The wall of bricks with the names of Croatian soldiers and civilians detained or gone missing during the 1990s war was dismantled, with the bricks ready to be taken to Mirogoj, but representatives of war veterans associations were taking them back, rebuilding the wall in Selska Street.
Appeal Centre president Zdenka Farkas said the relocation of the wall represented political and humanitarian terrorism. "We started building the Wall of Pain in 1993, spurred by the tragedy and the aggression against Croatia, also as an appeal for humanity and human rights to the international community and all in Croatia."
Farkas said that last week President Stjepan Mesic expressed his support so that "the bricks wouldn't end up in the earth". "This is the eradication of human rights and citizens' initiatives in Croatia, and we ask that Prime Minister Ivo Sanader and competent ministries become engaged in the settlement of this issue, so that a joint monument to Croatian war veterans and civilians won't be moved to Mirogoj, but be given a more appropriate place and treatment."
Justice Minister Vesna Skare-Ozbolt said the Wall of Pain was the only Homeland War monument that was created spontaneously. She added it was totally inappropriate to bury the bricks at Mirogoj.
Skare-Ozbolt said it had been agreed that the wall be transferred to Justice Square as a symbol of justice that had never been served. She added it was unclear why the wall was being relocated to Mirogoj, despite the opposition of war veterans associations and citizens.