OSIJEK OSIJEK, May 7 (Hina) - The trial of a journalist and columnist in Rijeka's "Novi list" daily, Drago Pilsel, started at Osijek County Court on Wednesday. Pilsel is being sued by some 30 members of Osijek's association of
Homeland War invalids (HVIDR) for libel.
OSIJEK, May 7 (Hina) - The trial of a journalist and columnist in
Rijeka's "Novi list" daily, Drago Pilsel, started at Osijek County
Court on Wednesday. Pilsel is being sued by some 30 members of
Osijek's association of Homeland War invalids (HVIDR) for libel.
#L#
Embittered by the fact that a local paper, "Osijecki dom",
published a list with the names of Homeland War invalids in the
area, HVIDR members last year blocked the paper's printing office
for several days. During the protest, they burnt several copies of
the paper.
In his column for Novi list, Pilsel wrote, among other things, the
blockade had been organised "by a group of fascist vandals from the
HVIDR", and that the association "practised fascism". These words
sparked the law suit.
Pilsel told the court today that he did not feel guilty and that he
would write the same words again today.
They only pertained to members of the HVIDR who took part in the
unconstitutional and unlawful attempt to prevent the distribution
of the newspaper, but not to the entire HVIDR, he said.
"I believed that, being a reporter, it was my professional
obligation and civil duty to defend Article 38 of the Constitution
which guarantees the freedom of thought and expression," Pilsel
said.
He stressed that he had not said that HVIDR members were fascists,
but rather that the acts of those who had blocked the printing
office were acts of vandals and fascists.
Pilsel was frequently interrupted in giving his statement by
disputes and discussions between his attorney, Dafinka Vecerina,
and a representative of the plaintiffs, Drazen Matijevic, as well
as by comments by some dozen HVIDR members who watched the
proceedings.
Judge Kresimir Tvrtkovic called them to order several times and
warned that he would remove those who caused disturbance out of the
courtroom, but did not do so.
After the attorneys for the plaintiffs asked Pilsel 12 questions,
Vecerina took her turn in asking her client questions. But after the
judge ruled her first question irrelevant and procedurally
incorrect, Vecerina protested over the "bias of the court" and
abandoned further questioning.
Pilsel told reporters after the hearing that the judge's conduct
was "unfair", and added that the atmosphere in the courtroom was
tense, at times reminding him of the Lora war crimes trial in
Split.
The president of Osijek's HVIDR, Hrvoje Kurtovic, told reporters he
believed in the Croatian judiciary. He added the association was
mostly hurt by Pilsel's words "a group of fascist vandals".
"We are nationalists, but we are not fascists and have nothing in
common with fascism," said Kurtovic.
The next hearing is scheduled for July 8, when the plaintiffs will
be heard.
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