Who does SOA blog?!

�

Now that I have seen what the CNN blog released, I have gone through the blog more carefully and come across some other, allegedly �Agency�s� posts:

-�eljko, what kind of intelligence underground are you talking about? When you write all sorts of nonsense and misinformation, then it is called �professional� journalism. When someone is critical and asks you for anything concerning your work as a journalist, then you say how that is exclusively to the order and in the production of �the intelligence underground�. Didn�t Franjo Turek use the same terminology? Didn�t he name certain Croatian journalists �intelligence underground�?� It seems that you have yet another point of reference.�

As far as my assertion (indicating you and (let me use your jargon) Daddy Manolić operating together) is concerned, it seems you haven�t overworked yourself to deny that. The fact is you can�t deny it because one just has to read your texts and comments.

�

Now that you have forced me to speak, I will point to one more specualtion that is being talked about in Gospić and Rijeka. The story says that, at some time, you used to inform some unsavory characters on late Levar�s movement (the same Levar you feel so protective about now and about whom you have already written ��War and peace�� on your Internet pages). Naturally, you will say again that it is a classic example of ��intelligence undergorund�� set-up (30/1/2007�; 21:20)

- for Kre�o Bilan: If you agree with “�eljko�s information”, then why haven�t you brought charges�especially since, as you have indicated yourself, the mechanisms of the rule of law don�t function�? As far as my anonymity is concerned, it is my discretional right. If writers can publish books using false names and pen names, then we can contribute our comments in the same way.� 31/1/2007, (14:17)
…
“aleluja” in comments on post “Spies rushed on to blog” on 45 lines

I have been repeatedly warning the public and authorities that the SOA director Tomislav Karamarko was obstructing Milan Levar�s murder investigation. Then, in order to turn attention from the topic, the �Agency� accused me of �snitching� Levar to �unsavory characters�. What is it: protection of national interests or protection of killers?!

-Peratović, or I should call you AGENT “PUNI�A” (the spy name Turek gave you), how much does your integrity cost? Is it HRK1, 000 a month plus bonus per every �quality� information? Still, the price is irrelevant- what matters is integrity.

Tell me, will you be able to look ĐURĐA ADLE�IĆ square in the eye since you told Turek that her lover was SIS member Josip Trogrlić. Moreover, you said that she was so much in love with him that she told him the most confidential information she knew as (then) the chief of the parliamentary Board for national security?

Greetings to aleluja, he is on a good track, let him just keep digging on hypocrite �eljko Peratović!

“Kri�ar”, 1/2/2007, 08:08, in comment on post “Soa case of Nenada Vukman, member of the Council for the civil supervision of secret services”

Hm, you should remember what Mesić-Karamarko�s �Nacional� published after my arrest:

BLOGGER PUNI�A BROUGHT IN FOR QUESTIONING

�eljko Peratović started and ended his journalist�s career in Vjesnik. He also wrote for a number of newspapers, including Nacional where he worked shortly. Some secret services considered him their associate while his code name in POA records was ‘Puni�a’

Berislav Jelinić, Nacional, 22/10/007.

Who briefed “Nacional” on how to discredit me? Was it the Agency or Berislav Jelinić, a journalist, who came across this information while surfing the Internet and believed it to be true although it came from �an anonymous commentator?

Those were the attempts to discredit me followed by “lujka“�s provocative comment:

@45.- here is the precise information. Josip Buljević has been touring South America for 2 weeks now. He spent most of the time in the Croatian Embassy in Buenos Aires where the scandal, similar to the one in Portugal, broke. The Embassy�s employees have reported how Buljević introduced the reign of terror, verbally abused them, and even suggested the polygraph testing for the ambassador’s bodyguard. At the same time, he was frequently seen dining with Rojnica�s closest relatives and friends!

“lujka”, 29/04/2007, (16:46), comment on post “Tomislav Karamarko and Tihomir Oresković

- for comment: read H.L. from the first half of the last year (Perković is on the front cover). The article is under the headline “I didn�t order immigrants� killings”, signed by Tomislav Dr�ić. The attempt was to grant amnesty to-free Perković from any responsibility for mass killings of Croats that took place abroad. Those killings were planned and helped by the State security service which was, for many years, run by the above mentioned Josip Perković.
This article is interesting for the reason that it was signed by Tomislav Dr�ić who was Perković�s associate in Zagreb..
��eljko has also mentioned Maks Manfreda, UDBA member, who testified in the court when Sindičić was tried for murdering Bruno Bu�ić. However, he didn�t mention professor of TIPSS and Marxism, a former police officer, who used to fuss about Bruno and send reports on him to the Split UDBA. What a coincidence! He also writes for H.L. that ran the article with the reconstruction of associates� net from the �professional�s� (J.P.�s) memory. Do you know whose name was deleted from that associates� list in H.L.? The name of Ante Ivković from “Vjesnik”, Marijačić�s journalist�s mentor and protector, who was also SDS and KOS associate. �

�

As far as Ivan Bandić is concerned, you should look into who is behind him, who gave him the permission for an interview in Globus one year ago (here I don�t refer to J.P.). Those people, more than anyone, are against any kind of lustration.

“lujka”, 11/04/2007,21:37, comment on post “Mark Cigoj defending Ivan Bandić

To sum up, they wanted to discredit me by �ingratiating themselves with me� and denouncing colleagues from “Hrvatski list”, about whom, except Tomislav Jelić, I don�t have some positive opinion.
With regards to these provocative acts, I hove come into possession of some other evidence which I will not disclose for the time being.

As far as “Antimon”, reported by CNN to be one of �Agency�s� nicks, is concerned, I couldn�t find his posts. However, I presume that we are probably talking about hate speech aimed at Bosniaks (mentioning terms such as “balija” and “bastards”, disparaging Karamarko�s wife� Enisa�s family and insulting �eljko Malnar, co-founder of Karamarko�s company �“Soboli” etc.), in comments on post �“Bosniaks� quota in SOA”. I deleted those comments after being warned by Nemanja alias Kapetan Kuka that, in the name of �freedom of speech�, I mustn�t allow �hate speech� �

I think that Ostojić�s parliamentary board and its Council will be rather busy. Here�s to them! If these posts turn out to be, and they can be checked by tracing logs, �Agency�s� posts, then those are the offences for which SOA chief, Tomislav Karamarko, as well as the general state attorney Mladen Bajić, who allegedly approved of such �activities�, will have to be accountable for.
They will not pass Euro-Atlantic integrations� “lustration” and that is why I am the obstacle � or State enemy no. 1 – in �approaching� the integrations.

��

45 lines, 5 March 2008, Wednesday

Harassment of Croatian reporter raises concernsEuropean Diary: The men in leather jackets came at 7am in the morning with pistols strapped to their backs. They confiscated four computers, a mobile phone, contact books and hundreds of documents belonging to the Croatian investigative journalist Zeljko Peratovic, writes Jamie Smyth

“They told my four-year-old daughter and my wife not to move and took everything from 15 years of investigative work – documents, cassettes and CDs,” says Peratovic, who spent the night in prison before being released earlier this month. Peratovic was detained on suspicion of disclosing state secrets on his internet blog, in a move demanded by both the head of the secret service and the office of the public prosecutor. His detention, which has taken place ahead of a general election scheduled for November 25th, has prompted public concerns over press freedom in Croatia, a country that wants to join the EU in 2009. The international journalist association Reporters Without Borders strongly condemned the arrest, which it said related to posts on the reporter’s blog.

Peratovic, who received a press freedom prize from the Austrian section of Reporters Without Borders in 2003, is best known for his reporting on the death of Milan Levar, a witness for the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. Levar was killed by a car bomb in 2000 in Gospic, a town in southwest Croatia. Since then Peratovic has struggled to persuade mainstream newspapers in Croatia to accept his articles. He also alleges regular harassment by the Croatian secret service. “I think they arrested me for revenge and to try and find out who my informants are in the state services and the media,” Peratovic told The Irish Times. “The secret service has been bugging my phone, opening letters and following me because of my work, which has revealed links between top politicians and crimes in the 1990s.”

The reaction to the arrest from the public and from journalism associations has prompted Croatian prime minister Ivo Sanader to order an inquiry into the affair. It has also raised fears that Croatia’s past could re-emerge to damage its EU prospects. State harassment of journalists was common during the 1990s when Croatia was ruled with an iron grip by authoritarian president Franjo Tudjman. But in recent years the government led by Sanader has implemented several legislative reforms meant to guarantee freedom of the press. Indeed, last December the Organisation for Security and Co-operation (OSCE) in Europe ruled that enough progress had been made to enable it to conclude its work on press freedom.

