in this way while they are
doing military service.
(hina) ms