MITROVIĆ: VERDICT IN ČALUŠIĆ CASE - BLOW TO JUSTICE FOR SERB VICTIMS

BRČKO, JUNE 17 /SRNA/ – Milorad Mitrović, President of the Assembly of the Association of Camp Inmates' Organizations of Republika Srpska, told SRNA that the acquittal of Jure Čalušić for crimes committed against Serbs in Odžak is shameful, unacceptable and represents a continuation of the legalization of crimes against the Serb people.

Mitrović said the judiciary had once again demonstrated complete blindness when it comes to Serb victims and that surviving former detainees are once again facing injustice from those who are supposed to administer justice.

According to him, the court's explanation that testimony from the victims themselves, who survived severe abuse in detention camps, was insufficient evidence for a conviction is incomprehensible and offensive.

Mitrović warned that such judicial practice effectively absolves perpetrators while sending a message to surviving detainees that their suffering, beatings with wooden clubs and rifle butts, and years spent living in fear mean nothing in the eyes of the court.

He said that the Association of Camp Inmates' Organizations will not abandon its efforts to establish the truth and expects the prosecuting authority to file an appeal without delay so that the ruling can be overturned by a higher court.

The Cantonal Court in Odžak issued a first-instance acquittal to former HVO member Jure Čalušić, who had been charged with beating detained Serb civilians in May 1992 at Gornji Svilaj, the Strolit factory, and the elementary school in Odžak.