ZAGREB, March 22 (Hina) - An association of Croatian war veterans treated for the post-traumatic stress disorder held its third convention on Saturday at which it asked the authorities to immediately stop applying the contentious
American psychological tests (MMPI-2) in examining the mental state of war veterans.
ZAGREB, March 22 (Hina) - An association of Croatian war veterans
treated for the post-traumatic stress disorder held its third
convention on Saturday at which it asked the authorities to
immediately stop applying the contentious American psychological
tests (MMPI-2) in examining the mental state of war veterans. #L#
The association urges the introduction of a system of psychological
and health care for sick veterans, which would be free of the
influence of the politics.
The veterans treated for PTSD insist on the annulment of the legal
and adminsitrative deadlines for reporting their diseases, as,
they say, the time terms restrict their right to illness and the
rights of families of veterans who committed suicide.
The association insists on the establishment of the exact figures
on how many veterans had committed suicide.
Addressing the convention on behalf of organisers, Dubravko
Svedrec, pointed the finger at the current authorities for failing
to improve the status and rights of those who fought for Croatia in
the Homeland Defence War in early 1990s.
He expressed hope that today's convention could serve as a basis for
better cooperation, or they "would be forced to take more radical
measures" in the struggle for their rights and ask for
international assistance and mediation.
Svedrec accused the incumbent minister in charge of war veterans,
Ivica Pancic, of exerting influence on courts when they deal with
veterans' cases.
Participants in the convention signed a petition for the
replacement of Minister Pancic. In the last four weeks, about 4,000
signatures were collected on this petition.
(hina) ms