“Political, but also commercial pressure on media will probably continue in Croatia, yet the mission believes that media institutions and the civil society sector have reached the point where they can assume the watchdog and advisory role,” says the OSCE’s Ljerka Drazenovic. “The fact that reactions from the media, media associations and civil society circles were so prompt and loud [ about Peratovic], tell that public awareness of protecting this democratic value is high. It is per se a good sign, indicating the achieved level of media freedom in Croatia will be preserved.” Under OSCE standards journalists should not be responsible for protecting state secrets or held accountable for publishing classified information. Only the officials who have a specific legal duty to maintain confidentiality may be held liable if they allow disclosures, says Drazenovic.

Just one important law on press freedom remains to be put in place in Croatia – legislation on the state Croatian Radio and Television network. This was put on hold until after the election because of political sensitivities. The government also needs to follow through on plans to set up a media council, says the OSCE. But new laws do not always change practice, and state control over some media is a real issue, says Ivan Butkovic, of the Croatian Association of Radio and Newspapers.

“Big media firms can resist political and commercial pressure, but at a local level there are issues in Croatia. For example 60 per cent of local radio stations are owned by local authorities. This means local politicians wield great influence,” he says. Josip Kregar, dean of the faculty of law at the University of Zagreb, agrees that control over local radio either by local politicians or entrepreneurs often gives them huge sway in local communities. He also highlights the growing commercial pressure on the media exerted by big companies, which can use advertising to control it. But he says the controversy over the arrest of Peratovic probably reflects problems with the Croatian secret service rather than political influence over the media. “There is freedom of the press in Croatia, but the secret service is not yet fully under political control,” says Kregar. “It is not one case with a journalist, but it is about a conspiracy network behind the secret service.” He points out that political oversight of the secret service will be critical when the EU comes to judge Croatia’s readiness to join. Peratovic, who is pledging to continue working as an investigate reporter in Croatia, gives his own assessment of Croatia’s readiness to join the 27-member club.

“With things like this happening to journalists how can we join the EU?” he asks.

The Irish Times, Dublin, Tuesday, October 30, 2007

18.10.07: Kroatien ROG-Preistr�ger Zeljko Peratovic in Kroatien verhaftet

Investigativer Journalist wird der �Preisgabe von Staatsgeheimnissen� beschuldigt

Reporter ohne Grenzen �sterreich ist in gro�er Sorge um den kroatischen Journalisten Zeljko Peratovic, der gestern Abend in Kroatien verhaftet wurde. Peratovic wurde 2003 f�r seinen investigativen Beitrag zur Aufarbeitung der kroatischen Kriegsverbrechen von ROG �sterreich mit dem �Press Freedom Award� ausgezeichnet.

Wie Peratovics Ehefrau ROG mitteilte, kam es gestern fr�h zun�chst zu einer siebenst�ndigen Hausdurchsuchung, bei der auch drei Laptops, ein PC und schriftliche Unterlagen des Journalisten beschlagnahmt wurden. Peratovic wird vorgeworfen, in seinem Blog Staatsgeheimnisse preisgegeben zu haben.

Konkret soll es um einen Eintrag gehen, in dem auf eine f�r heute Abend (18.10., 20:10 h) geplante Sendung des kroatischen Staatsfernsehens namens “Brisani Prostor” hingewiesen wird. In der Sendung soll ein Interview mit Fatima Skula gezeigt werden, die als Zeugin des Internationalen Kriegsverbechertribunals in Den Haag �ber Kriegsverbrechen an Serben in der norddalmatischen Kleinstadtz Gospic berichtet hatte. Peratovic schreibt in seinem Eintrag: �Diese Sendung enth�lt authentische Aussagen �ber die Ereignisse in Gospic. Hauptverd�chtige sind der verstorbene Verteidigungsminister Gojko Susak und der der HDZ-Sopitzenkandidat f�r die kroatischen Parlamentswahlen am 25. November, Ex-Vizepr�sident Darko Milinovic (HDZ).

Was von dem gesamten Gespr�ch auch ausgestrahlt wird, werden wir am Donnerstag Abend wissen.� Nach der Durchsuchung wurde Peratovic auf die Polizeiwache mitgenommen, wo er sechs Stunden lang in einem �informellen Gespr�ch� befragt wurde. Der Journalist wartet nun auf die Einvernahme durch den Staatsanwalt, der entscheidet, ob Peratovic bis zu einem m�glichen Gerichtsverfahren weiter in U-Haft bleiben muss. Die H�chststrafe f�r den Verrat von Staatsgeheimnissen betr�gt drei Jahre Haft. Der 1966 geborene Journalist hatte bereits in den 90er-Jahren in den Wochenzeitungen Nacional und Globus �ber die Kriegsverbrechen in Gospic berichtet – zu einer Zeit, als 80 % der Kroaten der Meinung waren, dass die �eigene Seite� keinerlei Kriegsverbrechen begangen h�tte.

Peratovic war auch selbst Zeuge des Internationalen Kriegsverbrechertribunals f�r das ehemalige Jugoslawien. Einer seiner Informanten, ein Augenzeuge der Verbrechen und ebenfalls Zeuge des Tribunals, wurde sp�ter ermordet. Peratovic wurde wegen seiner Artikel immer wieder des �nationalen Verrats� bezichtigt. 2003 wurde er von Extremisten bedroht und bel�stigt, einmal wurde er auf offener Stra�e von einem nicht verurteilten Kriegsverbrecher k�rperlich attackiert. Seine Frau und seine kleine Tochter zogen daraufhin aus Sicherheitsgr�nden in die Schweiz. Von seinem Arbeitgeber, der kroatischen Zeitung Vjesnik, wurde Peratovic im August 2005 fristlos entlassen. Offiziell wurde dieser Schritt damit begr�ndet, dass er ein Interview f�r die Wochenzeitschrift Feral Tribune gemacht und ver�ffentlicht hatte, wozu er seinem Vertrag gem�� nicht berechtigt war.

Peratovic zog daraufhin zu seiner Familie in die Schweiz. Zu der gestrigen Verhaftung kam es im Zuge einer Kroatien-Reise der Familie. Peratovic hatte sich schon im Dezember 2006 an Reporter ohne Grenzen gewandt und dargelegt, dass er sich durch den kroatischen Geheimdienst verfolgt f�hle und guten Grund zur Annahme habe, dass sein Telefon abgeh�rt werde. Erst am 8. Oktober hatte er erneut in seinem Blog gepostet, dass er j�ngsten Informationen zufolge wieder verst�rkt durch den kroatischen Geheimdienst �berwacht wird.

ROG, Presse / Aktuelle News

Giornalismo croato ancora sotto attacco

Il recente arresto del giornalista Zeljko Peratovic, sospettato di aver scoperto presunti segreti di stato poi pubblicati sul suo blog, ha riportato all�attenzione la libertŕ di stampa in Croazia.

Dura la reazione dell�Ordine dei giornalisti croati In Croazia l�arresto del giornalista indipendente Zeljko Peratovic, sospettato di aver scoperto presunti segreti di stato poi pubblicati sul suo blog, ha scatenato ormai da giorni una bufera che non accenna a placarsi. Questo �avvenimento inammissibile� � tale e stato definito l�arresto del giornalista dal Comitato di Helsinki croato per i diritti umani nella dichiarazione pubblica del 23 ottobre – ha di nuovo messo in primo piano la questione della libertŕ dei media croati, che fino alla fine del 1999, durante il governo dell�ex presidente croato Franjo Tudjman, � sempre stata sotto seria minaccia.

Peratovic, ex giornalista del settimanale politico �Globus� e poi del quotidiano �Vjesnik�, oggi giornale filo-governativo, � stato arrestato mercoledě scorso, dopo che la polizia con mandato di perquisizione del suo appartamento gli ha chiesto la consegna dei computer, dei cd e dell�archivio. Nel pomeriggio dello stesso giorno, la polizia ha fatto irruzione anche nei locali di TV Nova, una delle tre televisioni croate con la licenza nazionale, chiedendo che i tecnici dei computer cancellassero dal blog di Peratovic i due contenuti in questione. Questo perch� TV Nova � proprietaria del server sul quale Peratovic aveva il suo blog. Quando giovedě scorso, dopo l�interrogatorio, la polizia lo ha rilasciato, Peratovic ha dichiarato che non gli � chiaro di quali presunti segreti statali si tratti. Uno dei documentati pubblicati sul suo blog �45 lines� si riferiva al pedinamento della polizia, di cui � stato oggetto insieme ad altri cinque giornalisti a causa dei testi su Ante Gotovina, il generale accusato dall�Aja per crimini di guerra e al tempo latitante. Gli altri due documenti sui contatti dei servizi segreti britannici con i servizi segreti croati non ha fatto che prenderli dai testi giŕ pubblicati dal settimanale �Nacional� e dal Hrvatski list. �Questi documenti sono stati pubblicati sui giornali e io li ho soltanto presi e pubblicati sul mio blog�, ha detto Peratovic.

