JUSTICE MINISTER VISITS 19 SERB PRISONERS WHO WERE ON HUNGER STRIKE

Osijek, Oct 29 (Hina) - Croatia's Justice Minister Zvonimir Separovic in Friday visited 19 Serbs detained in Osijek prison who went on a hunger strike from 18 to 25 October. One of them, Tihomir Misanovic from Vukovar, accused of murder, is still on the hunger strike. Separovic held the talks with the prisoners, most of whom were sentenced to prison on war crimes charges and who appealed to the Supreme Court. After that, the Minister told reporters that hunger strike is a democratic right of prisoners. "They all say that are innocent and that they did not commit war crimes. Members of the "Sodolovacka Group" are particularly categorical in this," Separovic said. Saying that he would see how much their appeals could be substantiated, the Minister added that he could not influence the course of trials, as it is a court's business. Commenting on their appeals lodged with the Supreme Court Separovic stressed it was a complex process, and that's why the ruling had not been made to date, adding that he would advocate the acceleration of the procedure before the Supreme Court. Separovic also held a meeting with the Osijek County Court President Petar Kljajic. (hina) ms