Yougoslavia, Federal Rep.of
18.07.03
Urgent Interventions
Serbia and Montenegro: physical assault on 23-year old Mr. Mirko Vuletic
Case YUG 180703
Ill treatment / Impunity
The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your URGENT intervention in the following situation in Serbia and Montenegro.
Brief description of the situation
The International Secretariat of OMCT has been informed by the Humanitarian Law Center of the physical assault on 23-year old Mr. Mirko Vuletiæ on July 11th, 2003, by four officers of the Police Department in Cetinje, Montenegro. The Humanitarian Law Center (HLC) has filed a criminal complaint concerning these beatings.
According to the information received, Inspectors Nenadovic, Asanovic and Živanovic, and Officer Prelevic beat up Mirko Vuletic because he was one of a group that tried to break up a verbal conflict between the three police inspectors and two brothers named Djurickovic that was threatening to escalate into a fistfight.
On the day in question, Mirko Vuletic was at the Bildon Cafe in Cetinje where his brother worked. Hearing a noise outside, he went to see what was going on and saw the three inspectors quarrelling with the Djurickovic brothers. After an exchange of insults, the brothers left the scene, followed later by the inspectors.
A short while later, Mirko Vuletic was getting into his car when a police patrol and the three inspectors arrived. Inspector Nenadovic then pulled Mirko Vuletic out of the car and another policeman and inspector caught hold of him. Mirko Vuletic broke away and started running, hearing the police shout "throw a nightstick at him" and "shoot at him." Mirko Vuletic ran into a building and closed the door behind him. The police started banging on the door and soon broke it open. Inspector Živanovic rushed in and started punching and kicking Mirko Vuletic and was soon joined by the others, who also used their nightsticks. The police then dragged Mirko Vuletic to the patrol car. On the way to the police station, one of them punched him repeatedly in the stomach. The beating continued on the stairway in the police station and in an office. Inspector Nenadovic allegedly gave Mirko Vuletic several heavy blows to the chest and Inspector Asanovic struck him about the head and jaw. Mirko Vuletic reportedly fell to the floor and they continued to kick him all over the body and in the head.
The physical abuse reportedly ceased when Police Chief Ulama entered the office and ordered them to stop. When Mirko Vuletic started vomiting and bleeding from the head, the head of Criminal Investigations Minja Šoc ordered the inspectors to take him to the hospital. Doctors there asked what had happened to Mirko Vuletic and Inspector Nenadovic allegedly replied, "he got into a fight with some guys and they beat him up." Following his release from hospital, Mirko Vuletic was sent home.
The medical certificate issued by the hospital states that Mirko Vuletic suffered physical injuries inflicted with "blunt instrument" (police baton) and "blunt force" (feet and fists).
The International Secretariat of OMCT is gravely concerned by the allegations of beatings perpetrated against Mr. Mirko Vuletic by the afore-mentioned members of the Cetinje Police Department in Montenegro. OMCT calls on the authorities to immediately launch a prompt and impartial investigation into these events, notably the allegations of violent physical abuse, in order to identify those responsible, bring them before a competent and impartial tribunal and apply the penal and/or administrative sanctions provided by law. OMCT also calls on the authorities to ensure that he is granted adequate reparation for the injuries that he sustained, including appropriate medical assistance.
Action requested
Please write to the authorities in Serbia and Montenegro urging them to:
i. guarantee an immediate investigation into the circumstances of these events, in order to identify those responsible, bring them before a competent and impartial tribunal and apply the penal and/or administrative sanctions provided by law;
ii. guarantee that adequate reparation is provided to Mirko Vuletic;
iii. guarantee the respect of human rights and the fundamental freedoms throughout the country in accordance with national laws and international human rights standards.
Addresses
· His Excellency, Mr. Zoran Zivkovic, Prime Minister of Serbia and Montenegro, Bulevar Mihajla Pupina 2, 11070 Novi Beograd, Serbia and Montenegro. Fax: +381 11 3117159 / 604446 / 637185
· His Excellency, Mr. Vladan Batic, Minister of Justice, The Ministry of Justice of Serbia and Montenegro, Nemanjina 22-24, fax: +381 11 3616548 / 3616419 / 3616535, E-mail: kabinet@mpravde.sr.gov.yu
· His Excellency, Mr. Goran Svilanovic, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia and Montenegro, SMIP, Kneza Milosa 26, 11000 Beograd, Serbia and Montenegro, Fax : +381 11 3618052 / 3618010, E-mail: goran.svilanovic@smip.sv.gov.yu
· The Ministry of Interior Republic of Serbia, Minister Dusan Mihajlovic, Kneza Milosa 101, fax: (+381) 11 3617585 / (+381) 11 3617814, E-mail: muprs@mup.sr.gov.yu
. Primeminister of Montenegro, Mr. Milo Djukanovic, ul. Jovana Tomasevica bb, 81000 Podgorica, Crna Gora, Serbia and Montenegro, Fax: 381 81 242 329, Email: kabinet.premijera@mn.yu
. Mr. Zeljko Sturanovic, Minister of Justice, The Ministry of Justice of Montenegro, tel/fax 381 81 248 541, Email: zeljkos@cg.yu
. His Excellency, Mr. Dragisa Burzan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro, ulica Stanka Dragojevica 2 81000 Podgorica, Serbia and Montenegro, Fax:+381 81 227 670, Email: mip@mn.yu
. The Ministry of Interior Republic of Montenegro, Minister Milan Filipovic, Bulevar Lenjina broj 6, 81000 Podgorica, Tel/Fax + 381 81 241 590, 381 81 246 471, +381 81 246 779
Please also write to the embassies of Serbia and Montenegro in your respective country.
