- Mladen Markač
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Mladen Markač (born May 8, 1955), is a former Croatian military officer. He was a Commander of Croatian Special Police during Operation Storm during the Croatian War of Independence (1991-1995), and afterwords held the rank of Colonel General.[1] Later, he was indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) for war crimes committed during Operation Storm by Croatian forces against the Serbs from Croatia. In April 2011 the ICTY found him guilty and sentenced him to 18 years.[2]
Contents
Early life and career
Mladen Markač was born in 1955 in Đurđevac, in the Republic of Croatia, then part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY).[1] In 1981, he graduated[clarification needed] from the University of Zagreb, and in 1982, he completed his compulsory military service.[1] He then joined the police force of the SFRY Ministry of the Interior.[1]
In 1990, Markač and others established a police unit for special tasks in the Ministry of the Interior.[1] He was appointed Deputy Commander and in late 1990, this unit became the Lučko Anti-Terrorist Unit.[1] In 1991, Mladen Markač was appointed the head of the Lučko Anti-Terrorist Unit.[1] In 1992, he was promoted to the rank of Colonel General (reserve).[1]
Croatian War
On February 18, 1994, Mladen Markač was appointed Commander of the Special Police of the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Croatia (the "Special Police"), which gave him overall authority and responsibility for the operation and functioning of the Special Police.[1] He was also Assistant Minister of the Interior for Special Police.[1]
As Commander of the Special Police, Markač controlled all members of the Special Police who were involved in Operation Storm and the related continuing operations in that region. The participating Special Police force was composed of individuals from special purpose units, including the Lučko Anti-Terrorist Unit, the Special Police logistics department and a Ministry of Interior communications company, as well as individuals from Special Police units from various District Police Administrations throughout Croatia.
According to the ICTY indictment, he could command his subordinates, and also had the material ability to prevent persons under his authority from committing crimes and to punish his subordinates for any crimes that they committed. He also had the ability to recommend or propose disciplinary measures against members of the Croatian Army who were subordinated to his command during the operation.
Indictment and trial
He has been indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in the Hague on charges of operating a joint criminal enterprise for the purpose of permanently removing the Serb population from the Krajina by force and of crimes against humanity.[1]
On March 11, 2004, Mladen Markač voluntarily surrendered and was transferred to the ICTY in The Hague.[3]
On April 15, 2011, Mladen Markač was found guilty by the ICTY and sentenced to 18 years in jail for war crimes including murder, persecution and plunder.[4]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Amended Joinder Indictment, Gotovina, Čermak and Markač. International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. March 12, 2008. Case Number IT-06-90-T. http://www.icty.org/x/cases/gotovina/ind/en/got-coramdjoind080312e.pdf. Retrieved 2009-12-21
- ^ ICTY Press Release 15 April 2011
- ^ "Trial Watch : Mladen Markac". Trial-ch.org. http://www.trial-ch.org/en/trial-watch/profile/db/facts/mladen_markac_473.html. Retrieved 2009-12-21.[dead link]
- ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13092438
Categories:- 1955 births
- Living people
- People from Đurđevac
- Croatian army officers
- People of the Croatian War of Independence
- University of Zagreb alumni
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