DEFENCE MINISTRY: THERE WAS NO SEXUAL ABUSE OF MEMBERS OF 16TH ARTILLERY BRIGADE

ZAGREB, Feb 21 (Hina) - A Croatian Armed Forces Main Staff commission has carried out an investigation and established that female members of the 16th Artillery Brigade in Bjelovar were not subjected to sexual harassment, the Ministry said in statement on Thursday, describing as unfounded allegations from an anonymous letter sent to Defence Minister Jozo Rados. "Based on the results of the investigation, which included an anonymous opinion poll among female members of the 16th Artillery Brigade, it has been established beyond doubt that the unit's members were not sexually abused and that the claims from the anonymous letter are entirely unfounded," the Ministry said in the statement. Ministry spokesman Dusan Viro said yesterday that two days ago Defence Minister Jozo Rados received an anonymous letter alleging that the female members of the 16th Artillery Brigade from Bjelovar were subjected to sexual harassment. Yesterday's press reported that the abused soldiers claimed two of their male colleagues were harassing them on a daily basis and that their superiors were threatening them with dismissal. The investigation, which was completed today, had been ordered by the Chief-of-Staff, General Petar Stipetic. The women's associations Rosa and B.a.B.e. today issued statements requesting the Ministry to inform them about the investigation and offering assistance. The parliamentary Committee on Gender Equality yesterday supported a B.a.B.e. request for the suspension of the officers suspected of sexual abuse. (hina) rml