Ladies and
Gentlemen ! 2002. god.
During the
last four years I have been appealing to the highest governmental,
legislative, and executive authorities, as well as too many media and non
governmental organizations in Croatia pointing out to the corruption and
organized crime present in the judicial system of Republic Croatia, which
justifies the discrimination based on my Serbian ethnicity. To this day, I
have never received any answer to my appeals.
Since I was
unable to resolve my case within the unjust legal system of Republic
Croatia, I decided to present my case publicly through media,
non-governmental organizations and individuals outside of Republic Croatia
that I believe could and would be willing to help.
My name is
Zeljko Rodic. I was born in 1952 on the island Vis in Republic Croatia. I am
a Croatian citizen of Serb nationality, and an economist by profession. I am
married and have one son.
I was a
professional soccer player for twelve years in the period from 1970 to1982.
I played for «Zeljeznicar» Sarajevo - BiH, «Osijek» Osijek – Cr.,»Buffalo
Stanllions» Buffalo-USA and fifteen times for the national young soccer team
of the former Yugoslavia.
After
finishing my soccer career, from 1982 – 2002, I ran a cafe management
business on my own property in Beli Manastir, Baranja, Croatia.
Unfortunately, because of constant and increasingly intolerable problems
with the local criminals who were trying to get a hold of my business and
property, I had to close and stop working. That affected my ability to
provide for my livelihood and support my family.
Furthermore,
one of the people going after my property, Mr. Vego Mirko from Osijek,
brought the false charges against me to the Municipal Court of Beli Manastir.
He falsely claimed that he invested 120.000 DEM into my café business before
the war started in the former Yugoslavia, and requested to be compensated by
the sale of my café bar.
Even though he
had no contract or any other document to substantiate his claim, the judge
Kedmenec Damir passed the judgment in favour of Mr.Vego Mirko.
The whole
court trial was a farce, conducted in a rather subjective manner by the
judge Damir Kedmenec, indicating his premeditated judgement in favour of Mr.
Vego Mirko.
I complained
against the judgment to the Appellate Court in Osijek but the Appellate
Judge Zvonko Tomaković rejected my complaint and confirmed the judgment in
favour Mr. Vego Mirko. Consequently, the judgement of the Appellate Court
become executive.
The
unacceptable and unjust decision made by the Croatian courts in my case was
not the first one that happened to ethnic Serbs in Croatia, but I am hopeful
that it will be the last one. By depriving me of my livelihood and by taking
my property from me, they are forcing me to leave, and consequently, they
are cleansing the area of people of Serbian ethnicity.
As of this
writing, my café bar is publicly on sale, and could be sold at the price of
1,5 Euros, which would enable Mr. Vego Mirko and his partner Mr. Zeljko
Siric to grab my property without any difficulty.
I informed the
proper authorities, media and non-governmental organisations of Republic
Croatia many times about the case, but the reaction was not satisfactory or
non existent. Nobody showed any willingness to help me keep my property and
business.
I am pleading
for help and asking all decent people to support the truth and help me
protect my citizen rights in Croatia. I am sure that your support will be
greeted enthusiastically by honest Croatian citizens.
I appreciate
very much all of your help, and would like to stress that I will put at your
disposal all supporting documents if you wish to see them.
Respectfully,
