PERSONS SENTENCED FOR WAR CRIMES TO GO ON TRIAL AGAIN

( Editorial: --> 6490 ) VUKOVAR, 7 Dec (Hina) - Sixteen out of 25 persons from the Croatian Danube river region, who were not included in the Amnesty Law, have decided to use their right to renewed court proceedings in which they were earlier sentenced in absentia for war crimes. They have already submitted official requests to the County Court in Osijek, which made the earlier rulings, said Vukovar attorney Petar Miletic. Miletic is one of the attorneys defending the Serbs who decided to go on trial. The Human Rights Committee of the Joint Council of (Serb-dominated) Municipalities called from Vukovar on the remaining nine Serbs from the area to use the right to renewed trial. Four of them ignored the appeals of the Joint Council and its Human Rights Committee, and moved out of the Croatian Danube river region. The defence wants the trials to start as soon as possible, especially because 15 January, the day of the expiry of the UNTAES mandate, is approaching. The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and other international organisations have shown interest in the trial. Resolution 1120 of the Security Council pledges Croatia to an immediate and comprehensive analysis of all indictments against individuals who were not included in the Amnesty Law, so that proceedings against all persons against whom there is no sufficient evidence could be finished. Vukovar County Court President Ante Zeljko welcomed the news that the 16 earlier sentenced persons had decided to ask that their trials be renewed and commended the efforts of the Joint Council of Municipalities in bringing the remaining nine to justice. According to Zeljko, the whole procedure will be conducted in an organised way and the indicted will defend themselves while at liberty. (hina) rm 071222 MET dec 97