March 16, 1998 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E375 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS

DEMOCRACY IN CROATIA? massacres that local authorities had time to ‘‘I doubt it will ever revive. They killed it to destroy some of the evidence. They also as- get very rich. This dirty money keeps them sert that the tribunal has not provided them in power. All we want is for them to pay for HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS and their families with promised protection. their crimes.’’ OF NEW YORK ‘‘We do not understand what is going on,’’ 2 BOSNIAN SERBS SURRENDER TO U.N. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES said Mr. Levar, who first met with tribunal BOSANSKI SAMAC, BOSNIA AND Monday, March 16, 1998 investigators last August in Gospic, 100 miles south of Zagreb. ‘‘We have been brand- HERZEGOVINA, FEB. 14—(AP).—Two Bosnian, Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to share ed traitors. We live under constant pressure. Serbs surrendered today to the United Na- with my colleagues an informative newspaper The police chief in Gospic and the local army tions war crimes tribunal, the first Serbian article revealing the unfortunate lack of commander are war criminals. What kind of suspects to do so voluntarily. progress towards democratic and human protection can we expect from these men?’’ Driving their own cars, with officials from Christian Chartier, the spokesman for the the United States Embassy as passengers, rights in Croatia (documented recently in the tribunal, said in a telephone interview that State Department's Country Report). I also the suspects, Milan Silmic and Miroslav it was not the tribunal’s policy to comment Tadic, left for Tuzia, where NATO-led troops want to express my deep sympathy and sup- on its investigations. But Mr. Chartier con- will meet them for the journey to the court, port for the citizens of this Republic who voted firmed that investigators had met with the in The Hague. for democracy nearly eight years ago. The three men and twice offered them ‘‘proposals Indicted on war crimes charges in 1995, the people of Croatia were right in wanting to join for protection’’ that he said the former sol- two men say they are innocent. other democratic nations by implementing diers had ‘‘turned down’’ ‘‘We are still discussing this with them,’’ They said they believed that conditions democratic reforms that would bring them he said, refusing to elaborate. ‘‘We are hope- had been set for a fair trail. more freedom and better lives for their fami- ful that a proposal may be accepted.’’ lies. It is unfortunate, that the ruling party and The men say that a few of the mass graves H. RES. 375 its leader, President Tudjman, maintain an were cleared by the Croatian military short- Whereas Dobroslav Paraga, who has twice authortiarian grip that stifles these dreams. ly before tribunal investigators visited Gospic last summer, but that other sites re- been adopted as a prisoner of conscience by One has only to look at Croatia's neighbor, Amnesty International, has endured hard- Slovenia, to see how different it could have main untouched. The men, two of whom went to The Hague in December to meet ship for openly calling on the Government of been had Croatia's leaders embraced democ- again with investigators, also said they Croatia to honor its commitments under the racy instead of holding on to the past and their turned over videotapes showing Croatian Helsinki Accords to respect the fundamental personal power at the expense of the people forces killing civilians. human rights of all the citizens of Croatia; of Croatia. ‘‘I was in a position to see everything that Whereas Dobroslav Paraga had been tried At this point, I include the text of a bill I re- was happening,’’ Mr. Bando said. ‘‘The orders on three occasions by the courts of the cently introduced on this matter, H. Res. 375. to carry out these killings came to us from former Government of Yugoslavia, the ini- the Ministry of Defense. Those who commit- tial charge being that, in 1980, he, along with [From the New York Times, Feb. 15, 1998] ted these crimes were never punished, in fact a Jewish Croatian student, Ernest Brajder, THREATS WORRY 3 WHO TIED CROATIAN ARMY they were promoted within the military, the authored a petition opposing torture in TO ATROCITIES police and the political structure. They re- Yugoslavia and calling for the release of po- (By Chris Hedges) main in power. We find this inexcusable.’’ litical prisoners; Mr Bando, who is unemployed and facing ZAGREB, CROATIA, FEB. 14.