Geneva, July 18th, 2003
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.
Ill treatment / Impunity
The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your URGENT intervention in the following situation in Serbia and Montenegro.
Brief description of the situation
The International Secretariat of OMCT has been informed by the Humanitarian Law Center of the physical assault on 23-year old Mr. Mirko Vuletiæ on July 11th, 2003, by four officers of the Police Department in Cetinje, Montenegro. The Humanitarian Law Center (HLC) has filed a criminal complaint concerning these beatings.
According to the information received, Inspectors Nenadovic, Asanovic and Živanovic, and Officer Prelevic beat up Mirko Vuletic because he was one of a group that tried to break up a verbal conflict between the three police inspectors and two brothers named Djurickovic that was threatening to escalate into a fistfight.
On the day in question, Mirko Vuletic was at the Bildon Cafe in Cetinje where his brother worked. Hearing a noise outside, he went to see what was going on and saw the three inspectors quarrelling with the Djurickovic brothers. After an exchange of insults, the brothers left the scene, followed later by the inspectors.
A short while later, Mirko Vuletic was getting into his car when a police patrol and the three inspectors arrived. Inspector Nenadovic then pulled Mirko Vuletic out of the car and another policeman and inspector caught hold of him. Mirko Vuletic broke away and started running, hearing the police shout "throw a nightstick at him" and "shoot at him." Mirko Vuletic ran into a building and closed the door behind him. The police started banging on the door and soon broke it open. Inspector Živanovic rushed in and started punching and kicking Mirko Vuletic and was soon joined by the others, who also used their nightsticks. The police then dragged Mirko Vuletic to the patrol car. On the way to the police station, one of them punched him repeatedly in the stomach. The beating continued on the stairway in the police station and in an office. Inspector Nenadovic allegedly gave Mirko Vuletic several heavy blows to the chest and Inspector Asanovic struck him about the head and jaw. Mirko Vuletic reportedly fell to the floor and they continued to kick him all over the body and in the head.
The physical abuse reportedly ceased when Police Chief Ulama entered the office and ordered them to stop. When Mirko Vuletic started vomiting and bleeding from the head, the head of Criminal Investigations Minja Šoc ordered the inspectors to take him to the hospital. Doctors there asked what had happened to Mirko Vuletic and Inspector Nenadovic allegedly replied, "he got into a fight with some guys and they beat him up." Following his release from hospital, Mirko Vuletic was sent home.
The medical certificate issued by the hospital states that Mirko Vuletic suffered physical injuries inflicted with "blunt instrument" (police baton) and "blunt force" (feet and fists).
The International Secretariat of OMCT is gravely concerned by the allegations of beatings perpetrated against Mr. Mirko Vuletic by the afore-mentioned members of the Cetinje Police Department in Montenegro. OMCT calls on the authorities to immediately launch a prompt and impartial investigation into these events, notably the allegations of violent physical abuse, in order to identify those responsible, bring them before a competent and impartial tribunal and apply the penal and/or administrative sanctions provided by law. OMCT also calls on the authorities to ensure that he is granted adequate reparation for the injuries that he sustained, including appropriate medical assistance.
Action requested
Please write to the authorities in Serbia and Montenegro urging them to:
i. guarantee an immediate investigation into the circumstances of these events, in order to identify those responsible, bring them before a competent and impartial tribunal and apply the penal and/or administrative sanctions provided by law;
ii. guarantee that adequate reparation is provided to Mirko Vuletic;
iii. guarantee the respect of human rights and the fundamental freedoms throughout the country in accordance with national laws and international human rights standards.
Addresses
· His Excellency, Mr. Zoran Zivkovic, Prime Minister of Serbia and Montenegro, Bulevar Mihajla Pupina 2, 11070 Novi Beograd, Serbia and Montenegro. Fax: +381 11 3117159 / 604446 / 637185
· His Excellency, Mr. Vladan Batic, Minister of Justice, The Ministry of Justice of Serbia and Montenegro, Nemanjina 22-24, fax: +381 11 3616548 / 3616419 / 3616535, E-mail: kabinet@mpravde.sr.gov.yu
· His Excellency, Mr. Goran Svilanovic, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia and Montenegro, SMIP, Kneza Milosa 26, 11000 Beograd, Serbia and Montenegro, Fax : +381 11 3618052 / 3618010, E-mail: goran.svilanovic@smip.sv.gov.yu
· The Ministry of Interior Republic of Serbia, Minister Dusan Mihajlovic, Kneza Milosa 101, fax: (+381) 11 3617585 / (+381) 11 3617814, E-mail: muprs@mup.sr.gov.yu
. Primeminister of Montenegro, Mr. Milo Djukanovic, ul. Jovana Tomasevica bb, 81000 Podgorica, Crna Gora, Serbia and Montenegro, Fax: 381 81 242 329, Email: kabinet.premijera@mn.yu
. Mr. Zeljko Sturanovic, Minister of Justice, The Ministry of Justice of Montenegro, tel/fax 381 81 248 541, Email: zeljkos@cg.yu
. His Excellency, Mr. Dragisa Burzan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro, ulica Stanka Dragojevica 2 81000 Podgorica, Serbia and Montenegro, Fax:+381 81 227 670, Email: mip@mn.yu
. The Ministry of Interior Republic of Montenegro, Minister Milan Filipovic, Bulevar Lenjina broj 6, 81000 Podgorica, Tel/Fax + 381 81 241 590, 381 81 246 471, +381 81 246 779
Please also write to the embassies of Serbia and Montenegro in your respective country.
Geneva, July 18th, 2003
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.