OPPOSITION OFFICIAL SLAMS GOVERNMENT

ZAGREB, Aug 12 (Hina) - The Croatian Party of Rights (HSP) is appalled by the government's inertia in connection with the Piran Bay border issue with Slovenia and the new beginnings of "the Serbs' political rebellion in places where they are the majority population," HSP president Anto Djapic said on Monday. #L# The government does not have an answer to those key issues, yet its first step in September will be to raise the prices of electricity and gas, which is another blow to the already poor standard of Croatian families, Djapic told reporters. He stated that the frequent incidents caused by Slovene fishermen in Piran Bay were not isolated cases but part of Slovenia's plan to negate Croatia's sovereignty. They should be treated as the maritime conflict between the two countries that they are, he said. Djapic labelled the government's protests regarding the matter as unacceptable and pathetic. He said the government did not want to take resolute action in the name of good neighbourly relations with Slovenia. Djapic further said it was unacceptable that the government did not react to what he called "the new beginnings of Serb rebellion in Croatia." He maintained that municipal leaders in Dvor na Uni and Udbina, where Serbs constitute the majority population, were against marking the municipalities' day on the anniversary of their liberation from Serb rebels in 1995. According to Djapic, some of these leaders are pardoned Chetniks who are trying to introduce their own anniversary dates, for example Sept. 18, when the Croatian army sustained great losses. Djapic stated these leaders violated the Croatian Constitution and Declaration on the Homeland War, and insulted the Croatian people. Their place is not in Croatia, he said. Djapic refuted media speculation about HSP's entering into coalitions with some parties. (hina) ha