Peratovic si occupava d�indagini scottanti, � il giornalista che ha scritto in modo piů dettagliato su Milan Levar, il testimone dell�Aja assassinato nel 2000. Levar aveva detto ai media quello che sapeva sul conto del generale Mirko Norac (sotto processo a Zagabria insieme al generale Rahim Ademi per crimini di guerra commessi nell�operazione Sacca di Medak) coinvolto nei crimini di Gospic, per i quali e stato condannato a 12 anni di carcere dal Tribunale distrettuale di Rijeka. Levar � stato ucciso in modo misterioso da una bomba davanti alla sua casa di Gospic � il suo assassino non � mai stato identificato.

Peratovic si � occupato anche dei temi della criminalita organizzata e spesso era in contatto anche con informatori del sottobosco croato. Temi dei suoi articoli sono stati il presidente Stjepan Mesic, il premier Ivo Sanader e il capo dei servizi segreti croati Tomislav Karamarko

Peratovic di recente ha pubblicato sul suo blog anche la testimonianza di una tale Fatima Skula che accusa pesantemente il vicepresidente del Parlamento croato Darko Milinovic (membro del partito di governo del premier Sanader, Unione democratica croata, HDZ) perch� coinvolto nei crimini di guerra di Gospic.

L�arresto di Peratovic � presto diventato oggetto della campagna elettorale che, a fronte delle elezioni parlamentari in Croazia, fissate per il 25 novembre, si � giŕ infiammata alla grande. Dal Partito socialdemocratico (SDP) all�opposizione, che i sondaggi prevedono vincitore delle prossime elezioni, � giunta la seguente dichiarazione: �Di nuovo gli organi giudiziari, come alla fine degli anni novanta, si sono gettati contro i giornalisti invece di indirizzare la loro attivitŕ verso quelli che dall�interno degli organi statali consegnano i dati classificati ai giornalisti�. �Il mio punto di vista � noto e lo ripeterň di nuovo: io sono per una totale libertŕ dei media e, per quanto riguarda me e il mio governo, non possono esserci restrizioni di alcun tipo. Ovviamente la libertŕ dei media e la libertŕ in generale includono anche la responsabilitŕ di ciň che viene detto e scritto. Nessuno puň prescindere da questa responsabilitŕ, n� i politici, n� i giornalisti, n� nessuno altro, ma io sto sempre dalla parte dei giornalisti�, ha detto Sanader promettendo un�indagine con la quale si accerterŕ in che modo si e giunti all�arresto del giornalista. �Lui [Sanader] e per la liberta dei media ma ama arrestare i giornalisti e a questi arresti e al maltrattamento partecipa anche il ministero diretto dal suo ministro (degli Affari Interni, Ivica Kirin)�, ha replicato a Sanader il capo del SDP, Zoran Milanovic. L�Ordine dei giornalisti croati ha reagito in modo severo all�arresto del loro membro, valutando questo gesto come �un drastico esempio di minaccia alle libertŕ giornalistiche in Croazia e come un�immemorabile pressione contro la liberta dei media e dei giornalisti�. Se sono stati minacciati dei segreti di stato, allora gli inquirenti dovrebbero occuparsi delle persone che passano i segreti e non dei giornalisti che li pubblicano�, fa sapere l�Ordine dei giornalisti croati.

L�editorialista dello �Jutarnji list� di Zagabria, Davor Butkovic afferma che l�arresto di Peratovic sia stato �un errore madornale� e aggiunge che una cosa del genere non accadeva nemmeno al tempo del presidente Franjo Tudjman, noto per il suo modo autoritario di governare e per il suo continuo conflitto con i giornalisti. �Lo Stato non deve arrestare i giornalisti a causa della loro attivita professionale, dunque nemmeno per la pubblicazione dei segreti di stato�, dice Butkovic.

Secondo il comunicato di Freedom House, che valuta lo stato di liberta dei media nel mondo, la Croazia l�anno scorso era al 87-imo posto insieme al Brasile, Timor Est e il Perů. Gli analisti avvertono che l�arresto dei giornalisti, come nel caso di Zeljko Peratovic, non contribuira di certo al miglioramento della gia bassa valutazione della Croazia ottenuta quest�anno.

Osservatorio Balcani, Da Osijek, scrive Drago Hedl, 25.10.2007<

Globus, 20 November 1998 (in Croatian, PDF version)

Son of Federal Republic of Yugoslavia President Slobodan Milosevic, Marko Milosevic, Causes DM10 Billion Damage to the European Union Every Year With the Smuggling of Cigarettes to Sweden!

Report by Zeljko Peratovic

The peaceful Swedish public was disturbed on 4 November 1998 by a documentary entitled “The Cigarette War” broadcast on the second channel of the state television. This film, made by two Swedish journalists, Anita Jekander and Tonci Percan, who originate from Istra, Croatia, reveals the relations between Serb gangsters from Sweden and the family of FRY President Slobodan Milosevic, more precisely, with his son Marko Milosevic.

The documentary explains in detail why several Mafia-style murders took place in the Swedish capital this year when something like that was unimaginable in this safe country.

It reveals the background to the cigarette smuggling in Sweden, but also in thewhole European Union, which thus suffers damageto the tune of 10 billion German marks (DM) every year.

Witnesses from Belgrade, a group of economists gathered around the G-17 independent association, and the politician Zoran Djindjic explain that most of that black marketeering goes through a Yugoslav company whose management board is chaired by Marko Milosevic, and that the whole profits from the business, apart from a small share that goes to the Mafia, is used to finance the Yugoslav police and the war in Kosovo.�������������������������������������������������������������������������� Tonci Percan in his studio in Stockholm

Many journalists from the Swedish state television documentary told the Globus journalist that the Yugoslav Ambassador in Stockholm had assessed the film as anti-Serb propaganda ordered by Croats. He was especially worried that the Milosevic family was implicated in the story. Our colleagues in Sweden were extremely surprised that it was the only thing that worried the Yugoslav Ambassador, whereas he was not worried that his countrymen had died in the streets of Stockholm and that their murders were ordered from his country, which was declared the country with the worst Mafia, worse even than the Russian Federation.

The Beginning of Bloody Showdowns

Recently, the Globus journalist visited Tonci Percan, co-author of the film, and talked to him in his office about his work.

It is interesting that “The Cigarette War” incorporated television footage from 1981 showing demonstrations by Swedish Croats calling for the release of Franjo Tudjman and Marko Veselica, who were in a Yugoslav prison at the time. The counter-demonstrations of Serbs who gathered in front of the Yugoslav Embassy in Stockholm were also filmed. They were headed by a Mafioso, Dragan Joksovic Joksa. His murder in February 1998 was the first in a sequence of Mafia showdowns in public places in Sweden.

In the aforementioned footage, Joksa showed his backside to the Croat demonstrators, and the narrator in the documentary explained that the small criminal who had been sent abroad by UDBA [State Security Agency] to perform dirty work against Croat immigrants had thereby gained significant sympathy in Belgrade, and he soon became a media star in Sweden: he appeared in several video spots with famous Swedish pop singers.

All this and the fact that Tonci Percan, apart from his Swedish one, also has a Croatian passport must have influenced the Yugoslav Ambassador in Stockholm to declare “The Cigarette War” documentary to be “Ustasha propaganda.”

Tonci Percan says that the fact he is a Croat did not influence the film in the least. The film, the author claims, is completely Swedish. “The Cigarette War” received favorable criticism in Swedish newspapers, which emphasized that it was commendable for “Swedish television to be able to boast such a research project, equal to a BBC production.”

“My colleague Anita Jekander and I are freelance journalists. Last year, we made a report on cigarette smuggling for Swedish television news. In February this year, when Dragan Joksovic Joksa was murdered at the Hippodrome, Swedish television contracted us about making a research film on the Serb underworld. The national television company invested about 200,000 German marks in the production of our work, and I think it will be commercial. The film has already been sold in Finland, negotiations with Danish television are underway, and an international version, which should come close to BBC production, is being made.”