—Three former Whereas, as a result, both men were ar- Croatian soldiers who provided testimony an unexplained eviction notice from his rested and, three days later Ernest Brajder and documents detailing the killing of scores small apartment in Zagreb, said that in Oc- died under what the Department of State of ethnic Serbs and Croats by the Croatian tober 1991 local police officials pulled up to calls ‘‘mysterious circumstances’’; Army say they have been repeatedly beaten his office with a truck piled with bodies, in- Whereas, in 1986, Mr. Paraga sued the Gov- by unidentified assailants, their vehicles cluding those of women and children. ernment of Yugoslavia for injuries, both ‘‘Blood was dripping through the floor have been firebombed and they receive al- physical and psychological, inflicted on him boards,’’ he said. ‘‘These people had just been most daily death threats. by prison authorities during his imprison- executed. The driver was looking for a place The men, who gave their evidence to the ment; to bury them.’’ war crimes tribunal at The Hague, say they Mr. Levar said he witnessed the deaths of Whereas the regime and court in Zagreg witnessed scores of abductions and killings about 50 people. Mr. Ropac said that he knew denied him a fair and just trial, an account in and around the town of Gospic during Cro- of 127 ethnic Serbs who were killed in Gospic of which was set forth in the Department of atia’s 1991 war of independence from Yugo- before he left the town and ‘‘that the figure State’s annual Country Report on Human slavia. grew later.’’ Rights Practices for 1987; They say that hundreds of ethnic Serbs, as The allegations of widespread killings by Whereas the Government of Yugoslavia well as Croats who opposed the nationalist nationalist Croats around Gospic were bol- forbade Mr. Paraga in 1987 to speak out pub- movement, were executed and buried in mass stered last September when one of the execu- licly in any way about his experiences as a graves around Gospic by the Croatian Army, tioners Miro Bajramovic, confessed in The political prisoner and the Government of paramilitary groups and the police. Feral Tribune, an independent weekly, to the Croatia has continued this prohibition They also contend that documents they murder of 72 civilians. Mr. Bajramovic was against the fundamental political and human have turned over to The Hague implicate arrested after the publication of the confes- rights of Mr. Paraga; senior Croatian officials, including Defense sion and remains in prison. Minister Gojko Susak, in the killings. The Whereas the Government of Croatia per- The three former soldiers said that Mr. secuted Mr. Paraga for criticizing his coun- Croatian Government denies that its senior Bajramovic was being subjected to frequent officials were involved in human rights try in the United States in 1993 and he was beatings and intense ‘‘Psychological tor- subsequently stripped of his post as Deputy abuses during the war. ture’’ by his Croatian jailers. The decision by Milan Levar, 43, the Chairman of the Committee for Human Their accusations have been impossible to Rights of the Croatian Parliament; former commander of a reconnaissance intel- substantiate, though. ligence unit; Zdenko Bando, 41, a former Gospic, which had some 15,000 inhabitants Whereas in August 1997 the Government of military police commander, and Zdenko before the war, is now a forlorn, heavily Croatia brought charges against Mr. Paraga Ropac, 45, a former secret intelligence police damaged town with just 3,000 people. within days of his meeting with investiga- officer, to approach The Hague is one of the The former soldiers angrily assert that tors from the Hague War Crimes Tribunal to very rare cases in which senior officers have those who carried out the abductions and which he turned over documentation involv- volunteered to describe abuses committed by murders came from ‘‘the scum of the town’’ ing allegations against several high officials their own soldiers to the tribunal. and were primarily interested in looting the of the Government of Croatia; But the men, two of whom have fled their homes and property of the Serbs and Croats Whereas, in violation of this order of si- native town of Gospic because of attacks, they killed. lence, Dobroslav Paraga has come to the said in interviews recently that the tribunal ‘‘These people killed my town—the town of West to speak out about human rights took so long to investigate the reports of my father and grandfather,’’ Mr. Levar said. abuses in Croatia;

∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor. E376 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks March 16, 1998 Whereas, upon his return to Croatia, of his native language and culture, as well as A TRIBUTE TO JAMES A. ROONEY Dobroslav Paraga risks imprisonment again practical experience defending Chamorro because of his open criticism of the Govern- ment of Croatia’s human rights abuses; and rights, both as a practicing attorney and as a HON. PAUL E. KANJORSKI Whereas in 1998 Dobroslav Paraga called on private citizen. Whether it is enjoining the OF PENNSYLVANIA the Government of Croatia to take the fol- desecration of ancient burial sites or encour- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES lowing actions: (1) to establish independent aging the talents of local artists and musi- Monday, March 16, 1998 television and radio stations in Croatia; (2) cians, Michael Bordallo is an active proponent to allow full freedom of the media in Cro- Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today of Guam's cultural identity and heritage. atia; (3) to allow free and fair elections to to pay tribute to Mr. James A. Rooney of take place in Croatia; (4) to establish a judi- Michael was born on July 14, 1961 to Attor- Northeastern Pennsylvania. Mr. Rooney will ciary and lower court system that is inde- ney Fred E. Bordallo and my sister, Annie be designated as the ``Man of the Year'' by pendent from the ruling party or any other the Greater Pittston Friendly Sons of St. Pat- party in Croatia; (5) to re-establish the inde- Underwood Bordallo, who instilled in him a pendence of the Croatian Party of Rights love of justice and the law and a strong sense rick at their 84th annual banquet. I am hon- (CPR) that was illegally disbanded in 1993, of identity. Mike graduated from Saint Anthony ored and pleased to have been asked to par- ticipate in this event. including the reinstatement to the Croatian School in Tamuning in 1975 and from Father Parliament of the 5 seats of the Croatian The fifth of nine children of the late George Party of Rights; and (6) to end the terror and Duenas Memorial High School in 1979. He J. and Catherine Horan Rooney, Jim was born abuse of justice perpetrated by the Govern- then went on to the University of Notre Dame in Pittston, Pennsylvania. He attended Jenkins ment of Croatia against Dobroslav Paraga in South Bend, Indiana, and earned a Bach- Township High School and earned a Bachelor and the Croatian Party of Rights: Now, elor's degree in Business Administration in of Science degree from the University of therefore, be it 1983. After returning to Guam, Mike went to Scranton. Resolved, That is the sense of the House of Representatives that the Government of Cro- work in his father's law office. He also served A veteran of World War II, Jim was awarded atia— as a legislative consultant to the Guam Legis- two bronze stars for his service in Europe. He (1) in recognition of the provisions of the lature's Committee on Education. He later re- is a member of various veterans' organizations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, turned to Notre Dame University, attended law in Northeastern Pennsylvania. During Jim's career, he served as a should guarantee its citizens fundamental school, and received his Juris Doctor degree human rights and freedoms; weighmaster/shipper for the Pennsylvania (2)(A) should establish independent tele- in 1987. After passing the California Bar Coal Company, an accountant at the State vision and radio stations in Croatia; Exam, Mike returned to Guam and went to Correctional Institute, and an accounting field (B) should allow full freedom of the media work as an Assistant Attorney General rep- supervisor in the Office of the Comptroller of in Croatia; resenting Child Protective Services in the the Pennsylvania Department of Public Wel- (C) should allow free and fair elections to Family Court. He was sworn in as a member fare. At the time of his retirement, he was take place in Croatia; of the Guam Bar Association in 1988, then Chief Financial Officer at the White Haven (D) should establish a judiciary and lower Center. court system that is independent from the went into private practice with his father. ruling party or any other party in Croatia; Jim is active in his church and the commu- For the last six years, Mike practiced law nity. He is a Grand Knight and the financial (E) should re-establish the independence of alongside his first cousin, Michael F. Phillips, the Croatian Party of Rights (CPR) that was secretary of the Knights of Columbus. illegally disbanded in 1993, including the re- in the firm of Phillips & Bordallo, P.C. With Mr. Speaker, Jim Rooney has been a mem- instatement to the Croatian Parliament of much affection and admiration, many of the ber of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick for over the 5 seats of the Croatian Party of Rights; friends and family of the two attorneys often 45 years. He is also a member of the Donegal and refer to them simply as ``Mike and Mike.'' Dur- Society and the Anciety Order of Hibernians. (F) should end the terror and abuse of jus- ing his career, Mike Bordallo has represented I join the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick in honor- tice perpetrated by the Government of Cro- and participated in numerous actions involving ing Jim as ``Man of the Year'' and send my atia against Dobroslav Paraga and the Cro- best wishes for a successful event. atian Party of Rights; issues such as desecration of ancient (3) should dismiss the charges currently Chamorro burial grounds, the military land f pending against human rights activist takings following World War II, the implemen- IN HONOR OF DR. HECTOR GARCIA Dobroslav Paraga and end all forms of har- tation of the Chamorro Land Trust Act, and a assment against him and his family; and Cost of Living Allowance for Government of (4) should conduct an investigation into HON. LORETTA SANCHEZ the death of Ernest Brajder, who, according Guam retirees. He also has represented sev- OF CALIFORNIA to the Department of State, died under eral legislative committees since 1992, and IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ‘‘mysterious circumstances’’, and should has represented the Territorial Board of Edu- Monday, March 16, 1998 make its findings public. cation and the Guam Department of Edu- f cation. Ms. SANCHEZ. Ms. Speaker, today I rise to honor the late Dr. Hector Garcia. It was on MIKE BORDALLO’S APPOINTMENT In 1989, when the House Interior and Insu- this day, March 26th, that Dr. Garcia was TO THE SUPREME COURT OF lar Affairs Subcommittee Chairman Ron born. It is fitting that we should pay tribute to GUAM DeLugo conducted the first-ever hearing on him on this special day of remembrance. the Guam Commonwealth Act in Honolulu, Born in Mexico, his family fled the country HON. ROBERT A. UNDERWOOD Hawaii, Mike Bordallo helped found the Guam when he was only four years old. This was Commonwealth Hearings Association, which during the Mexican Revolution when so many OF GUAM raised funds to subsidize the travel costs of sought refuge in the United States. The Garcia IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Guam residents who otherwise would not family settled in Texas where young Hector Monday, March 16, 1998 have been able to attend and submit testi- Garcia's life began its course. After his grad- uation from the University of Texas Medical monies at the hearing. Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, on Thurs- School, Garcia joined the Army. He served his day, March 19, another native son of Guam In view of his activities in a wide range of country overseas, in World War II, as an infan- will advance the course of Guam's judicial his- island issues, Michael J. Bordallo was ap- tryman, combat engineer and medical corps tory when he is installed as a judge of the Su- pointed to the bench by the Government of officer. His distinguished service earned him perior Court of Guam. Although this history is Guam and unanimously confirmed by the 24th the Bronze Star with six Battle Stars. relatively brief, the judicial branch of the Gov- Guam Legislature earlier this year. I join his After the war, he began a medical practice ernment of Guam coming into existence in in Corpus Christi, Texas. As a medical doctor parents, Fred and Annie, his brothers and sis- 1950, the name of Michael J. Bordallo will join for the Veterans Administration, he saw the a distinguished list of Chamorro men and ters, his wife Carla and their children, Joshua need to assist the Latino veterans in their fight women who have sworn to interpret the law and Stephanie, in congratulating him and plac- for benefits. There was a great deal of preju- for the people of Guam from the bench of the ing trust in his sense of justice to guide him dice toward the Latinos who had fought for Superior Court. Like his peers, Mike brings on the bench. their country, yet were not afforded the same with him an inherent love and understanding rights and privileges given to others. At this