OSIJEK, October 25 (Hina) - Thirteen prisoners of Serb nationality detained in the county jail of the eastern Croatian town of Osijek on Monday night ended a hunger strike following three hour long talks with a representative of the
Serb minority Milorad Pupovac. The talks between Pupovac and the principal of the jail Sloven Derda with the prisoners were held without the presence of journalists. Following the talks, some of the prisoners announced they were going to end their hunger strike because "they believed their demands had been fulfilled". In a statement to the press, Pupovac confirmed that the 13 prisoners had ended their hunger strike emphasising that their appeals and criticism regarding court proceedings regarding their case would be forwarded to the highest state level. We will request that the Justice Minister and President of the Supreme Court once again inspect the prisoners' files, Pupovac said. Asked what
OSIJEK, October 25 (Hina) - Thirteen prisoners of Serb nationality
detained in the county jail of the eastern Croatian town of Osijek
on Monday night ended a hunger strike following three hour long
talks with a representative of the Serb minority Milorad Pupovac.
The talks between Pupovac and the principal of the jail Sloven Derda
with the prisoners were held without the presence of journalists.
Following the talks, some of the prisoners announced they were
going to end their hunger strike because "they believed their
demands had been fulfilled".
In a statement to the press, Pupovac confirmed that the 13 prisoners
had ended their hunger strike emphasising that their appeals and
criticism regarding court proceedings regarding their case would
be forwarded to the highest state level.
We will request that the Justice Minister and President of the
Supreme Court once again inspect the prisoners' files, Pupovac
said.
Asked what the thirteen were demanding, Pupovac said that some of
them believe that the proceedings were conducted incorrectly and
should be repeated. Others on the other hand are critical of the
fact that they have waited for several years for investigative
proceedings to be conducted "and that they have not been able to
prove their innocence before the courts".
Pupovac emphasised that the prisoners had no complaints against the
jail administration or relations toward them in the jail.
The prison doctor, Dr. Zvonimir Kovac told journalists that the
prisoners' health was satisfactory and that they had lost between 1
and 5 kilograms. Two of them are on medication for heart problems,
while one who suffers from diabetes, ended striking last week.
Amongst the 13 prisoners on the hunger strike, ten are accused of
war crimes. Five of them are from the so-called Sodolovci group.
Another three are charged with various criminal offences ranging
from murder to rape.
On Monday October 18, nineteen prisoners in the Osijek county jail
refused to take prison food, however, the jail administration
reported the prisoners were still taking food received in packages
and purchased in the prison canteen. In the meantime, six ended
their strike. As of Friday October 22, thirteen prisoners went on a
full hunger strike and refused to take any food.
(hina) sp jn