Criminals Serving UDBA

Swedish newpapers write that the film truthfully shows the terrifying reality of the underworld, full of crime and murder, which is unknown to the average citizen.

“This film,” says Percan, “has nothing to do with Croatian propaganda, and perhaps as a journalist, I successfully found my way in the story because I covered the wars in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina between 1991 and 1993, and therefore knew southeastern Europe better than the average Swedish journalist.”

The story of “The Cigarette War” begins with a shot of the memorial service held for Dragan Joksovic Joksa in the Serbian Orthodox Church in Stockholm, whereas the next scene shows a local graveyard in Podgorica, where he was buried in a typically Mafia way: with splendor and pomp. The funeral was attended by Zeljko Raznatovic Arkan, Joksa’s friend and the Mafia boss who is assumed to have ordered the retaliation.

Officially, Dragan Joksovic Joksa was murdered by a Finn over an unsettled debt. However, Arkan claimed later that Joksa’s murder was ordered by a certain Dragan Kovic, and he ordered his men to kill him. Kovic was killed while he was having dinner in a Stockholm restaurant last summer.

The Swedish police were so stunned by this act that the perpetrator, himself wounded in the shooting, managed to get to a hospital, where doctors tended to his wound, and leave the hospital before the police arrived.

Explaining how the Serb Mafia in Sweden became so strong, the authors included data on Arkan’s robberies of banks and rich people’s villas at the end of 1970s and on how he left Sweden in 1979. Dragan Joksovic Joksa came from Podgorica that same year and took his place.

Bozidar Spasic, former senior official in the Belgrade UDBA, tells how UDBA used to send criminals such as Joksa and Arkan abroad to harm the Croat and Albanian emigres. If they caused great damage in a particular country, then UDBA would withdraw them or transfer them to another country.

Spasic was the first in the film to say that the Serb Mafia is still connected with the Serbian authorities, doing their dirty work for them, such as the cigarette smuggling in the entire European Union.

Anita Brandin, a Swedish official with the European Union for the prevention of tax crime, presented the data that 76 percent of tax violations in the European Union are due to cigarette smuggling that is “headed by the Yugoslav Mafia” and that the European Union loses DM10 billion each year because of that.

Two Chains of Smuggling

According to Tonci Percan, of all tax violations in Sweden, only 2 percent involve the smuggling of cigarettes. Last year, Swedish police and customs confiscated 22 million cigarettes, of which 16 million came from Yugoslavia or Macedonia, whereby Macedonia is used only as a transit country for the Yugoslav Mafia.

It should be mentioned that the Mafia from Russian and the Baltic countries that are geographically much closer to Sweden cannot compete with the Serb Mafia, because the Serb Mafia, although farther away from its headquarters in Belgrade, places far more goods on the Scandinavian market.

Another particularity about the film “The Cigarette War” is that the authors managed to show the full chain of smuggling. It is revealed that US cigarettes arrive at the port of Antwerp in the Netherlands, where they are not subject to duty because they are meant for a third country, generally Macedonia. The journalists also went to Macedonia and tried to get a statement from the official import company “Macedonia Tabak”, but without success. That company officially resells those cigarettes to Yugoslav companies. The chairman of the management board of one such company is Marko Milosevic. That company exports those goods from the Greek port of Thessalonica, declaring the consignments to contain dried plums, to Sweden and other countries in Western Europe.

The second part of the chain goes through Montenegro to Italy. The journalists accompanied police at the apprehension of a group of smugglers who transported cigarettes from the port of Bar in Montenegro to the port of Bari in Italy.

The head of the anti-Mafia police in Bari explains that Montenegro provides refuge for Mafia members from the south of Italy and that the Italian police arrested the chief of police in Bar, who was staying in Italy at that time, because there was reasonable doubt that he was linked to organized crime.

Carl Bildt, Former Swedish Prime Minister and the High Representative of the European Union in Bosnia-Herzegovina, claims that the sanctions imposed on the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia by the international community helped the development of crime in that country and its spread within the European Union. During his stay in Herzeg Novi, he saw for himself that the loading of cigarettes onto boats and their transport to Italy was a normal job, and that the police were quite indifferent to it.

The cigarettes that go through Italy cover the south of Europe. In Spain alone, 15 percent of the total number of tax violations are due to the smuggling of Serb cigarettes.

The Serb Mafia realizes a huge profit. The cigarettes that they buy from Americans or from the cigarette production company “Prince” in Denmark cost DM1.5 a pack. In Sweden, they are sold for DM10 a pack because, on the legal market, their price is even higher due to the high taxes introduced by the Swedish Government. The same applies in Sweden, where a box of cigarettes costs DM12. In Germany, they are somewhat cheaper, they cost about DM5.

The Belgrade economists gathered around the G-17 association explain that most of that money ends in the secret funds of the Yugoslav Government from which the police and the war in Kosovo are financed.

Serbo-Croatian Mafia Connection

Swedish television made sure Tonci Percan received proper protection after the film was shownd. Several times during our talks – apart from his studio, we talked in a couple of Stockholm restaurants – his mobile phone rang and he explained who he was with and what the journalist he was talking to wanted.

Percan says that the only negative side of his film was, perhaps, that he will not dare go to Yugoslavia for some time to cover the events in Kosovo.

Since the film treats in detail the phenomenon of Yugoslavia as the main smugglers country in Europe, we asked Percan if he would be against showing “The Cigarette War” in Croatia.

“I would not be against it, on the contrary, just let Croatian national television agree with Swedish television on the price,” said Percan.

In our opinion, something is missing from the film. A great opportunity was missed; an opportunity to describe the relations between the Yugoslav Mafia and the Croatian underworld that the Croatian newspapers wrote so much about on the occasion of Zlatko Bagaric’s murder.

The best example of those relations is the smuggling of the Serb cigarettes through Podunavlje, in which, it is suspected, the Croatian authorities, customs, and police are involved. So far, the chain was only cut at the Bajakovo border crossing and in the port of Rijeka. The Serb Mafia cigarettes can be bought at the Zagreb market in Utrina, and cigarettes from Montenegro are sold on the Split market.

According to Globus’ sources, on the Croatian side, certain local politicians from the ruling party are taking part in the black marketeering, as well as some Serb politicians from Podunavlje who are close to the
authorities.
Globus’ journalist in front of restaurant where Dragan Kovic was killed.

When we asked Tonci Percan if he knew anything about it, he just shrugged. From that, we concluded that one should not cause additional problems for the man who is being stalked by the most dangerous Mafia in Europe.

Skoro mi je promaknulo podsjetiti da je u pretpro�lom Globusu, Boris De�ulović upotrijebio informaciju o �upniku iz Gradi�ta, Alojziju Asiću, bez da je naveo izvor.

De�ulović, inače ne prakticira navođenje izvora, ali, kako je riječ o informaciji ekskluzivno obavljenoj na blogu, moram na to ukazati.

O �upniku Asiću pisao sam na:

�upnik u hajci na �upljane, Dolazi nam Sveti Franjo, Krizma u Gradi�tu, Je li ovo mladi popa?

Rasprave su se vodile, osim u selu, samo jo� na -> Oj Gradi�te, selo u dolači….

Josip Perkovic representative of Intelligence agency in Hungary, Ivan Bandic, gave an interview for Globus without consent of his chief Veselko Grubisic

Ivan Bandic, cousin of Zagreb’s mayer, Milan Bandic, whom Haag’s accused Ivica Rajic called out by name for suppressing of crime in Stupni Dol by order of general Milivoj Petkovic, gave bigger interview for this weeks’ Globus denying Rajic’s accusation.

Bandic gave a line till now less known details about crimes which he ascribed to Ivica Rajic, and as his orderers marked Mladen Naletilic Tuta, Dario Kordic and deceased Mate Boban. Expressly he eliminate responsibility for crimes from another two Haag’s accused, retired generals Milivoj Petkovic and Slobodan Praljak.

The interview with Ivan Bandic was made by Gordan Malic, the close one with accused from German APB, Josip Perkovic. That’s why it is not strange that in conversation about war crimes in B&H appeared the question is it truth that Boze Vukusic has kidnapped former Mostar’s leader of UDBA, Ivan Lasic, who is a witness against Josip Perkovic?

