ZAGREB, March 28 (Hina) - The president of the Association of Disabled Croatian Homeland War Veterans (HVIDR), Damir Varazdinac, has said yesterday's protests by war veterans were successful because they drew public attention to the
status of soldiers, the protection of Homeland War values and opposition to its criminalisation and the vilification of soldiers, especially disabled ones, as well as to false claims that Croatia was founded on crime.
ZAGREB, March 28 (Hina) - The president of the Association of
Disabled Croatian Homeland War Veterans (HVIDR), Damir Varazdinac,
has said yesterday's protests by war veterans were successful
because they drew public attention to the status of soldiers, the
protection of Homeland War values and opposition to its
criminalisation and the vilification of soldiers, especially
disabled ones, as well as to false claims that Croatia was founded
on crime. #L#
"We are satisfied with the turnout at the peaceful protests and road
blockades, in which more than 2,000 war veterans participated
according to the association's information," Varazdinac said at a
news conference.
He apologised to all citizens for any inconvenience possibly caused
by the protests.
The head of the HVIDR main committee, Ante Kardum, jokingly thanked
the police, saying there were more police than protesters at
yesterday's rallies, which increased the turnout.
Croatian generals are convicted while war criminals are walking
freely in Croatia and receiving Croatian pensions, Kardum said.
Varazdinac dismissed claims by Premier Ivica Racan that the
protests were backed by political organisations and added that the
HVIDR had not received support from any party, which he said was
sad.
He also dismissed accusations that the protests damaged economy,
stating that the protests were discontinued after two hours because
the association did not want to cause damage to Croatia which they
had built.
The others, for example farmers, also staged rallies to voice
dissatisfaction, but they were not condemned as war veterans, he
said.
"We also condemn accusations by Interior Minister Sime Lucin who
said that the protests claimed the first victim as HVIDR members
allegedly felled a tree onto a road near Bibinje into which a young
man ran with his car, suffering injuries due to which he had to be
hospitalised. We have investigated the case and established that
nobody felled the tree at HVIDR's instruction," Varazdinac said
urging the police to carry out an investigation and find the
perpetrators so that the association could clear its name.
(hina) rml sb