Milan Martic, President Of The Republic Of Serb Krajina

Date and Place of Birth: November 18, 1954, Zagoric village near Knin.

Education: Elementary school in Zagoric, high school in Knin, Police college in Zagreb.

Prewar Career: Worked in the Knin screw factory until 1976. Policeman in Sibenik from 1976 to 1981. Early in 1982, after completing police school in Zagreb, returned to Knin as a junior inspector and went on to become local station chief.

How He Became Leader of the ``Log Rebellion'': In the summer of 1990, after replacing the official symbols of the new Croatian state, he headed a group of Serb policemen who refused to replace the red star with the Croatian chequerboard on their uniforms. When the initial tension escalated into a series of incidents with Croatia's armed forces, he organized a ``spontaneous'' arming of the population from Serbian police and local territorial defence arsenals, a blockade of the roads and railways around Knin, set up Serb police stations in Obrovac, Benkovac, Gracac, Korenica and Donji Lapac.

How Did the Belgrade Press Describe Him: ``A pleasant simple man with a mustache, in a camouflage uniform... A man who's name remains the undisputed symbol of the prevention of Serb national traumas, the creator of the Krajina army'' (``Politika,'' April 1994).

The Zagreb Press: ``Demon warrior, harsh exhibitionist... A man who imposed a terror civilized Europe has never seen and one of the main men responsible for the bankruptcy of Croatian tourism.'' (``Vjesnik,'' June 1992).

Political Career: Early in 1991, the government of the newly-formed Serb autonomous region of Krajina, appointed him Police Minister. In August he became Defence Minister and promised to incorporate Petrinja, Karlovac and Zadar into the region ``because we and the army need a port,'' but he didn't keep that job long. He clashed with then Krajina President Milan Babic in October. Martic went back to being Police Minister after Babic was ousted. He stayed there for two years. In June 1992, he refused the rank of General which Krajina President Goran Hadzic gave him for his services in securing the Posavina corridor. He explained that he didn't want to change ranks during the war. In late 1993 he got support from both Milosevic and the media but just barely managed to win Presidential elections against Babic. He promised to unite with Serbia by the end of 1994.

What He Said Then: ``I am still an ordinary man but with a heavy burden. I would like to be President for just five days and then hand the position over to Milosevic.''

His Main Political Opponents: Milan Babic, who he ousted from the Krajina Presidency, but not from politics. Zeljko Raznjatovic Arkan (leader of the Tigers paramilitary group and alleged war criminal), who he expelled from Krajina after the Maslenica offensive. Goran Hadzic, whose movements he limited in 1993. Krajina Information Minister Borivoje Rasuo, who accuses him of ``violating the constitution and laws and causing a political blockade of the Krajina.''

His Wish: ``I'd like to return to the anonymity which I once had.'' (June 1991).

What He Always Believed In: ``The theory that our President Milosevic advocates, all Serbs in one state'' (``Pogledi,'' August 1991)

What He Never Believed In: ``There are people who believe that Milosevic will use Krajina and sacrifice it for his political needs. I doubt that the Serbian government will take a negative stand regarding us. The Serb people won't allow it'' (TV Novosti, June 1991).

The Most Dangerous Moment In His Career: September 8, 1991 when the Bosnian police detained him near Bihac and when he narrowly avoided being lynched by the local Muslim population.

The Most Difficult Moment in His Career: October 3, 1994 when he failed to convince Milosevic to end the economic blockade of Krajina in the light of increasingly serious signals that Belgrade will recognize Croatia.