Ivan Bandic confirmed that, adding that Vukusic said that he was dealing with such investigations by order of Vice Vukojevic. Interesting, cousin of Zagreb’s mayer also mentioned that Nikola Kristo, who namely has summon on deceased Minister of Defense of Croatia, Gojko Susak, has been dealing with kidnapping of former UDBA men in Herzegovina. That could mean that Josip Perkovic, through Ivan Bandic enters in open war with his former associates, authors of fantastic memorandum of SIS, Nikola Kristo, Antonio Lekic, Ivan Drvis, Miro Laco…
Ivan Bandic mentioned that he didn’t believe in truthfulness of testimony of Lasic against Perkovic, considering that he was kidnapped.

Indicative that Ivan Bandic, who for himself addmits that he by the end of 80’s of last century got a job in II administration (responsible for enemy emigration) of Mostar UDBA, denies information from memoirs of Mate Granic, who wrote that deceased cardinal Franjo Kuharic told him that Mladen Naletilic Tuta was cooperator with Counterintelligence service (KOS) of JNA (Yugoslav National Army). Formerly Senad Avdic in Slobodna Bosna published a document of former Yugoslav federal police by which Mladen Naletilic Tuta was their cooperator, on direct line with at that time Minister of Yugoslav police, Petar Gracanin.

Bandic’s covering of Tuta’s cooperation with Yugoslav secret services (whether with KOS or UDBA) goes in favor to Josip Perkovic, because with that is eliminated possibility that Perkovic as chief of Susak’s military counterintelligence service SIS knew who Tuta was when Tuta came to Croatia from emigration in Germany. With Bandic’s covering is tried to avoid the possibility for public to find out that Veselin Marinov, who came with Tuta from Germany, was double agent: Bulgarian and Yugoslav secret police. Namely, only in that way can be understand why Veselin Marinov, after Tuta was arrested in 1997. in Croatia, accepted to tell everything about crimes which was done by Mladen Naletilic Tuta and members of his of his Convict battalion, including Marinov himself, during the war in B&H, to Perkovic (author of HIS’s operation Baracuda).

Even Jasna Babic concealled those facts in her book Zagreb’s mob, based on Perkovic’s documents from action Barakuda, also in chapter where he said that Marinov as an agent of Bulgarian secret service, namely spied Mladen Naletilic Tuta in Germany. By all informations and indications which I collected, and Mladen Naletilic Tuta and Veselin Marinov were double agents. Marinov � Yugoslav and Bulgarian, Mladen Naletilic Tuta � German and Yugoslav.

To Franjo Tudjman, Gojko Susak and Josip Perkovic suited using such men (who could be blackmailed) in war in B&H. The problem came only when they got out of control, as it could be seen earlier in Tuta’s rampaging across B&H, or rebellion of Stedul’s men against Josip Perkovic.

Jasna Babic who promoted Ivan Bandic in her book �Blaskic Conspiracy� as agent of HIS, who greatly contributed in defense of general Blaskic by spying in Haag workers of prosecution and international court, and in Saturday in Slobodna Dalmacija is written that there would be no evidence that Josip Perkovic was involved in liquidation of Stjepan Djurekovic.

Jasna Babic is led by thesis characteristic for media manipulations which used Anto Nobilo, that lawyers of Krunoslav Prates (by Germans accused that he gave keys of garage to Josip Perkovic in wher Djurekovic was killed) could prove that the killers entered on back door, so that’s why it isn’t important did Perkovic got keys from his associate Prates. Manipulation is in following: Babic admits that Prates was Perkovic’s cooperator, but unfoundedlly claims that she has information about actions of lawyers of Krunoslav Prates. Anyway, she doesn’t mention at all who are Prates’s lawyers.

By information which I heard the other day in VIP netcafe on Petar Preradovic Square, German police two weeks ago arrested another Prates’s cooperator and associate of Josip Perkovic, by origin from Osijek and the owner of Bosnian and Herzegovinean passport. A man could get an impression that Babic’s text and Malic’s interview before anything directed on making fog around Josip Perkovic case, and sending messages to everybody: from Stedul men, through Croatian government, to Krunoslav Prates, that father of counselor of President of Croatia for national security, is ready to violately defense himself through his men in intelligence system of Croatia and his journalists.

Namely, Perkovics family tried to use recent visit of President of Croatia to Germany and staying in Croatian embassy in Berlin at ambassador Vesna Cvjetkovic Kurelec, to from there acredditted officer for connection of Intelligence agency with BND, find out what are further steps of German judicature in question of indictment against Josip Perkovic. There was an idea that President Stjepan Mesic personally support by German authorities not to insist on processing of Perkovic, but the advice from embassy in Berlin came, that such Mesic’s move by German autorities would be understood as strictly antidiplomatic and antidemocratic, considering that in Germany executive government doesn’t interfere in work of judicature, as it is custom in Croatia.

At the end, out of all diplomatic customs is public appearance of Ivan Bandic, who is in Hungary officialy on position of general consul of Croatia in Pecs and at the same time he is acredditted officer for connection of Intelligence agency with Hungarian intelligence community. If there was any need to protect Bandic’s diplomatic-intelligence status in Hungary from accusations of Ivica Rajic, the Ministry of foreign affairs of Croatia and Intelligence agency could send diplomatic mail in Budapest, by which to Hungarian authorities would be explained what was it all about.

Nevertheless, I found out from circles close to Ministry of police, Ivan Bandic didn’t wait for protection from master house in Croatia and without permission of his the most superior, chief of OA (IA), Veselko Grubisic, gave an interview for Globus, by what he directly endangered his diplomatic-intelligence status.

For reminds is that Dutch police, at the end of 90’s arrested Ivan Bandic because under mask of diplomat spied in Netherlands. Jasna Babic in her book �Blaskic Conspiracy� that Bandic’s arrestment showed as meanness of Markica Rebic and his SIS people, Stipan Udiljak and Marin Ivanovic, who by that obstructed defense of general Blaskic.

It stays unknown, how on Bandic’s discreddittation of intelligence community looks by himself close journalists, future and formal chief of all Croatian spies, Tomislav Karamarko.

Publish on 45 lines, 01.12.2005

Post published on 45 lines on 28.10.2005.

Kroatische journalist met de dood bedreigd

Brussel
Van onze medewerker
Peter Dupont

De Kroatische onderzoeksjournalist Zeljko Peratovic wordt met de dood bedreigd omwille van zijn onthullende reportages. Daarom verloor de man vorige maand ook zijn baan bij de overheidskrant Vjesnik. Zijn vrouw en kind zijn intussen naar Zwitserland gevlucht. �Dit soort incidenten kan de EU-toetreding van Kroati� in de weg staan,� zeggen europarlementsleden Bart Staes (Groen!) en Sa�d El Khadraoui (Sp.a).

Peratovic belichtte ook de rol van de generaalsmaffia: de drie gewezen oorlogsgeneraals Ante Roso, Ivan Andabak en Ante Gotovina. Vooral de onthullende krantenartikelen over deze laatste, voor veel Kroaten een oorlogsheld, zetten veel kwaad bloed. Peratovic voerde immers aan dat de Kroatische regering al lang op de hoogte is van het verblijf van deze gezochte oorlogsmisdadiger. Deze is nog altijd gelinkt aan leger en veiligheidsdiensten �n houdt zelfs contact met de Kroatische regering. Net zoals enkele andere gezochte Kroaten wordt hij door het overheidsapparaat uit de handen van het Joegoslavi�tribunaal gehouden, aldus Peratovic. De Kroatische overheid kan daar, met de EU-toenadering in het verschiet, niet mee lachen. �Iedereen weet dat Gotovina nu in Herzegovina zit, in Siroki Brijeg. Premier Sanader was er onlangs nog. Officieel voor een voetbalmatch en om de medestanders van Gotovina te overtuigen hun steun te stoppen. Eigenlijk was een grote show voor Carla del Ponte, de hoofdaanklaagster van het tribunaal in Den Haag. Zo van: we doen ons best.�

Bart Staes

De POA viel de journalist het afgelopen jaar voortdurend lastig. �Samen met vijf andere journalisten – Gordan Malic (Globus), Ivanka Toma, Marijo Kavain (beide Jutarnji list) en Ivica Djikic (Feral Tribune) � werd ik door de voormalige chef van de veiligheidsdienst beschuldigd van samenwerking met de Britse geheime dienst MI6. De Kroatische veiligheidsdienst POA heeft ons maanden afgeluisterd en bespioneerd. De Kroatische regering was daarvan op de hoogte.� Vanaf september 2004 veranderde de situatie voor Peratovic op de krant Vjesnik. Peratovic: �Onder druk van het hoofd van de POA, Tomislav Karamarko, werd ik steeds meer ge�soleerd en werden mijn teksten zwaar gecensureerd of verschenen ze niet. Op de redactie werd ik behandeld als een buitenlandse spion. Mensen werden opgezweept om de �verrader� aan te pakken. Ik begon voor mijn veiligheid te vrezen. Het lynchen van mensen door een meute was in dit land tot voor kort heel gebruikelijk. Op een moment dat ik voor een operatie het ziekenhuis in moest, kreeg ik bericht dat ik kon opstappen. Pleidooien van Kroatische politici en NGO�s hielpen niets. Vjesnik is immers een overheidskrant, management en directeur zijn aangesteld door de overheid.� Peratovic leeft momenteel geheel ge�soleerd in zijn flat in Zagreb. �Bang, zonder financi�le middelen en nog steeds ziek. Deze keer van angst.�

