Croatia: Information on whether Croatia has officially granted amnesty to military deserters and evaders
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 December 1996 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | HRV25806.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Croatia: Information on whether Croatia has officially granted amnesty to military deserters and evaders, 1 December 1996, HRV25806.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ad9318.html [accessed 17 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The attached 8 May 1995 Politika Ekspres report states that Croatia's president Franjo Tujman granted amnesty to "Participants in the armed rebellion against the Republic of Croatia from 17 August 1990." The same source also states that the "Croatian Government has passed the bill on amnesty for the citizens of the Croatian Danubian area, while the Serbs in other parts of Croatia are excluded from the president's generous act" (ibid.).
The attached 17 May 1996 Reuters report states that the Croatian parliament passed a bill on 17 May 1996 that "abrogates legal proceedings against thousands of Serb males who took part in an armed rebellion against Zagreb between August 1990 and June 1996." The report also adds that "the new law excludes war crimes suspects who must be prosecuted under international laws" (ibid.)
The attached 23 May 1996 Tanjug report states that Russia's special ambassador to the region of Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and West Srem called for amendments to the amnesty law. The report also states that "Serb deputies in the Croatian parliament asked ... that the law be enlarged to apply to all areas whence Serbs have fled" (ibid.).
The attached 11 June 1996 Radio Beograd broadcast quotes the international administrator for the Srem-Baranja region as saying that he would "see to it that Croatia grants amnesty to all Croatian Serbs."
The attached 17 June 1996 HINA report provides an account of a press meeting during which two Croatian officials provided details on the implementation of the amnesty law.
The attached 1 August 1996 Tanjug report provides an account of a statement made by the United Nations transitional administration spokesman to the effect that "the Croatian amnesty law should be made comprehensive and brought in line with international law, as urged by the UN Security Council on 3 July."
The attached 10 September 1996 Reuters report quotes Croatian radio as saying that Croatia "has drafted a new amnesty law for Serbs living in eastern Slavonia, the last Serb-held area in Croatia."
The attached 12 September 1996 Tanjug report quotes officials of the Serb region of eastern Slavonia, Baranja and western Srem as saying that the "Croatian new draft law on amnesty did not make any headway and that it did not offer any guaranties that Croatia will not take legal action against its citizens of Serb nationality."
The attached 29 October 1996 and 31 October 1996 HINA reports provide information on the implementation of the May 1996 amnesty law.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
HINA [Zagreb, in English]. 31 October 1996. "Croatia: Justice Ministry Statement on Amnesty Law Implementation." (FBIS-EEU-96-216-A 31 Oct. 1996) [Internet], < URL: http://www.Fedworld.gov/cgi-bin/retrieve >, [Internet], < URL: http:/www.gov > [Accessed on: 16 December 1996]
_____. 29 October 1996. "Croatia: Ninety-Four Persons Released Since Amnesty Law Passed." (FBIS-EEU-96-214-A 29 Oct. 1996). [Internet], < URL: http://www.Fedworld.gov/cgi-bin/retrieve >, [Internet], < URL: http:/www.gov > [Accessed on: 16 December 1996]
_____. 17 June 1996. "Croatia: Officials Provide Details on Amnesty Law." (FBIS-EEU-96-122-A 17 June 1996). [Internet], < URL: http://www.Fedworld.gov/cgi-bin/retrieve >, [Internet], < URL: http:/www.gov > [Accessed on: 16 December 1996]
Politika Ekspres [Belgrade, in Serbo-Croatian]. 8 May 1996. "Croatia: Serb Deputy Opposes Partial Amnesty." (FBIS-EEU-96-091 8 May 1996). [Internet], < URL: http://www.Fedworld.gov/cgi-bin/retrieve >, [Internet], < URL: http:/www.gov > [Accessed on: 16 December 1996]
Radio Beograd Network [Belgrade, in Serbo-Croatian]. 11 June 1996. "Croatia: Klein to Demand Amnesty for 'All' Croatian Serbs." (FBIS-EEU-96-114 11 June 1996). [Internet], < URL: http://www.Fedworld.gov/cgi-bin/retrieve >, [Internet], < URL: http:/www.gov > [Accessed on: 16 December 1996]
Reuters. 10 September 1996. BC Cycle. "Croatia to Pass New Amnesty Law for Rebel Serbs." (NEXIS)
_____. 17 May 1996. BC Cycle. "Parliament Passes Amnesty Bill for Serb Rebels." (NEXIS)
Tanjug News Agency [Belgrade, in English]. 12 September 1996. "Serb Official in Vukovar Criticizes Croatia's New Amnesty Law." (BBC Summary 14 Sept. 1996/NEXIS)
_____. 1 August 1996. "Croatia: UN Spokesman says amnesty Law must be Comprehensive." (FBIS-EEU-96-152 6 Aug. 1996, p. 32)
