FOURTH CONVENTION OF CIVILIAN WAR VICTIMS BEGINS

SISAK, June 7 (Hina) - The participants in the Fourth convention of associations of Croatian Homeland War civilian victims said in Sisak on Friday the civilian victims of war were deprived of their rights, and requested that this injustice be rectified. #L# The two-day event is held under the auspices of the Croatian War Veterans Ministry. In attendance are delegations of the president of the republic, parliament, government, local authorities, Homeland War associations, political parties, and guests from Bosnia-Herzegovina. The convention is tackling the tracing, exhumation and identification of civilians gone missing during the 1990s war, the social status of families of killed and missing civilians, and legislation regulating civilian disability issues. In her opening speech, Juliana Rosandic said on behalf of the associations that civilians were the most tragic victims of the Homeland War. For many years the Croatian state has not shown understanding for these victims, as opposed to the care given military victims, she said. Rosandic called on the government and the competent ministries to help the associations of civilian victims in rectifying this injustice. The amending of legislation referring to civilian war victims has begun, said Snjezana Biga-Friganovic, envoy of parliament's president and chairwoman of the labour, social welfare and health service committee. She added said legislation would be the subject of a public debate. Representatives of competent ministries announced new legislation which will give equal rights to disabled soldiers and civilians, in line with the government's social policy and the real possibilities of the state budget. Civilians account for 41 percent of all Homeland War victims, including 306 killed children, it was said. (hina) ha sb