Sa�d El Khadraoui

Reporters Zonder Grenzen Oostenrijk stuurde intussen tevergeefs een woedende brief naar Vjesnik. In Belgi� zijn de europarlementsleden Bart Staes (Groen!) en Sa�d El Khadraoui (Sp.a) van plan om de zaak Peratovic op te volgen. �Dit soort praktijken is absoluut ontoelaatbaar, zeker voor een land dat tot de EU wil toetreden� zegt Bart Staes. �De Europese groenen zullen hier werk van maken. Samen met mijn Nederlandse collega Joost Langendijk van GroenLinks, tevens Balkan-specialist, zal ik zien welke stappen we zullen ondernemen.

Sa�d El Khadraoui wacht met spanning op het rapport dat Carla del Ponte einde september bekend maakt. �Toch is het al een tijd duidelijk dat de rol van de Kroatische inlichtingendienst heel dubieus is. Recente incidenten tussen de overheid en de media maken duidelijk dat persvrijheid een ijdel begrip is in Kroati�. Op dat vlak kan Europa zich geen flexibiliteit veroorloven. Je kunt niet aan Turkije een ander signaal geven dan aan Kroati�. Net zomin als je Gotovina kan laten lopen, maar wel aan de Servi�rs eisen dat ze Karadzic uitleveren.�

Post ist first publish on 45 lines on 31.08.2005. at 01:41

Investigation of German police and judicature for murder of well-known Croatian emigrant Stjepan Djurekovic in 1983. in M�nchen, which was organised by Yugoslav secret police, didn’t stop on recent arrest of former Yugo-agent Krunoslav Prates. Vukusic reveales in front of German police these days gave testimony again Boze Vukusic, who did it once, together with president of HSP, Anto Djapic, considering that Djapic’s uncle was also murdered in Germany. Vukusic revealed to us that investigation is on against Josip Perkovic , former chief of Yugoslav Service of state security and former assisstant of Minister of defense, whose son Sasa is today advisor for national security of President Stipe Mesic.

Zvonimir Despot, Večernji list, 31. 08. 2005.

Only several years after celebration in Belgrade’s center of UDBA, Josip Perkovic became the right hand of Croatian Minister of defense, Gojko Susak. On the left in the picture with them is the third man of paralel commanding line, retired general Mate Lausic.

Als Mirko Galic im Oktober 1999 die Position des Chefredakteurs in Globus bekamund der glorreiche Denis Kuljis Chef vom Dienst wurde, hat man meine Schreibt�tigkeit in dieser Zeitschrift aufs Eis gelegt. Da ich in meinen Nachforschungen auch politische Morde der jugoslawischen politischen Polizeiuntersuchte – und noch vor der Gerichtsverhandlung bewies, dass Bruno Busic nicht von Vinko Sindicic ermordet worden war, sondern dass Vice Vukojevic beidieser Farce Regie f�hrte, um mit seinen ehemaligen Chefs von der UDBA (Staatssicherheitsdienst des ehemaligen SFR Jugoslawien, Bem. d. �bers.) abzurechnen – wollte mich Mirko Galic, um mich physisch aus der Redaktion zuentfernen, f�r 2 Monate nach Paris schicken, damit ich dort, an Ort und Stelle, herausfinde, von wem Bruno Busic ermordet wurde.

In der Globus-Kollegiumssitzung lachte sogar der tr�gerische Slaven Letica diese Idee aus:

-Hahaha, erst dort k�nnen die den Peratovic liquidieren!

Ich hatte keinen Ausweg.

Ich kannte einen kroatischen Lektor an der Sorbonne (Franz�sisch kann ich kein Wort, abgesehen von erotischen Phrasen), so ergriffich die Galic’s Idee mit der Anmerkung, ich gelang hier an so manche Entdeckung, die mir in Paris zugute kommen k�nne. Und, darauf Galic:

Nun, h�ren Sie mir, Herr Kollege, zu. Es w�re besser, Sie w�rden nicht hingehen.
Das ist doch ein delikates Thema, jemand k�nnte uns anzeigen.

Als Tudjman noch klinische lebte, �berredete mich Galic, einen zweimonatigen bezahlten Urlaub zu nehmen, da ich von all’ diesen Themata, mit denen ich michbefa�t hatte, ersch�pft sei und dasss ich als Kriegsreporter etwas von den Traumas abbekommen h�tte.

Zuvor hat er mich aufgefordert, aufgrund der Themata, mit denen ich michbesch�ftigte, ihm meine Synopsen abzuliefern, da er nicht der Meinung sei, das kroatische Volk sei faschistisch auferlegt. Ich sagte zu ihm, er h�tte in diesem Falle meine Texte offensichtlich nicht gelesen, da ich mich immerzu auf die konkreten Leute als Zeugen berufen h�tte, die wiederum konkrete Personen, Orte und Zeiten der begangenen Verbrechen aufgef�hrt haben und ich h�tte nie davongeh�rt, dass man in den geschriebenen Journalistenschriften f�r ein Thema das Synopsis zuvor abgeben m�sste.

Ich nahm also diesen bezahlten Urlaub und sa� in meiner Mietwohnung. Als mir dann das halbierte Urlaubsgehalt �berwiesen wurde, rief ich Galic an. Er sagte zu mir, es sei deswegen, weil ich nichts arbeiten w�rde. Daraufhin habe ich ihmmit meiner Rechtsanw�ltin gedroht.

Ich habe ein paar Schreiben an die Journalistenverb�nde, die f�r den Schutz der Journalisten arbeiten, versendetund danach er wollte, w�tend wie er war, aus der Haut fahren. Der Grund: kein ungeschliffener Provinzieller h�tte ihn bislang der Zensur bezichtigt.

Die Augenzeugen behaupten, w�re ich in seiner N�he gewesen, h�tte er mich vom 12-Stockwerk des Vjesnik-Wolkenkratzers hinuntergeworfen. Da befand sich, n�mlich, die Globus-Redaktion.

Hier seine Antwort an meine Rechtsanw�ltin (Orhideja Martinovic), die mich in diesem Falle vertretenhatte:

Mirko Galic

Zagreb, 10. Januar 2000

Sehr geehrte Frau Rechtsanw�ltin (Orhideja Martinovic),

Ihr Schreiben vom 23. Dezember 1999 beantworte ich mit Versp�tung, hervorgerufen durch den Kalender der doppelten Feiertage und doppelter Wahlen.

Ihnen, als Bevollm�chtigten des Herrn Zeljko Peratovic, m�chte ich folgendes zu Antwortgeben:

Zum ersten, in bezug auf das Gehalt von Herrn Peratovic m�chte ich Sie Kenntnis setzen, dass die Verlagsleiterin Frau Natasa Mijacika Pavicic eine Vereinbarung mit Herrn Peratovic getroffen hatte, ihm sollten alle anteiligen Betr�ge bis zum 15. Januar d.J. ausgezahlt werden und zwar so, als ob erregelm��ig besch�ftigt worden w�re (dabei hatte er mit meinem Entscheid die Freiheit genossen, die im Prinzip f�r den Betrag der Stimulierung vermindertw�re).

Niemand hat Herrn Peratovic das Recht auf das Einkommen verwehrt, nur war sein Einkommen f�r den Betrag der Stimulierung vermindert und wird jetzt im vollen Umfang zur�ckerstattet, mit der Absicht, dass der �bergang in eine neue Redaktion seitens Herrn Peratovic, was er selber beschlo�, erleichtert werde.

Zweitens, Herrn Peratovic wurden manche Texte nicht ver�ffentlicht, f�r manchehabe ich ihm pers�nlich gesagt, sie h�tten keinen aktuellen Wert (z.B. �Die Aff�re Ante Zuzul�, �Der 1. Garderegiment in Zagreb�, �Vukojevic – die Vergewaltigung in Mostar�*) und manche von denerw�hnten Texten hat Herr Peratovic gar nicht geschrieben ).

