He was Tudjman’s bodyguard: ‘We also protected him with bombs! And I always hid two guns’

We had a small aircraft, with only seven places, so a maximum of two members of the security service would go on the trip – one would keep an aircraft at the airport and the other would follow the president. It was usually me, so I was often alone, the whole burden of insurance was on me. On my feet, I would prostitate 10-12 hours without a snack and a drop of water, with the inability to go to the toilet. To be in this condition, armed only with one or Two gunsmeant to be noticeably weaker than with bombs in hand. And bombs of Milosevic’s insurance I never hid. In the case of excesses, I would be the master of the situation and space with them, because they would be afraid for the life of their president. But these were war times. There are no more such situations today.

He told that anecdote from his job Mate LausicGeneral Colonel and the first person of the trust of the first Croatian President Franjo Tudjman for the magazine Protection.info.

Passed away today, May 12, in KBC Zagreb from the effects of a severe stroke. He was 75 years old.

Mate Lausa? experienced a severe stroke, is in KBC Rebro (archive) |

Photo: Goran Stanzl/Pixsell

During his lifetime he was a great expert in security and laid the foundations of Croatian security and domestic services. In 20 years of active work, he has literally passed all the functions, from the ordinary clerk in the internal affairs as to the main inspector. He began his professional trip back in 1971 at the public security secretary of the City of Zagreb in the Criminal Suppression Sector. He worked there on pursuits, to combat smuggling, forgery and drug abuse. He progressed to the position of Chief of Operations on duty to the Assistant Chief of the Operational Affairs Sector.

The key was universiad

He was often praised and award -winning for his work, and especially stood out in 1987 when he was in charge of the safety of the Universiads.

Given his abilities, he soon became the head of the President of the Republic of Croatia. For that, he spoke for Direct.hrchecked General Ivan Cermak. Knew him just because of the universiade

– Then I led the  » Ring ‘action, that is, capturing a five -time killer Vinko Pintaric on the grounds of Zagorje and in the vicinity of Bjelovar, to call me shortly after this interview Mr. Josip Perkovićthen the Assistant Minister of the MUP of the Republic of Croatia, Mr. Boljkovac and told me that the next day at 1 pm I would report to the Banski Dvori Mr. Sarinic who served as the head of the Office of the President of the Republic.

– Perhaps one of the most difficult periods lasted from January to May 1991, when there were no more fierce skirmishes or open aggression of the JNA, rebel Serbs and Chetniks. Then we functioned as one of the six Republic of the SFRY, and Dr. Tudjman was just one of the six presidents. There were many rules and protocols about organizing a trip that we could not even respect for understandable reasons because we wanted to function, and we functioned, as an independent, independent state. At the same time, they are a federal secretary for internal affairs as well as the SUP republics we went to the President meetings – BiH, Serbia, Montenegro… – We asked us to hold on to the fitness of behavior that were still worth. We had to find a compromise for the wolf to be full and sheep on number – Laušić told the magazine Protection.

The trips, he said, were secret and did not state the dynamics. They would cancel the services of other followers and send their people.

– We started behaving and protecting Dr. Tudjman as president of an independent and independent state, ignoring the imposed conditions of behavior. We rejected the federal SUP sending the deposits with the announcement of a visit and a detailed itner of travel, and there were grunts and disguised resistance. But at the same time, they began to respect and appreciate us as members of the president’s security service because we introduced new standards, changed for many immutable. For example, we arrived at Belgrade by plane, and the A in the airport at Surcina We have already been waiting for us, the presidential vehicle with the flags of the Republic of Croatia and the president, and accompanied by two additional safety vehicles (so-called S-Vozil), all with new, Croatian marks. One vehicle was behind the presidential, and the other in front of the host insurance only in the second ring, as a predecessor and patron saint – Laušić said.

He always wore at least three short weapons when going to meetings. One would teach when landing, and the other two hid.

Zagreb: 25. Anniversary of the establishment of anti -terrorist Military Police of the OSRH |

Photo: Robert Anic/Pixsell

– In periods of extremely high levels of risk, I even wore manual defense bombs, at least two, which is unthinkable for aircraft travel. I remember the late captain of the presidential aircraft, Brigadier Amir Sehicbut also the flight attendant Lydia, which I have long assured that the bombs were deactivated, with the insurers extracted. Although, of course, they were – ready for use – Laušić said.

Moved to the MOD

After stopping protecting the president, he continued his professional career as an active military person in the CAF. From December 1991 to 31 December 2002 he was the Chief of the Administration of the Military Police. The act of the active colonel was assigned to him on February 8, 1992. He was then promoted to the ranks: Brigadier, Major General and Lieutenant General. He retired on December 31, 2002 in the rank of Colonel General.

General Mate Lausa? died after a severe stroke |

Photo: Nel Pavletic/Pixsell

In the Homeland War he was a participant in Operation Maslenica, Flash and Storm. He received a number of decorations for his credit, the Homeland War Memorial (1993), the Flash Medal (1995), the Storm Medal (1995), the Red Ban Jelacic (1995), the Red Nikola Subic Zrinski (1995), a memorial of Homeland Thanksgiving for 5 years (1996), Order of Croatian Pletera (1996), Order of Croatian Truist (1996) and praise the Minister of Defense.