DJUKIC ASKS PRESIDENT TUDJMAN FOR HELP IN RENEWING TRIAL OF SERB PRISONERS

PRISONERS ( Editorial: --> 8099 ) ZAGREB, 16 July (Hina) - Croatian Serb MP Milan Djukic on Thursday appealed to President Franjo Tudjman to use his authority so that the trials of 63 Croatian Serbs convicted for war crimes are reopened. The convicted did not have correct trials and were sentenced on circumstantial evidence at a time of high political pressure and negative attitude towards people of Serb nationality, the president of the Serb People's Party (SNS) said in a letter to President Tudjman. Djukic said he decided to ask Tudjman for an act of good faith after his visit to prisons in Lepoglava and Split, where some of the convicted are serving their sentences ranging from five to 20 years. Twenty-four Serbs are in Lepoglava prison. Out of 39 Serbs who were tried in Split, 16 are in Split prison while others are at large and were tried in absence. "At the time of hatred, irregularities and euphoria" their charges of armed rebellion were redefined into criminal acts which are not covered by the Amnesty Act, Djukic said, expressing strong belief that the convicted are innocent. The prisoners claim that they were neither at the crime site nor did they participate in the crimes they were charged with. Djukic also proposed that the prisoners be tried before the Hague Tribunal or be exchanged for Croat prisoners in Yugoslavia or Republika Srpska, which the prisoners had proposed themselves. (hina) rml 162325 MET jul 98