Es ist nicht die Rede von der Zensur, die Sie mir vorwerfen und warum Sie mir drohen, sondern von der ge�nderten Redaktionspolitik von Globus, in der es immer weniger Platz f�r Aff�ren und immer mehr Platz f�r seri�se analytische Texte gibt.

Ich glaube, Sie werden intim mit mir �bereinstimmen, dass das Ernstwerden der Zeitschrift keinerlei Beziehung mit der Zensur hat.

In der Hoffnung, Sie werden den Ursprung der Missverst�ndnisse verstehen, gr��eich Sie herzlich

Mirko Galic

* Dies wurde nicht geschrieben, weil zun�chst Denis Kuljis sagte, es sei ein sensationalistisches Thema und als ich nachforschte, es bearbeitet hatte undh�tte es schreiben sollen, dann sagte Mirko Galic �das interessiert uns jetzt nicht�

Wichtige meine sensationalistische Artikel in Globus aus Peratovic Net:

*07.03.1997. “In Zagreb sind 50 gef�hrliche Banden am Werk, die von Ladenbesitzern Schutzgeld erpressen und Schulden eintreiben. Zu ihnen geh�ren mindestens 2.000 Gangster.” (Die erste Geschichte, die in einem kroatischen Medium �ber organisierte Kriminalit�t in Zagreb erschienen ist, N.M.-N.)

*08.08.1997. “Jacques Paul Klein: Verteidigungsminister Gojko Susak hat mir versprochen, dass die kroatische Armee mit ihren eigenen Fahrzeugen die Serben nach Kroatien zur�ckbringen wird.” (Interview mit dem damaligen Chef der ostslawonischen UN-Mission UNTAES, Jacques P. Klein, N. M.-N.)

*17.10.1997. “UN – Untergeneralsekret�r Kofi Annan und UNTAES-Chef William Walker fordern die Entlassung von Branimir Glavas.” (Untersuchung �ber die Obstruktion des kroatischen Provinzgouverneurs von Osijek, Glavas, gegen das Friedensabkommen f�r das Donautal, N.M.-N.)

*31.10.1997. “In dem dieser Tage in Ljubljana gezeigten Film von Nikola Majstrovic, dem kroatischen Emigranten aus Schweden, wird die kroatische Regierung der Schuld am Tode von Miro Baresic bezichtigt.” (Reportage �ber einen Film, der nahelegt, dass der bekannte radikale kroatische Emigrant 1991 einem Komplott der kroatischen Regierung zum Opfer fiel, N.M.-N.)

*15.05.1998. “Deutsche Beh�rden verhinderten der Versuch, 100 Millionen entwertete kuwaitische Dinar in Deutschland zu waschen.” (Reportage aus M�nchen und Augsburg �ber den Versuch, kuwaitisches Geld aus Kroatien zu schmuggeln, N.M.-N.)

*05.06.1998. “Ivica Stojanovic: Die serbische Geheimpolizei sch�tzt meinen Kopf auf 3 Millionen Mark, denn ich kann Milosevic nach Den Haag bringen.” (Erz�hlung �ber einen fr�heren jugoslawischen Offizier, der mit Zeugenaussagen und Unterlagen beweisen wollte, dass Milosevic im kroatischen Kriege direkt die jugoslawischen Truppen befehligte. Nach Erscheinen des Textes bekam Stojanovic politisches Asyl in Schweden, N.M.-N.)

*17.07.1998. “Im Fuhrpark von Pr�sident Franjo Tudjman stehen zwei gestohlene BMW.” (Untersuchung �ber den Autoschmuggel der kroatischen Milit�rpolizei und der bosnisch-kroatischen Armee HVO, N.M.-N.)

*18.12.1998. “Josip Perkovic hat mir vor Zeugen laut vorgeworfen, dass ich schlecht �ber ihn schriebe. Er hat gesagt, dass wenn er mich daf�r an Ort und Stelle umbr�chte, er mit h�chstens zwei Jahren Gef�ngnis davonk�me.” (�ber eine Begegnung mit dem m�chtigsten kroatischen Geheimagenten, der Peratovic wegen seiner Artikel �ber Kriegsverbrechen und organisierte Kriminalit�t mit dem Tod bedroht hat, N.M.-N.)

*19.02.1999. “Die Deutsche Polizei ermittelt: Warum hat die kroatische Polizei an Alija Delimustafic, der eines Kidnappings verd�chtig ist, drei P�sse ausgegeben?” (Reportage aus Stuttgart �ber die Ermittlungen der deutschen Polizei gegen den bosnischen Ex-Minister Delimustafic, der in �sterreich mit angereichertem Uran und in Deutschland mit Drogen gehandelt haben soll, in Kroatien einer Entf�hrung, in Bosnien der Veruntreuung von Geld und in Serbien der Urkundenf�lschung und eines Kriegsverbrechens verd�chtigt wird, N.M.-N.)

*26.02.1999. “Milit�rpolizisten in Sibenik haben dem Obersten Zeljko Maglov schon 1992 Kriminalit�t und Kriegsverbrechen im Milit�rgef�ngnis von Kuline vorgeworfen.” (Erste dokumentierte Untersuchung �ber Kriegsverbrechen in Milit�rgewahrsam in Dalmatien, N.M.-N.)

*05.03.1999. “Josip Perkovic hat 1993 im SIS-B�ro die Leutnants Josko Govic und Tomislav Matic bedroht, weil sie wegen Kriminalit�t und Kriegsverbrechen ermittelten.” (Dokumentation �ber Behinderungen von Ermittlungst�tigkeit zu Kriegsverbrechen, N.M.-N.)

*12.03.1999. “Der kroatische Soldat A.K. beschuldigt den Gefangenen Brasa der Vergewaltigung: ‘Er sah aus wie ein w�tendes Raubtier, schon sein Aussehen jagte mir Angst ein. Als er fertig war, drohte er mir, ich d�rfe mit niemandem dar�ber sprechen.” (Untersuchung �ber Verbrechen in dalmatinischen Milit�rgef�ngnissen, N.M.-N.)

*17.03.1999. “Milit�rpolizei in Karlovac zerst�rte zwischen 1991 und 1996 200 Objekte.” (Erste Untersuchung �ber die systematische Zerst�rung der H�user von Serben und politischen Gegnern durch kroatische Armeeangeh�rige, N.M.-N.)

*30.04.1999. “Tihomir Oreskovic zwang zwei minderj�hrige Kroatinnen aus Bosnien zum Geschlechtsverkehr mit ihm und mit einem Minister.” (Zeugen aus Gospic sprechen �ber Kriegsverbrechen des Jahres 1991 in ihrer Stadt, N.M.-N.)

*21.50.1999. “Die serbische Organisation Veritas hat Den Haag die Zeugenaussagen von Serben �bergeben, die im Milit�rgef�ngnis von Kuline misshandelt wurden.” (Zu �bereinstimmungen der Aussagen von serbischen Lagerh�ftlingen und kroatischen Milit�rpolizisten, N.M.-N.)

*11.06.1999. “Ibrahim Suljkanovic, fr�herer kroatischer Armeeangeh�riger aus Gospic: Ich habe 1992 gesehen, wie der HDZ – Abgeordnete Miroslav Petry eine Fl�chtlingsfrau vergewaltigt hat.” (Reportage aus Gospic mit neuen Einzelheiten zu Kriegsverbrechen, N.M.-N.)

*25.06.1999. “General Mate Lausic wusste schon 1994, dass Maglov gestohlene Autos in die Herzegowina schmuggelte.” (Dokumentierte Zeugenaussagen �ber Kriminalit�t in der Milit�rpolizei wurden von der Armeespitze vertuscht, N.M.-N.)

*13.08.1999. “Der r�tselhafte Mord an dem Geheimdienst-Offizier Tomislav Matic – dem Mann, der Pr�sident Tudjman schon 1993 �ber Kriminalit�t in der Armee ins Bild setzte.” (Reportage zu Ermittlungen �ber den Tod eines Zeugen, N.M.-N.)

*03.09.1999. “Schl�sselzeugen der Kriegsverbrechen in Gospic, denen der Haager Gerichtshof Unterkunft und Schutz versprochen hatte, vegetieren in einem Zentrum f�r albanische Fl�chtlinge in Deutschland.” (Reportage aus M�nster und dem Ruhrgebiet, N.M.-N.)

