Mirko Norac - Forgotten?

   

      In today's date in history, Croatian General Mirko Norac was born. Mirko Norac was born in Otok by the city of Sinj - he was probably the first controversial icon of the Croatian War of Independence. In 1990 he joined the Croatian antiterrorist formation "Lucko" of the Croatian Police (MUP RH). During the Croatian War of Independence he climbed ranks all the way up to General of the Croatian Armed Forces. As a General he took part in Operations "Maslina" and "Medzacki  Dzep" or "Medak Pocket" the latter of which would later lead to all kinds of international controversy also known as "Canada's Secret War" - you can read a tale of accounts in "The Ghosts of Medak Pocket" by Canadian Author Carol Off but it is highly suggested to do your own independent research first. The book is initially very well researched but ends up being very one-sided and controversial, probably the worst PR the Croatian Army has gotten in the West regarding the happenings in and around Medak.

   Back to Norac - after the fall of HDZ, Norac was sent off to the ICTY which cause mass outrage within the Croatian population as it was relevantly unheard of to try the victors of the war who in their eyes were defending Croatia from aggression; i.e self-defense. The Croatian Democratic Union heavily utilized Norac in their political campaign to eventually overthrow the Socialist Democrat Party depicting them as national traitors. Former-President Stjepan Mesic revoked Norac's ranks, and the HDZ that came back to power heavily distanced itself from the man they were at one point utilizing to gain public support: Sanader Splitska Riva. As you can see in the posted link, later-premier Ivo Sanader gave a feisty speech in which he said, "there is no nation , ladies and gentleman - that will turn their backs on their heros, and obviously, the Croatian people will never turn it's back on most shining Croatian sons and they are here along with ...... and he who is not here - General Mirko Norac!". Mirko Norac ended up being transferred from the ICTY to a Croatian court in Rijeka where he was sentenced to 10 years. He was released early this year and has stayed completely out of public life. While in jail he married Croatian Dr. Jelena Midenjak and they now have a son named Ante. Mirko Norac requested that no celebrations take place upon his relief and his local townspeople respected his request.