16 Pakistanis and Afghans subjected to five hours of abuse at Croatian border Tortured by black-uniformed officers who mocked their injuries and smeared ketchup on wounds as further humiliation ‘The European Union can no longer remain silent’ - Massimo Moratti In a horrifying escalation of police human rights violations at the Croatian border with Bosnia, a group of migrants and people seeking asylum were recently bound and tortured by officers who mocked their injuries and smeared food on their bleeding heads to humiliate them, Amnesty International UK has revealed today. In a new

This Saturday (3 March) a prestigious education centre in Croatia will open its doors for the start of a unique photography exhibition celebrating diversity across Europe. “Yes to Diversity, no to discrimination,” is the conclusion of a Europe-wide Amnesty International competition and is being opened by renowned Amnesty supporter, BBC commentator and former NBA basketball star John Amaechi. John Amaechi was also the first professional player in the NBA to come out as gay. The competition was open to amateur photographers across Europe and attracted over 500 entries. They were challenged to

Goran Hadzic, the only remaining suspect wanted by the International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia, was arrested today in Serbia on charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes in eastern Slavonia, Croatia. Sian Jones, Amnesty International’s Serbia researcher, said: “This long overdue arrest will bring justice at last to the victims of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Croatia.” “The Security Council must ensure that the Tribunal has the time and resources to conduct the trial of both Goran Hadzic and Ratko Mladic in accordance with the highest standards of

A judgement handed down today by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), convicting two Croatian generals of responsibility for crimes against humanity, is a strong victory for Croatia’s war victims, Amnesty International said today. The ICTY convicted Ante Gotovina and sentenced him to 24 years. Mladen Markaè was also convicted and sentenced to 18 years’ imprisonment. A third general, Ivan Èermak, was acquitted. Ante Gotovina and Mladen Markaè were found guilty of having participated in a joint criminal enterprise during and after the military “Operation Storm,”

Amnesty International has renewed its call on the Croatian authorities to investigate claims that a senior politician failed to prevent war crimes committed by Croatian forces during the 1991-1995 war. Vladimir Šeks, currently Deputy Parliament Speaker, who was a leading political figure in the Eastern Slavonija region in 1991, faces fresh claims that he failed to stop grave abuses perpetrated by forces under his command. On 13 January, the Youth Initiative for Human Rights, a Croatian non-governmental organisation (NGO), submitted new testimony from a witness claiming that Vladimir Šeks had

Impunity for war crimes is a “stumbling block” for Croatia’s EU-membership ambitions, says Amnesty Croatia’s justice system is failing to provide many of the victims of the 1991-1995 war with justice amid continued delays, threats against witnesses and concerns over standards, Amnesty International has said in a report published today. The Croatian authorities should speed up the prosecution of war crimes suspects and make it their top priority, the human rights organisation says in the 77-page report, Behind a wall of silence: Prosecution of war crimes in Croatia (pdf). Government statistics

Ante Gotovina, who was arrested yesterday in Spain, is indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (Tribunal) in The Hague on seven counts of persecutions, murder - including the murder of at least 150 Croatian Serbs by means of shooting, burning or stabbing - plunder of property, wanton destruction of cities, towns and villages, deportation and forced displacement and other inhumane acts. These crimes were allegedly committed in 1995 during Operation “Storm”, when Croatian forces retook areas under de facto Croatian Serb control. Ante Gotovina went into

In the aftermath of the operations members of the Croatian Army and police murdered, tortured, and forcibly expelled Croatian Serb civilians who had remained in the area as well as members of the withdrawing Croatian Serb armed forces.Domestic court proceedings in Croatia have failed to provide justice for all victims of war crimes and crimes against humanity. While Croatian courts have been vigorous in pursuing the prosecution of Croatian Serbs and others accused of committing war crimes against ethnic Croats, they have done little to tackle impunity for violations committed by members of the

The EU Council decided not to begin accession talks on 17 March, as originally scheduled. These will be opened only after it is established that Croatia is fully cooperating with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (Tribunal).Omer Fisher, Amnesty International’s researcher on Croatia said:"The Croatian authorities must fully and unconditionally cooperate with the Tribunal. They must arrest and transfer to the Tribunal’s custody former Croatian Army General Ante Gotovina, who is charged with crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in 1995."The crimes that