*16.10.1999. “Mario Barisic, Ex-Chef der Milit�r – Kripo von Sibenik, sagt aus: Zeljko Maglov und seine Leute haben 1992 serbische Kriegsgefangene get�tet, als diese ihre Toten beerdigten.” (Dokumentierte Untersuchung �ber ein Kriegsverbrechen in der Hochebene von Miljevci 1992, N.M.-N.)

Croatian President Stjepan Mesic flanked by HRT Director General Mirko Galic and EBU Secretary General Jean Stock

After being forced to leave the Globus, a weeklymagazine -to the censorship of the chief editor Mirko Galic (the end of 1999), I got position with the Fokus, yet another weekly magazine, whose editor in chief was Mladen Maloca who was theeditor in chief of the most appreciated Yugoslav weekly magazine- Danas – printed and edited in Zagreb anddistributed from Zagreb.

But the Fokus owner is Marinko Mikulic, one of deputy presidents of the Association of Catholic Employer sand member of the HIP (Croatian Identity and Prosperity) Party – a right wing political party, which leader is the son of late Croatian president Franjo Tudjman, (Miroslav) and the head of the Croatian Information Service – one of the secret HDZ political polices.

The editor in chief Mladen Maloca and his deputy Vanja Sutlic, guaranteed me freedom of writing and they keptit working until I published the last interview with Milan Levar. After that the magazine owner Mikulic changed theprofile andconcept of this weekly magazine and it was notliberally oriented news magazine – rather a catholic right wing orientednews magazine full of speech hate against the Croatian president Mesic, the Hague Tribunal, the Racan government.

Because ofexistential reasons I was forced to work for the sameweekly for over some time. When my one year contractwith this weeklyexpired, the directorship of the same weekly signedwith me a new contract although I told them – if mywriting not of anyinterest to them, I could leave the weekly without anycompensation. But that time deputy of the editor inchief Vanja Sutlic told me the directorship needed me and they wanted meto sign the new contract. Having in mind that they didnot allow meto write, I asked Vanja Sutlic and the directorshipwhat to do and they told me to leave the news weekly.

Due to the factthat they owed me a of money, I did not agree to. After that, in the name of directorship, Vanja Sutlic fired me and that wayI did not have any rights except the unemploymenthealth care. Until 2004 Vanja Sutlic was the deputy of the HTV CEO Mirko Galic and the PAN Papir witness before the court inthe case against the newspaper Fokus. Mladen Maloca wasaconsultant of the government owned Tisak company – thelargest distributer of newspapers in Croatia. Mladen Maloca will appear before the court in the role of witness -on behalf of his former employer Marinko Mikulic.

Mikulic’s close friend accused and jailed General Norac andmade several times public statement accusing me and myfriend Levar for imprisonment (Rijeka prison) of his friend Mirko Norac. On my behalf the Croatian Journalists Labour Union whose attorney is Orhideja Martinovic sues the PAN Papir Company. Up to now, a number of my colleagues testified before court.

Slobodna Dalmacija, Friday,February 15, 2002.

In the case of the Vjesnik journalist against the Fokus news weekly testified Drago Pilsel too in the Fokus possession “remained” 80 thousands kunas

ZAGREB – By the free lance journalist and the Forum 21 president Drago Pilsel testimony at the County Court the investigation was continued in the case where today’s Vjesnik journalist Zeljko Peratovic sues the new weekly Fokus owner- the PAN Company – for 80 thousands kunas of theunpaid salary. Reportedly, Peratovic claims that he was fired due tothe censorship carried by Vanja Sutlic, now employedby the HTV as deputy of the editor in chief of the Informative Program. Karlos Zvonimir Pilsel, better known by Drago name, was a free lance journalist working for the Fokus weekly, andaccording to him, one of the founders and editors ofthe same news weekly starting with the news weeklyfirst issuein January 2000 until September of the same year.

- Peratovic was coming to work each day, he finishedall his tasks alone, and sometimes we worked togetheron thesame tasks. The salary was paid put in envelope, ofblue or white colour, and it happened that I havegotten foodstamps that can be spent only in the discount shop ofthe Fokus owner – the PAN Company. The monthlysalaries werenever on time and regularly paid and only a smallerpart of the salary was deposited at the checkingaccount. By thecontract my salary was 7 000 kunas, and according tothe Peratovic’s contract – his salary was 10 000 kunas- explained the salary payments circumstances that timedeputy president of the HND.

His employment, as he stated, was also terminated dueto the censorship – for he protested against thepressure madeby the Djakovo bishop. During of the month of August, 2000 the profile and concept of the news weekly wasbeingchanged, claimed the witness, and the new men came whomade him and Peratovic not possible to normally work.

- I want to stress that there was an institutionalcensorship in the Fokus and journalist Peratovic was systematically ignored – concluded Pilsel.

by Neven Pavelic

Drago Pilsel, former contributor to Fokus:

Maloca Washed His Hands

Bishop Marin Srakic openly criticized Mikulic because of Fokus’ editorial policy, and he in turn pressured Maloca to get rid of me. I found out that Mikulic was upset because I on one occasion reprinted an article by late Fr. Luka Vincetic, who used to write for Feral, the paper Mikulic abhors.

As I live from the money I earn as a journalist, I accepted the idea of starting a new news magazine that would among other include religious content, so that in February 2000 I joined Fokus as an editor of the religion section of the magazine. I had an agreement with the editor-in-chief Mladen Maloca and his deputy Vanja Sutlic that I was supposed to be a member of the editorial board and in my section be tolerant of other religious communities, instead of focusing only on the dominant, Catholic community. I published articles by numerous authors that are otherwise not admired by the Catholic bishops. However, I believed that they were interesting and also true believers.

My open editorial style and my writing was disliked by the owner, Marinko Mikulic. I also found out that Mikulic was sort of a prot�g� of some bishops, and especially of Djakovo-Srijem bishop Marin Srakic.

On one occasion bishop Srakic attacked the idea of introduction of the subject religious culture into public schools, claiming that children from mixed marriages, those who are neither Serbs nor Croats but something in between, those who do not know either their nationality or religion,were advocating the introduction of such a subject. We were shocked by such an abuse of ethnicity and religion and published the bishop’s statement with a short commentary in the article entitled Religious Instruction for Yugo-nostalgics.

That was allegedly the fuse, as bishop Srakic openly criticized Mikulic because of the material published in Fokus (I have been told that he was not the only one), and he in turn exerted pressure on Maloca to get rid of me. I later found out that Mikulic was especially upset that I had on one occasion reprinted an article by late Fr. Luka Vincetic, who used to write for Feral, the paper Mikulic abhors.

All in all, I soon realized that I was wasting my time in Fokus, but I stayed for a few more months trying to recover some of the unpaid wage arrears. Therefore, I was fired in September 2000, after the owner’s and bishop’s pressure on the editorial board with the following explanation: Screw it Drago, that’s how it is!

Soon afterwards Mikulic paid the wages he owed me, but he refused to pay several thousand kunas of traveling expenses I made with Sutlic’s and Maloca’s approval. As far as that is concerned, Maloca very elegantly washed his hands.

Feral Tribune, by Drago Hedl, May 19, 2001

Novi List, April 9, 2002 Black Cronicle

By Testimony of Former Fokus Journalist Continued Process through which Journalist Peratovic Claims more than 80 000 Kunas from News Weekly Fokus Owner

“Not getting along came after Peratovic’s writingabout killing of Milan Levar”

ZAGREB – The process through which now Vjesnik journalist Zeljko Peratovic claims more than 80 000 kunas from the Fokus owner on account of unpaidsalary was continued on the County Courtin Zagreb by testimony of former journalist of thesame news weekly – Tifani Simunovic.

The witnesssaid she was the Fokus regular employee from thebeginning of 2000 until July 31, 2001 when shesigned the contracts guarantying her a predefinedsalary.

- Latter we learned that we were officially entitledto only 2 500 kunas and the rest of salary waspaid in cash. The part of salary was paid in checks ofthe PAN company that could be spent onlyin the discount shops of the same company – said Tifani Simunovic adding that the directorshipwas willingly waiting on Peratovic’s mistake inorder to fire him – taking in account that notgetting along with Peratovic came after his writingabout the Milan Levar homicide.

She added that several journalists heard that time Domestic Politics Column editor Ratko Peter, who , after not getting Peratovic on phone, yelled asif he would get what he (Peratovic) deserves.

- Some time later, Peratovic was fired – said the witness noting that Peratovic that morningcalled them and told them that he had virosis, but,the editorship used this moment to get rid of him.

On the next court session Vanja Sutlic now editor onthe HTV whom Peratovic named as a personwho carried the censorship for what Peratovic was fired – should appear before the judge.

by Vilim Cvok