Mladen Markač

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Mladen Markač (b. May 8, 1955), was a Croatian military officer in Djurdjevac, in the Republic of Croatia, then part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY). [1] He was Commander of Croatian Special Police during Operation Storm, and is on trial at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY), indicted for a "joint criminal enterprise" in an effort to expel the Krajina Serbs from Croatia. After Operation Storm, he held the rank of Colonel General.

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[edit] Police career

In 1981, he graduated from the University of Zagreb, and in 1982, he completed his compulsory military service.He then joined the police force of the SFRY Ministry of the Interior.

In 1990, Markac and others established a police unit for special tasks in the Ministry of the Interior. He was appointed Deputy Commander and in late 1990, this unit became the Anti-Terrorist Unit. In 1991, Mladen MARKAC was appointed the head of the Lucko Anti-Terrorist Unit. In 1992], he was promoted to the rank of Colonel General (reserve).

On February 18, 1994, Mladen Markac 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. He was also also Assistant Minister of the Interior for Special Police.

[edit] Operation Storm

As Commander of the Special Police, Markac 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 comprised of individuals from special purpose units, including the Lucko 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.

[edit] Legal proceedings

He has been indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and brought to trial 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]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (2008-03-12), Amended Joinder Indictment, Gotovina, Čermak and Markač, Case Number IT-06-90, <http://www.un.org/icty/indictment/english/got-coramdjoind080312e.pdf>. Retrieved on 14 April 2008