RSK
04-30-2005, 08:33 PM
DOCUMENTATION ON HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION , ETHNIC CLEANSING AND CRIMES COMMITTED BY CROATIAN ARMED
FORCES AGAINST SERBIAN CIVIL POPULATION IN CROATIA
1991 - 1996
INSTEAD OF AN INTRODUCTION
In a letter dated 18 August 1991 Marin VIDIC - "Bili", Croatian government commissioner, writes to Franjo TUDJMAN, president of the Republic of Croatia, about the terror which Tomislav MERCEP and his associates imposed in Vukovar, and which resulted in the creation of atmosphere of fear and mass fleeing of population from the city.
REPUBLIC OF CROATIA .
CONFIDENTIAL
VUKOVAR MUNICIPALITY
Commissioner of the Government of the
Republic of Croatia in Vukovar Municipality
Class: 814-01/91-01/01
Adm. No. 2196-01-91-5
Vukovar, 18 August 1991
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA
PRIME MINISTER OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA
MINISTER OF THE DEFENSE MINISTRY
MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR MINISTRY
ZAGREB
Reference: Political and security situation
in Vukovar Municipality
- report
Appointment of Tomislav Mercep for the secretary of the Municipal (National Defense) Secretariat in Vukovar resulted in usurpation of authority and concentration of offices in the same person who is the president of HDZ and actual commander of the National Guard Corps (ZNG), police and civilian organs of authority. Surrounded by persons with doubtful moral and control over absolutely everything in Vukovar Municipality, not hesitating to use violent and repressive measures against the citizens of Vukovar Municipality (unauthorized breaking into private homes, giving verbal and written instructions to homeless persons to settle in abandoned apartments, robbing homes, expropriating private vehicles, taking in people for interrogation by force and even executions). With such behavior he created the atmosphere of fear prevalent among the Croatian and Serb population, which resulted in mass fleeing from the city, complete obstruction of the operation of police, ZNG, administrative organs and led to total confusion. When he went beyond all acceptable limits, Tomislav Mercep was spontaneously ousted from the post of the secretary of the Municipal Defense Secretariat, because it was obvious that he was heading to an overall catastrophe. At the intervention of Mr. Manolic, Tomislav Mercep was withdrawn to Zagreb, allegedly to a post of the deputy minister of interior, which was officially reported by the media. His departure led to quite a confusion and vacuum which we tried to resolve by setting up an emergency headquarters and appointing persons to relevant functions and delimiting the competencies of ZNG, police, civil organs of government and parties. When that started to function new complications arose from the appointment of incompetent persons from Zagreb. Thus, they dismissed ZNG commander Stipan Radal, professional and competent man, who inspires confidence and who is backed by the commissioner of the Government of the Republic of Croatia in Vukovar Municipality, Emergency Headquarters in Vukovar and who was recommended by the commander of the 3rd brigade lieutenant colonel Vukovac, commissioner of the Emergency Headquarters for Slavonia and Baranya Franjo Pejic and coordinator for Slavonia and Baranya Mr. Seks. Zagreb instead appointed Mr. Arbanas, and Blago Zadro as his deputy, though both men are without any qualifications and professional knowledge in this field. This dismissal and appointments were made without any explanation at the explicit order of minister Bebic. At the proposal of the Emergency Headquarters, the commissioner of the Government of the Republic of Croatia for Vukovar Municipality appointed professor Danijel Rehak as acting secretary of the Municipal Defense Secretariat, believing that he would discharge this duty in a professional manner. Suddenly came the decision on the appointment of Josip Gazo, Mercep's deputy, who has neither professional nor other qualities (he has secondary education and has not served the military service). Due to such disorderly and confusing situation in Vukovar we ask for your intervention, because Vukovar Municipality is an extremely critical area where major armed conflict may break out any time, while the city is almost surrounded. The mentioned persons continue the policy pursued formerly by Tomislav Mercep and the city is again faced with terror, armed conflicts and provocative shooting which may cause unforeseeable consequences. Josip Gazo’s appointment blocked again the functioning of ZNG, police and government organs. The policy pursued so far created the atmosphere of overpowering fear among the Croatian and Serb population. The entire Croatian population does not justify such actions and feel despised, discredited and no longer want to be held responsible for such a policy. Since we think that we cannot resolve the situation with local forces, we ask you to urgently assign competent persons who will assist legal institutions of authority to bring the situation back to normal as soon as possible.
cc. Commissioner
I. SDP Mr. I. Racan
2. HNS Mrs. Savka D. Kucar
3. HSLS Mr. D. Budisa
4. HDS Mr. M. Veselica
of the Republic of Croatia
in Vukovar Municipality
Marin Vidic - Bili
(signed, sealed)
http://www.balkan-archive.org.yu/politics/war_crimes/vukovar/index.html
FORCES AGAINST SERBIAN CIVIL POPULATION IN CROATIA
1991 - 1996
INSTEAD OF AN INTRODUCTION
In a letter dated 18 August 1991 Marin VIDIC - "Bili", Croatian government commissioner, writes to Franjo TUDJMAN, president of the Republic of Croatia, about the terror which Tomislav MERCEP and his associates imposed in Vukovar, and which resulted in the creation of atmosphere of fear and mass fleeing of population from the city.
