Friday, December 12, 2003
A Homeless Veteran's Sad Plight in Near-Feudal Croatia
With a cigarette in one hand and a plastic bag containing his possessions in the other, Branko Markan stares at what used to be his ramshackle home.
Seven years ago it was seized by the local police chief and demolished, and a cafe was built in its place. Mr. Markan, a decorated veteran of Croatia's war of independence, was turned over to a colleague of the police chief and forced to live in bondage in a metal container that measured 2 yards by 3 yards.
Three years ago he escaped, and the police chief and his captor were arrested, found guilty of extortion and sentenced to jail. The captor, Tomislav Mikulic, was also found guilty of enforcing slavery.
But, in what may be testimony to the enduring power of hard-line nationalists in this part of eastern Croatia, both men remain free and Mr. Markan is still homeless and destitute.
...
That night, two masked men assaulted him outside his home, and the next day he did as asked and met two men who he believed were policemen at a local cafe, where he was forced to agree to sell the house.
...
Mr. Markan's identity card, a document that Croats have to carry with them at all times, was taken away from him and registered at an address where he has never lived. This prevented him from traveling within the country. Mr. Markan's $130 monthly allowance as a war veteran was collected by Mr. Mikulic, his official guardian.
With a cigarette in one hand and a plastic bag containing his possessions in the other, Branko Markan stares at what used to be his ramshackle home.
Seven years ago it was seized by the local police chief and demolished, and a cafe was built in its place. Mr. Markan, a decorated veteran of Croatia's war of independence, was turned over to a colleague of the police chief and forced to live in bondage in a metal container that measured 2 yards by 3 yards.
Three years ago he escaped, and the police chief and his captor were arrested, found guilty of extortion and sentenced to jail. The captor, Tomislav Mikulic, was also found guilty of enforcing slavery.
But, in what may be testimony to the enduring power of hard-line nationalists in this part of eastern Croatia, both men remain free and Mr. Markan is still homeless and destitute.
...
That night, two masked men assaulted him outside his home, and the next day he did as asked and met two men who he believed were policemen at a local cafe, where he was forced to agree to sell the house.
...
Mr. Markan's identity card, a document that Croats have to carry with them at all times, was taken away from him and registered at an address where he has never lived. This prevented him from traveling within the country. Mr. Markan's $130 monthly allowance as a war veteran was collected by Mr. Mikulic, his official guardian.
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