OSIJEK OSIJEK, Aug 23 (Hina) - Some 300 former inmates of Serb concentration and forced labour camps from all around Croatia gathered in Osijek on Saturday to mark the Days of Former Camp Inmates.
OSIJEK, Aug 23 (Hina) - Some 300 former inmates of Serb
concentration and forced labour camps from all around Croatia
gathered in Osijek on Saturday to mark the Days of Former Camp
Inmates. #L#
The head of the Osijek County branch of the national association of
former concentration camp inmates, Tomislav Hajdukovic, pointed to
the difficult status of former camp inmates and called on the
government to increase funds and improve care for them.
Speaking at a session of the association, Hajdukovic recalled that
camp inmates would meet next year in Split.
Some 8,000 people were imprisoned in Serbian concentration camps,
while another 2,000 were imprisoned in forced labour camps, mostly
in formerly occupied Croatian areas. A total of 312 people from
Osijek County were imprisoned in concentration camps, Hajdukovic
said. "Due to the consequences of grave physical and psychological
abuse, 26 former inmates died, while six committed suicide after
their release," he added.
A member of the association's presidency, Zvonimir Safarik from
Vukovar, warned about an increasing number of malignant diseases in
former camp inmates. As much as 78 percent of former inmates suffer
from malignant diseases, he said, urging the government to improve
care for those people.
Before the session, former inmates laid wreaths and lit candles in
front of a cross to war victims at Osijek's central cemetery and
attended Mass at the Church of Saints Peter and Paul.
An exhibition of photos on the suffering of Croatian soldiers in the
war was opened at the Croatian National Theatre in Osijek today.
(hina) rml