GRACAC GRACAC, July 26 (Hina) - Dozens of Croatian war veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) rallied in Gracac on Friday to peacefully protest against what they said was the authorities' neglect of war veterans
and their families.
GRACAC, July 26 (Hina) - Dozens of Croatian war veterans suffering
from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) rallied in Gracac on
Friday to peacefully protest against what they said was the
authorities' neglect of war veterans and their families. #L#
The demonstrators were joined by representatives of laid-off
policemen.
The 15-minute rally passed without incidents. Dozens of policemen
blocked the demonstrators from accessing a vital nearby state
road.
The rally was addressed by the Association of Croatian War Veterans
Treated for PTSD, Tihomir Apari, who said the incumbent government
had distanced itself completely from the real difficulties of the
common man and disregarded people's needs.
Apari said a feeling of betrayal was eating at the spirit of
Croatia's war veterans. He maintained the daily suicides committed
by the veterans were not the result of PTSD but the state which
treated them as hardened criminals.
The president of the Association's Zadar branch, Milivoj Bujas,
said the Association would stage a protest in August unless they
were received at the War Veterans Ministry and an answer was offered
to their demands. Nobody will stop us then, he said.
(hina) ha