PROSECUTION RESTS ITS CASE IN DOKMANOVIC TRIAL AT THE HAGUE

( Editorial: --> 8077 ) THE HAGUE, April 20 (Hina) - The counsel for the prosecution on Monday rested his case in the trial of former Vukovar mayor Slavko Dokmanovic before the International Criminal Tribunal for Former Yugoslavia. The defence will make its opening statement on Tuesday. Dokmanovic is accused of helping organise the murder of 200 patients from Vukovar hospital after the JNA and Serb paramilitary units conquered the eastern Croatian city in late November 1991. Arguing his case, the Prosecutor tendered in evidence a series of documentary materials, including two video tapes with Dokmanovic's statements to Belgrade and French TVs after the fall of Vukovar. In a Belgrade TV show aired on 22 November 1991, Dokmanovic said he hoped that, once cleaned up, that "Ustasha town" would become "a true Serbian town." Dressed in camouflage uniform, Dokmanovic was introduced to the viewers as "Vukovar mayor." On another occasion, again dressed in camouflage uniform, Dokmanovic explained to French TV that all those who had not shed "Serbian blood" could return to Vukovar because they had "nothing to answer for before the law". The defence pleaded that Dokmanovic was merely sporting his hunting garb. Identification documents found next to the bodies dug out from the Ovcara pit near Vukovar were also admitted in evidence. The Prosecutor announced that he would subsequently tender additional evidence to prove the existence of an international conflict at the relevant time. These documents include UN documents confirming Croatia's independence as well as a letter the last former Yugoslavia President Stipe Mesic wrote to the then UN secretary-general Perez de Cuellar. Mesic quoted the Yugoslav Federal Defence Minister as threatening to "use all forces" against Croatia, thereby effectively declaring war against it. The defence is hoping to disprove the existence of an international conflict. Defence counsel Toma Fila requested the "safe conduct" of his witnesses, who are apparently nervous of being arrested if they set foot on Dutch soil. "I don't think the Prosecutor will grant these witnesses immunity from prosecution, but we won't arrest them," counsel for the prosecution, Grant Niemann, said. The list of witneses originally included Goran Hadzic, the former "president" of the so-called Republic of Serbian Krajina, carved out from occupied Croatian territory. The defence, however, explained that "it would not be a good idea" for him to appear in The Hague. (hina) jn as/mb 201513 MET apr 98