5,000 SERBIAN VOLUNTEERS READY TO MARCH ON CROATIA

BELGRADE, March 10 (Hina) - The Serbian "Association of 1990 War Veterans" has set up an operative command for mustering Serbian volunteers for the war in Croatia, the Belgrade-based "Nasa Borba" (Our Struggle) said yesterday. Five thousand volunteers have reportedly enlisted so far, and another 10,000 are expected to sign up the by March 14, according to the Association's estimates. A leaflet distributed by the Association's branches throughout Serbia justifies this "mobilisation" with political and military developments in Croatia and President Tudjman's decision to end the UNPROFOR mandate. The fledgling command is led by retired JNA (former Yugoslav army) officers, because active officers are forbidden to join the Association. Asked if the "obilisation" was being carried out in cooperation with the Yugoslav army, one of the Association leaders, Aleksandar Dragisic told "Nasa Borba" that the army was giving them no support. "But if Croatia attacks us, the army is ready to act in line with the Vance plan and carry out a mobilisation." Dragisic added that the Association maintained close contacts with Bosnian and Knin Serbs, who were already preparing weaponry and equipment for the volunteers. The muster drew a sharp protest from the "Association of Autochtonous Serbs" which described it as a "crime." "Autochtonous Serbs" define themselves as inhabitants of Serbia proper, as opposed to Serbs born in Bosnia and Croatia. "While our soldiers were fighting in Krajina, Croatian Serbs deserted to Serbia, took away our jobs and flats and made money by war profiteering," Autochtonous Serbs complained. (hina) mm as 101634 MET mar 95