Croatia: Sentence in Torture Deaths

[struggle4progress]

Source: Reuters

A Croatian court sentenced a powerful parliamentary deputy on Friday to 10 years in prison for the torture and killing of Serbian civilians during Croatia’s war of independence from 1991 to 1995. The deputy, Branimir Glavas, is the first senior state official to be convicted of such an offense. The state television station, HRT, reported that Mr. Glavas might have fled to neighboring Bosnia, where he was born and where he could ask for a Bosnian passport, which would prevent his extradition. He was convicted of ordering members of a unit under his command to abduct, torture and murder Serbs in the eastern city of Osijek in 1991. The prisoners were taken to the banks of the Drava River, where they were shot and dumped into the water, the indictment said.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/09/world/europe/09briefs-Croatiabrf.html?_r=1

[atreides1]

1. Oh Well

If he had worked for the US government he'd be free from prosecution, and would be retiring in a few years, just like the CIA torturers will be.

[cali]

2. just want to point out that this sentence is 14 years after the acts of torture

and murder.

[dixiegrrrrl]

3. War crimes prosecutions seem to have taken a long time, don't they?

Hope war criminals ( not mentioning any names here ) are fully aware that while justice may not be swift, it is often sure.
Pleasant dreams, where ever you are.

[freemarketer6]

5. Yep. But the torture thing will still not go away...nft

dd

[Supersedeas]

4. different judicial system --- here money and country club connections matter

[IndianaGreen]

6. As it did in Tsarist Russia

A Bolshevik revolution is in order for America!

[muriel_volestrangler]

7. That's what the carrot of EU membership can do

The case has been closely followed by European Union officials, with Croatia seeking to wrap up its accession and become the bloc's 28th member by 2011.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gRlveBVojO7rdv5kBszp_DXR1rMQ

Thousands of Croats were killed by Serb rebels, but Croats also committed crimes against Serbs.

Croatia had long refused to try its own for war crimes, insisting Serbs were the sole perpetrators of atrocities. But as the country moves to adopt Western standards in hopes of joining the European Union by 2011, it has started prosecuting Croatians along with Serbs.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j7JWATYTOl5CkP1WCC5VDjJ5O23gD98267GG2