ZAGREB, Nov 17 (Hina) - Four witnesses from the Federal Republic of +Yugoslavia (FRY) and one from Bosnia-Herzegovina +(BH) will not arrive in Croatia to testify in the pretrial +proceedings against Dinko Sakic, commander of the World
War II +Jasenovac concentration camp in Croatia.+ The witness from Bijeljina (BH) did not respond to the summons +forwarded to him through diplomatic services. One witness from the +FRY gave his testimony at the Municipal Court in Nis, which was then +forwarded to the Croatian Justice Ministry.+ Of the other three witnesses from Belgrade, according to unofficial +sources, one had to undergo surgery and the other two have refused +to come because they are concerned for their safety.+ Fear for personal safety is probably not the real reason for the +non-attendance of those two witnesses, said Cedo Prodanovic, a +Zagreb attorney representing an injured party in the case ag
ZAGREB, Nov 17 (Hina) - Four witnesses from the Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia (FRY) and one from Bosnia-Herzegovina
(BH) will not arrive in Croatia to testify in the pretrial
proceedings against Dinko Sakic, commander of the World War II
Jasenovac concentration camp in Croatia.
The witness from Bijeljina (BH) did not respond to the summons
forwarded to him through diplomatic services. One witness from the
FRY gave his testimony at the Municipal Court in Nis, which was then
forwarded to the Croatian Justice Ministry.
Of the other three witnesses from Belgrade, according to unofficial
sources, one had to undergo surgery and the other two have refused
to come because they are concerned for their safety.
Fear for personal safety is probably not the real reason for the
non-attendance of those two witnesses, said Cedo Prodanovic, a
Zagreb attorney representing an injured party in the case against
Sakic. It was Prodanovic who requested that the witnesses be
summonsed.
"The Croatian authorities have done everything in respect to the
protection of the witnesses", said Prodanovic on Tuesday.
The security of the witnesses on their way from the Croatian border
to Zagreb and during their stay in Zagreb has been adequately
ensured, announced Prodanovic.
Prodanovic said he was reassured of this during this morning's
meeting with representatives of the Yugoslav Embassy in Zagreb and
Croatian authorities.
Prodanovic suspected that the main reason for the non-attendance of
the witnesses was the poor transport organisation to the Croatian
border, and the witnesses' fear that they would have to foot
transportation and accommodation expenses themselves.
"The court covers all costs, and they should be aware of that",
Prodanovic said adding that he would check whether the witnesses
intend to come to Zagreb or not before submitting a new request for
summons.
The legal deadline for issuing an indictment against Sakic expires
on December 18 this year, six months after he had been extradited by
the Argentinean authorities.
(hina) ab/rml