Posted on 04/06/2006 6:05:17 AM PDT by Banat
BELGRADE, 5 April - The Serbian State Prosecution Office for War Crimes has announced it will charge the Slovene nationals who murdered three Yugoslav National Army's (JNA) conscripts in 1991 with war crimes. The execution of the three soldiers is considered the first war crime in Former Yugoslavia. The murders took place at the Holmec border crossing, and were filmed by the Austrian ORF.
Just a few weeks ago the state prosecutor in the Slovene capital Ljubljana brought charges against Mrs. Neka Miklavcic-Predan, the director of the Slovene chapter of the Helsinki Human Rights Group,for publicly referring to the murders as a war crime - which is what prompted Belgrade to begin the process.
The Belgrade daily "Blic" writes that the Slovene Special Prosecutor has looked into the triple murder case, and reportedly knows who was responsible but has taken no further steps. It appears that the Prosecutor's Office has no desire to pursue the case. The Serbian State Prosecutor had earlier asked Mrs. Miklavcic-Predan for the ORF tape, which she then sent through the Slovene embassy in Belgrade.
The tape shows the three conscripts with their hands in the air and one of them holding a white cloth. Moments later the Slovene militia is seen shooting and killing the three. "Blic" reports that the ORF cameraman who filmed the war crime might be called to Belgrade as a prosecution witness.
Not surprising this happened in 1991 and the US media hadn't even been able to find Slovenia on a map at that time. Moreover, while I am sure the TV media would have glommed on to a dramatic visual such is this it seems to have just been covered by Austrian provincial TV.
Agreed. But the actual trial is a 'fresh' case and is a chance to revisit and re-examine the issue of war crimes in Slovenia. I am not expecting much, but the families of the executed boys (and they were boys) need and deserve justice. Slovenia got off scot free and there's a lot to answer for.
Case closed as far as Slovenia is concerned | 10:56 April 07 | B92
The video footage (B92)
LJUBLJANA -- The Slovenian State Prosecutor’s Office has denied the accusations coming from Serbia that war crimes were committed during conflicts near Holmec in 1991.
State Prosecutor Barbara Brezigar, said that her office confirmed back in 1991 that there were no suspicions of crimes committed at Holmec back in 1991, adding that a group of special prosecutors confirmed the same thing after an investigation in 1999.
The Holmec case is considered closed in Slovenia, or rather, it would be if the President of the Helsinki Monitor in Slovenia, Neva Miklavcic-Predan had not been charged for slander. A court process began two months ago against Miklavcic-Predan, who was accused of slander after she stated at a press conference in 2004 that there is documented video footage of war crimes committed at Holmec which Austrian TV ORF has in its possession.
During the opening statements of the trial, the Slovenian state prosecutor said that Miklavcic-Predan gave false statements that were damaging to the image and honour of the Slovenian military and police, naming 26 Slovenian war veterans who believe that they were slandered by her comments. Miklavcic-Predan said that this is a political process being taken care of in a verbal manner.
Miklavcic-Predan then told reporters that the report on Holmec which the Helsinki Monitor of Slovenia sent to The Hague, later resulted in a slew of uncomfortable questions asked to then Slovenian President Milan Kucan during Slobodan Milosevic’s court proceedings. Immediately afterwards the Holmec Council was created and charges were filed against Miklavcic-Predan, who said that there was no investigation prior to the charges being presses, nor proof, which is why she stated that this is more of a political process than a legal one.
Miklavcic-Predan said that since then, the Slovenian Government has put a block on the work of the Helsinki Monitor, which includes the exclusion of any reports regard the case being led against her.
Yesterday, the Serbian Prosecutor’s Office announced that an investigation into the Holmec incident was being reopened.
B92 was able to obtain a copy of the video footage of the Austrian television station in which the murder of three soldiers of the Yugoslav National Army is clearly seen. Those responsible for the murders were never held responsible, and the only related court process is the one being led against Miklavcic-Predan for slander.
The video shows three YNA soldiers, Zoran Jesic, Goran Maletic and Antonije Simonjic, who were shot and killed by members of the Slovenian Territorial Defence after clearly raising both their hands and white flags in surrender.
Thanks. They also have a copy of the video on the site. Have you seen it?
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