REPUBLIC OF CROATIA .
CONFIDENTIAL
VUKOVAR MUNICIPALITY
Commissioner of the Government of the
Republic of Croatia in Vukovar Municipality
Class: 814-01/91-01/01
Adm. No. 2196-01-91-5
Vukovar, 18 August 1991
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA
PRIME MINISTER OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA
MINISTER OF THE DEFENSE MINISTRY
MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR MINISTRY
ZAGREB
Reference: Political and security situation
in Vukovar Municipality
- report
Appointment of Tomislav Mercep for the secretary of the Municipal (National Defense) Secretariat in Vukovar resulted in usurpation of authority and concentration of offices in the same person who is the president of HDZ and actual commander of the National Guard Corps (ZNG), police and civilian organs of authority. Surrounded by persons with doubtful moral and control over absolutely everything in Vukovar Municipality, not hesitating to use violent and repressive measures against the citizens of Vukovar Municipality (unauthorized breaking into private homes, giving verbal and written instructions to homeless persons to settle in abandoned apartments, robbing homes, expropriating private vehicles, taking in people for interrogation by force and even executions). With such behavior he created the atmosphere of fear prevalent among the Croatian and Serb population, which resulted in mass fleeing from the city, complete obstruction of the operation of police, ZNG, administrative organs and led to total confusion. When he went beyond all acceptable limits, Tomislav Mercep was spontaneously ousted from the post of the secretary of the Municipal Defense Secretariat, because it was obvious that he was heading to an overall catastrophe. At the intervention of Mr. Manolic, Tomislav Mercep was withdrawn to Zagreb, allegedly to a post of the deputy minister of interior, which was officially reported by the media. His departure led to quite a confusion and vacuum which we tried to resolve by setting up an emergency headquarters and appointing persons to relevant functions and delimiting the competencies of ZNG, police, civil organs of government and parties. When that started to function new complications arose from the appointment of incompetent persons from Zagreb. Thus, they dismissed ZNG commander Stipan Radal, professional and competent man, who inspires confidence and who is backed by the commissioner of the Government of the Republic of Croatia in Vukovar Municipality, Emergency Headquarters in Vukovar and who was recommended by the commander of the 3rd brigade lieutenant colonel Vukovac, commissioner of the Emergency Headquarters for Slavonia and Baranya Franjo Pejic and coordinator for Slavonia and Baranya Mr. Seks. Zagreb instead appointed Mr. Arbanas, and Blago Zadro as his deputy, though both men are without any qualifications and professional knowledge in this field. This dismissal and appointments were made without any explanation at the explicit order of minister Bebic. At the proposal of the Emergency Headquarters, the commissioner of the Government of the Republic of Croatia for Vukovar Municipality appointed professor Danijel Rehak as acting secretary of the Municipal Defense Secretariat, believing that he would discharge this duty in a professional manner. Suddenly came the decision on the appointment of Josip Gazo, Mercep's deputy, who has neither professional nor other qualities (he has secondary education and has not served the military service). Due to such disorderly and confusing situation in Vukovar we ask for your intervention, because Vukovar Municipality is an extremely critical area where major armed conflict may break out any time, while the city is almost surrounded. The mentioned persons continue the policy pursued formerly by Tomislav Mercep and the city is again faced with terror, armed conflicts and provocative shooting which may cause unforeseeable consequences. Josip Gazo’s appointment blocked again the functioning of ZNG, police and government organs. The policy pursued so far created the atmosphere of overpowering fear among the Croatian and Serb population. The entire Croatian population does not justify such actions and feel despised, discredited and no longer want to be held responsible for such a policy. Since we think that we cannot resolve the situation with local forces, we ask you to urgently assign competent persons who will assist legal institutions of authority to bring the situation back to normal as soon as possible.
cc. Commissioner
I. SDP Mr. I. Racan
2. HNS Mrs. Savka D. Kucar
3. HSLS Mr. D. Budisa
4. HDS Mr. M. Veselica
of the Republic of Croatia
in Vukovar Municipality
Marin Vidic - Bili
(signed, sealed)
http://www.balkan-archive.org.yu/politics/war_crimes/vukovar/index.html