Četrdeset tri (43) godine kasnije – srpanj 1981 – srpanj 2024

Mile drži sina Milu juniora i supruga Annie. Kao povijesni dio doslovno prepisujem sadržaj ispod slike kojeg ću prevesti na hrvatski.

              “THE NIGHTMARE IS OVER”                                              “NOĆNA MORA JE GOTOVA”

Mile Boban of Hillsborough, his wife, Annie and son Mile can once again resume their family life in Hillsborough now that Mile Boban has been acquitted of terrorist charges against fellow Croatians living in America.

Boban Never Gave Up Hope

By Sherry Posnick

Mile Boban says he never gave up hope during the past year that he would be found not guilty of charges that he plotted bombings, murders and extortion against fellow Croatians living in America.

“I was shocked, I couldn’t believe my own ears when I heard the forman say not guilty,” he recalled. “My attorney turned toward me, kissed me, started crying and said, “Thanks to God, you are a free man now.”

“It was very difficult not to give up hope, ” said Boban, interviewed in his Hillsborough home. “In my country they say that two men without souls tell lies, so a third man will be without a head,” he said, sliding his index finger across his throat for emphasis. “Basically the trial was gossip, words against words. They didn’t have any physical evidence against us.”

The not guilty verdict was returned by a federal jury in New York after a three month trial. Boban was tried along with nine other Croatians accused of being responsible for two murders, four unsuccessful murders, more than 50 acts of extortion, three cases of arson, four arson plots and interstate transportation of explosives.  Boban maintains that the Yugoslavian secret police are behind all of the allegations.

Boban, who is North American president of the Croatian National Resistance, was found not guilty along with three other defendants. The Resistance movement supports Croatia’s Independence from Yugoslavia. Boban said he is not bitter about his ordeal, despite the fact he is “broke,” after spending over $200.000 in legal fees and more than a year without a job. “I never was angry,” he said. “Somehow I had confidence in myself and I didn’t take the trial seriously.

“Financially, we are completely broke, but in spirit we are very strong,” he said. “Why? Because the innocent ruling from the US Court gave us that strength. Now it’s only a matter of time before we resume our routine with family and business.”

Boban, 42, said his building contract business  was doing well prior to his arrest last summer, and that he is fortunate because he will not have to declare bankruptcy. His daughters, however, received notes from some of their friends saying they could no  longer remain friends. There were many friends and neighbors who stood by the Bobans. “Most trusted us,” said Boban. “They gave us courage and helped us through the 10-month agony. I appreciate them and will never forget them. In hard times, you find out who your friends are.”

With the nightmare behind him, Boban says he will resume his goal of preserving Croatian history and teaching the younger generation about their ancestors. He also looks forward to using his “rusty tools” by starting his business again from scratch.

“It is time to forget what happened and close the book of the past,” he said. “It’s time now to open the book of the future. Boban is a proud man!”

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Hrvatski

Slika Cherry Posnick:
Mile, Mile junior, Annie srpanj 1981.

Slika by Cherry Posnick:

Mile, Mile junior, Annie july 1981.

Mile drži sina Milu juniora i suprugu Annie. Kao povijesni dio doslovno prepisujem sadržaj ispod slike koju ću prevesti na hrvatski, a ispod engleskog, prevedeno je na hrvatski.

          “THE NIGHTMARE IS OVER” =

           “ZAVRŠENA JE NOĆNA MORA”

Mile Boban iz Hillsborough, njegova supruga Annie i sin Mile mogu ponovo nastaviti svoj obiteljski život u Hillsboroughu nakon što je Mile Boban oslobođen optužbi za terorizam protiv sunarodnjaka Hrvata koji žive u Americi.

Boban nikad nije gubio nadu

Od Sherry Posnick

Mile Boban kaže da tijekom protekle godine nije gubio nadu da će biti oslobođen optužbi da je planirao bombaške napade, ubojstva i iznude sugrađana Hrvata koji žive u Americi.

“Bio sam šokiran, nisam mogao vjerovati vlastitim ušima kada sam čuo da je šef porote rekao da nisam kriv”, sjeća se Boban. “Moj se odvjetnik okrenuo prema meni, poljubio me, počeo plakati i rekao: “Hvala Bogu, sada si slobodan čovjek.”

“Bilo je vrlo teško ne izgubiti nadu,” rekao je Boban, intervjuiran u svom domu u Hillsboroughu. “U mojoj zemlji kažu  “dva čovjeka bez duše, (tj. kad lažu i kad govore laži, mo. Mile.) pa će treća ostati bez glave”, rekao je, prelazeći kažiprstom preko svoga grla da bi bolje objasnio. “U suštini je suđenje bilo ogovaranje, riječi protiv riječi. Nisu imali nikakve fizičke dokaze protiv nas.”

Savezna porota u New Yorku nakon tri mjeseca suđenja donijela je presudu da Boban nije kriv. Bobanu se s još devetoricom Hrvata sudilo da su odgovorni za dva ubojstva, četiri neuspješna ubojstva, više od 50 iznuda, tri podmetanja požara, četiri podmetanja požara i međudržavni prijevoz eksploziva. Boban tvrdi da iza svih optužbi stoji jugoslavenska tajna policija.

Boban, koji je sjevernoamerički predsjednik Hrvatskog Narodnog Otpora, uz još trojicu optuženika oslobođen je krivice. Pokret Otpora podržava osamostaljenje Hrvatske od Jugoslavije. Boban je rekao da nije ogorčen zbog svoje muke, unatoč činjenici da je bez prebijene pare, nakon što je potrošio preko 200.000 dolara na pravne troškove i više od godinu dana bez posla. “Nikad nisam bio ljut”, rekao je. “Nekako sam imao povjerenja u sebe i nisam ozbiljno shvaćao suđenje.

“Financijski smo potpuno uništen, ali u duhu smo vrlo jaki”, rekao je Boban. “Zašto? Zato što nam je nevina presuda američkog suda dala tu snagu. Sada je samo pitanje vremena kada ćemo nastaviti svoju rutinu s obitelji i poslom.”

Boban (42) je rekao da mu je građevinski posao dobro išao prije uhićenja prošlog ljeta i da je sretan jer neće morati proglasiti bankrot, stečaj. Njegove su kćeri, međutim, dobile poruke od nekih svojih prijateljica koje su im pisale da više ne mogu biti prijateljice. Uz Bobanove je bilo mnogo prijatelja i susjeda. “Većina nam je vjerovala”, rekao je Boban. “Oni su nas ohrabrili i pomogli nam u desetomjesečnoj agoniji. Cijenim ih i nikada ih neću zaboraviti. U teškim vremenima saznaš tko su ti uistinu pravi prijatelji.”

S noćnom morom iza sebe, Boban kaže da će nastaviti sa svojim ciljem očuvanja hrvatske povijesti i podučavanja mlađih generacija o njihovim precima. Također se raduje što će ubrzo opet koristiti svoje “zahrđale alate” tako što će ponovno pokrenuti posao od nule.

“Vrijeme je da zaboravimo što se dogodilo i zatvorimo knjigu prošlosti”, rekao je. “Sada je vrijeme da otvorimo knjigu budućnosti. Boban je ponosan čovjek!”