_____. 23 May 1996. "Croatia: Russian Envoy calls Amnesty Law 'Negative'."
(FBIS-EEU-96-102 23 May 1996). [Internet], < URL: http:// www.Fedworld.gov/cgi-bin/retrieve >, [Internet], < URL: http:/www.gov > [Accessed on: 16 December 1996]
Attachments
HINA [Zagreb, in English]. 31 October 1996. "Croatia: Justice Ministry Statement on Amnesty Law Implementation." (FBIS-EEU-96-216-A 31 Oct. 1996) [Internet], < URL: http://www.Fedworld.gov/cgi-bin/retrieve >, [Internet], < URL: http:/www.gov > [Accessed on: 16 December 1996]
_____. 29 October 1996. "Croatia: Ninety-Four Persons Released Since Amnesty Law Passed." (FBIS-EEU-96-214-A 29 Oct. 1996). [Internet], < URL: http://www.Fedworld.gov/cgi-bin/retrieve >, [Internet], < URL: http:/www.gov > [Accessed on: 16 December 1996]
_____. 17 June 1996. "Croatia: Officials Provide Details on Amnesty Law." (FBIS-EEU-96-122-A 17 June 1996). [Internet], < URL: http://www.Fedworld.gov/cgi-bin/retrieve >, [Internet], < URL: http:/www.gov > [Accessed on: 16 December 1996]
Politika Ekspres [Belgrade, in Serbo-Croatian]. 8 May 1996. "Croatia: Serb Deputy Opposes Partial Amnesty." (FBIS-EEU-96-091 8 May 1996). [Internet], < URL: http://www.Fedworld.gov/cgi-bin/retrieve >, [Internet], < URL: http:/www.gov > [Accessed on: 16 December 1996]
Radio Beograd Network [Belgrade, in Serbo-Croatian]. 11 June 1996. "Croatia: Klein to Demand Amnesty for 'All' Croatian Serbs." (FBIS-EEU-96-114 11 June 1996). [Internet], < URL: http://www.Fedworld.gov/cgi-bin/retrieve >, [Internet], < URL: http:/www.gov > [Accessed on: 16 December 1996]
Reuters. 10 September 1996. BC Cycle. "Croatia to Pass New Amnesty Law for Rebel Serbs." (NEXIS)
_____. 17 May 1996. BC Cycle. "Parliament Passes Amnesty Bill for Serb Rebels." (NEXIS)
Tanjug News Agency [Belgrade, in English]. 12 September 1996. "Serb Official in Vukovar Criticizes Croatia's New Amnesty Law." (BBC Summary 14 Sept. 1996/NEXIS)
_____. 1 August 1996. "Croatia: UN Spokesman says amnesty Law must be Comprehensive." (FBIS-EEU-96-152 6 Aug. 1996, p. 32)
_____. 23 May 1996. "Croatia: Russian Envoy calls Amnesty Law 'Negative'."
(FBIS-EEU-96-102 23 May 1996). [Internet], < URL: http:// www.Fedworld.gov/cgi-bin/retrieve >, [Internet], < URL: http:/www.gov > [Accessed on: 16 December 1996]
