SLOVENE CITIZEN IMPRISONED IN PULA PRISON STILL ON HUNGER STRIKE

PULA, Aug 25 (Hina) - Danijel Starman, defence attorney for Jozko Joras, a Slovene citizen living in the Croatian hamlet of Mlini in Buje municipality, who has been in prison since Wednesday in line with a decision by the Magistrate's Court in Umag, on Sunday visited his client together with Joras's wife. #L# Starman said that his client, who has been on a hunger strike since Thursday, continued refusing food but was in good condition despite feeling tired. Joras is under constant medical observation, the attorney said. Starman quoted his client as saying he did not recognise the jurisdiction of the Croatian state and its courts over his property. Joras, who lives in Mline in Buje municipality, Istria County, was arrested on Wednesday and sent to the Pula District Prison to serve a 30-day sentence which he received because he had ignored all previous proceedings conducted against him since 1999 on seven occasions at the Umag Magistrate's Court and failed to pay court- ordered fines. The competent judge therefore ruled that Joras be imprisoned for 30 days instead, and that all foreign flags he put up on his house be removed, except for the EU flag. Joras was charged with disturbing public peace and order, illegally displaying banners and signs challenging Croatia's territorial integrity, and displaying the flags of foreign countries and institutions, as well as failing to comply with the orders of border police and customs officers. Starman said today that no one would pay Joras's fines on behalf of the Slovene state as it would be an act of recognition of the Croatian state and its jurisdiction. Joras will continue his hunger strike until the end of the sentence or his release, Starman said. The attorney said he would sue the Umag judge who ruled that Joras be imprisoned. Starman also expects that Slovene politicians would protect the Slovene citizen and help in his release. (hina) rml