Vukovar verdict sparks violence in Croatia

[Crvena zvezda]

Vukovar verdict sparks violence in Croatia 2 October 2007
After what has been perceived as the lenient verdicts handed out to the Vukovar Three, violence has flared in Croatia.

Serbian properties in Benkovac have been demolished and fights have broken out between Serbs and Croats in Vukovar.

On Sunday night, unknown attackers demolished six restored Serb houses near Benkovac. The owners of the homes were not in Croatia at the time.

Electrics, sanitary equipment, doors and windows were all damaged, according to Zadar police.

“The homes were broken into and, from what I hear, almost everything inside was destroyed. These are new homes that had been restored in the returnee program this year and last,” said Serbian politician Milorad Pupovac, who is a native of the area.

He said that the motives behind the attacks were more than likely the verdicts handed out to the Vukovar Three of Veselin Šljivančanin, Mile Mrkšić and Miloslav Radić by the Hague Tribunal last week. However, Pupovac also partly blames Croatian politicians who have been manipulating the verdict during the election campaign, and creating an atmosphere where such acts can occur.

“Many have stressed this. Not only politicians but others as well. Once you let the cat out of the bag and send the message, ‘If the Hague won’t decide, then we will,’ then you can’t be sure where it’s going to stop and who that ‘we’ will be,” Pupovac said.

Serbian officials in the region have condemned the acts and called for the culprits to be found and prosecuted.

In Vukovar, one 17-year old Serbian yelled “Ovčara will happen again” outside a nightclub and was attacked by a 27-year old Vukovar local.

Police stopped the fight from escalating, but a police vehicle was damaged in the scuffle.

Police said that the incident was of an inter-ethnic character.

[Crvena zvezda]

I don't accept all facts I've heard said about Vukovar by Croats, but I believe the light judgements made by the ICTY judges show more of their use as political tools and their incompetence.

I am sure that the judges at the ICTY did not even think of the consequences of such a verdict. They are responsible for the violence generated by this incorrect judgment.

So, I suggest that if Croatia puts charges agianst those comming these acts they should also put criminal charges against these judges for any violence created due to their incorrect judgments.

[Marcus Marulus]

Croatia should sever all relations with that "Tribunal". That would be the only right decision, but that - unfortunately - is simply not going to happen.

[Crvena zvezda]

Originally Posted by Plethon

Croatia should sever all relations with that "Tribunal". That would be the only right decision, but that - unfortunately - is simply not going to happen.

I agree. Serbia should do the same. Recently it has been reported that the inidivduals responsible for the attacks that happenned after the verdict will be prosecuted. If Croatia's leadership will not several relations with the "Tribunal" then the second best move with be to put war crimes charges (at least criminal) charges against the judges in the Hague for the following reason:
- 1. In some cases at the Hague cases as minor as these have been considered "war crimes" (most notably regarding former FYROM interior minister). The verdict is directly linked to the violence and using the concept of "joint criminal enterprise" (an absurd legal concept for which most people were sent to the Hague) the judges are responsible for these crimes.

[Heretik]

Trebali bi mi (Hrvati) osnovati nesto u stilu onoga sto imaju zidovi za hvatanje ratnih zlocinaca. Samo sto bih ih ja odmah ubijao.