War crimes suspect condemns treatment

An Australian man accused of committing war crimes in Croatia has spoken out against his treatment at the hands of both Australian and Croatian authorities.

Dragan Vasiljkovic was released from a Sydney prison earlier this month after winning an appeal against his extradition.

The Federal Government has launched a High court action to overturn the decision.

Known by his Serbian military nickname, Captain Dragan, during the Balkan conflict of the 1990s, nowadays, he prefers Daniel Snedden.

"It was just easier to keep me in prison as Dragan Vasiljkovic because it is easier to do that to a wog that you can't pronounce his name," he told SBS, exclusively.

Mr Snedden commanded a Serb paramilitary unit in Croatia.

Its government accuses him of ordering a massacre and allowing the mistreatment of prisoners of war.

'No hope' of fair trial

Mr Snedden has not been charged - and strongly denies the accusations.

"There is no connections to any war crimes," he insists.

"You have not seen any document dating earlier than 2006, which in any way accuses me or alleges of any war crimes, and it is amazing that you people are dealing with me like I'm guilty and I have to prove my innocence."

Imprisoned since January 2006 following an extradition request by the Croatian government, he was released earlier this month after the Federal Court ruled that he would not get a fair trial in Croatia.

"No Serb would want to go and face the questioning in Croatia," he said. "In the same way that John Howard would not go to Talibans to face questioning."

The Croatian government disputes this.

Zagreb's approach towards war crimes is crucial in its bid to join the EU.

Croatian trials 'fully impartial'

"In the decision of the federal court there is a quotation of OSCE, organization for security and co-operation in Europe, which expresses some concerns about trial in Croatia but it is a 2006 report," said Croatian justice minister Ivan Šimonovi.

"In 2009 report, all war crimes trials in Croatia are estimated as fully impartial."

Here, the Federal government is still seeking his extradition. It has lodged an appeal with the High Court to overturn the ruling.

"We hope that Mr Vasiljkovic will be extradited," said Mr Šimonovi.

"We firmly believe that there are well established grounds for appeal and sincerely hope that appeal will be successful."

But Mr Snedden is defiant - and wants Australia to do more to support him.

"I am not going to be intimidated by the terrorist tactics of a fascist government, no fascist government including the Croatian government," he told SBS.

'No statute of limitations'

"I believe that as an Australian citizen that I should have been protected by this government."

Mr Snedden was born in Belgrade and moved to Australia as a teenager.

He returned to what was then Yugoslavia, in 1991, to join the Serbian fight against Croatia's bid for independence.

But he remains adamant that he did not commit the crimes he is accused of.

"Absolutely not, not in my opinion, in the facts," he said. "There is not a single supporting fact that can support any war crimes accusations against me.

The Croatian government insists it has not given up on its efforts to force Mr Snedden to face trial.

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