RIJEKA, June 25 (Hina) - A peaceful protest was held in Republic of Croatia Square in Rijeka on Monday in support of retired General Mirko Norac and another four men, whose trial for war crimes against civilians began in the northern
Adriatic city today. The "We Are All Mirko Norac" protest was organised by the Primorje-Gorski Kotar and Lika-Senj county headquarters for the protection of the dignity of last decade's war of independence. The protesters requested allowing the five accused to defend themselves in freedom and adjourning the trial to conduct a referendum which would say if to equate the court proceeding treatment of veterans from the 1990s war and World War Two. The Norac trial is a rigged political trial held under pressure from outside forces which is aimed at proving that Croats committed war crimes during the Homeland Defence War, said retired Lt. Col. Mirko Condic, the president of the nation
RIJEKA, June 25 (Hina) - A peaceful protest was held in Republic of
Croatia Square in Rijeka on Monday in support of retired General
Mirko Norac and another four men, whose trial for war crimes against
civilians began in the northern Adriatic city today.
The "We Are All Mirko Norac" protest was organised by the Primorje-
Gorski Kotar and Lika-Senj county headquarters for the protection
of the dignity of last decade's war of independence.
The protesters requested allowing the five accused to defend
themselves in freedom and adjourning the trial to conduct a
referendum which would say if to equate the court proceeding
treatment of veterans from the 1990s war and World War Two.
The Norac trial is a rigged political trial held under pressure from
outside forces which is aimed at proving that Croats committed war
crimes during the Homeland Defence War, said retired Lt. Col. Mirko
Condic, the president of the national headquarters for the
protection of the 1990s war.
Every single Croatian crime is exaggerated without end, while the
genocide committed by the Serbs has been reduced to about 30 crimes,
said Condic.
According to retired General Davor Domazet, Norac was among those
most deserving of credit for preventing an aggressive occupation of
Croatia.
Domazet criticised President Stipe Mesic for signing a statement
with Yugoslav counterpart Vojislav Kostunica on the further
normalisation of relations, saying it negated the aggression on
Croatia. He also slammed Prime Minister Ivica Racan for wanting to
give Croatian villages to neighbouring Slovenia. He said, however,
the Croats would know how to respond.
During the protest, some people hurled abuse at Mesic, Racan, and
other senior officials.
About 1,000 took part in the rally, according to journalists,
although the police said about 800 had arrived to Rijeka.
(hina) ha sb