ZAGREB, Sept 19 (Hina) - Prime Minister Ivica Racan told Croatian Radio on Tuesday it was necessary to investigate and prosecute war crimes committed on Croatian territory. "When it comes to the fact that war crimes were committed on
Croatian territory, we seek that this book be closed, that the crimes be investigated, and that Croatia stop being hostage, taken to task for doing nothing to shed light on and prosecute those crimes. Because we could have, and the matter should have been closed by now," Racan said.
ZAGREB, Sept 19 (Hina) - Prime Minister Ivica Racan told Croatian
Radio on Tuesday it was necessary to investigate and prosecute war
crimes committed on Croatian territory.
"When it comes to the fact that war crimes were committed on
Croatian territory, we seek that this book be closed, that the
crimes be investigated, and that Croatia stop being hostage, taken
to task for doing nothing to shed light on and prosecute those
crimes. Because we could have, and the matter should have been
closed by now," Racan said.#L#
He stressed competent bodies were implementing the rule of law and
would continue to do so, but could not say whether more arrests
would follow because it is not within his jurisdiction.
Speaking of last week's police actions, the prime minister said
they consisted of investigations and arrests of persons suspected
of having committed war crimes. The courts will establish their
guilt or innocence, he added.
Racan said it was not up to politicians, the government, or
individuals seeking the end of the rule of law to decide whether the
suspicions that facilitated the arrests had been justified or not.
We have to show a higher degree of confidence in the bodies of the
law-based state and Croatia's judiciary, he asserted.
The prime minister said it was a fact that about 120 people were
killed in last decade's war crime in Gospic, central Croatia, and
that among them were not just Serbs, but dozens of Croats too. "Does
Croatia have to investigate this? Of course it does," he said.
Commenting on last week's arrests, the protests which ensued and
those who organised them, Racan said these were organised people
who were interested in stirring up trouble even without motive, who
felt threatened because of the privileges they enjoy or perhaps
because a higher level of the rule of law in Croatia might affect
them as well. There are also those attacking for lack of
understanding, as well as those thinking that Croats are incapable
of committing crimes.
The prime minister said he was not surprised by polls showing that
the majority of the population supported last week's arrests and
efforts aimed at upgrading the rule of law in Croatia. "This binds
the governments and bodies of the law-based state not to pay too
much attention to pressures, blackmailing, even to extremists
rattling arms."
Asked by a radio listener why amnesty was not applied to Croats as it
was to Serbs, the prime minister said war crimes were never barred
from the statute of limitations, and that Croatia refused to
amnesty war crimes suspects.
He reminded of a government decision which revoked the obligation
to tell Croatian Serb returnees in advance whether they had been
charged with war crimes.
"They are the same as other citizens. If they return they bear the
same consequences before bodies of the law-based state as all other
citizens of this country. Why should we notify someone in advance?
If they have been charged with war crimes, they will be arrested.
There is no amnesty for war crimes, either in the case of non-Croats
or Croats," said Racan.
About 150 Serbs are currently being sought for war crimes. They will
be called to account when they become available to the Croatian
judiciary, the prime minister said.
(hina) ha