ZAGREB ZAGREB, Nov 9 (Hina) - Several hundred citizens and human rights activists gathered in downtown Zagreb on Saturday for a protest meeting entitled "Fascism, No Thanks" on the occasion of International Day Against Fascism and
Anti-Semitism. The event was organised by the Committee Against Fascisation, which is made up of non-government organisations.
ZAGREB, Nov 9 (Hina) - Several hundred citizens and human rights
activists gathered in downtown Zagreb on Saturday for a protest
meeting entitled "Fascism, No Thanks" on the occasion of
International Day Against Fascism and Anti-Semitism. The event was
organised by the Committee Against Fascisation, which is made up of
non-government organisations. #L#
The purpose of the meeting, its organisers said, was to warn about
the growing intolerance and hatred towards and discrimination
against minorities.
The protesters forwarded to the parliament a proposal for amending
the Penal Code to ban the use of Nazi, fascist and Ustasha symbols as
well as the glorification of Ustasha officers and politicians.
They also suggested banning all forms of discrimination and urged
the Education Ministry to draw up an additional curriculum for
Romany children.
Journalist Drago Pilsel said that today's indifference towards
such problems was equal to tomorrow's crimes. He reminded about the
start of the mass expulsion of Jews and all those who were thinking
differently on November 9, 1938 in Germany, and warned about the
increasingly frequent displaying of fascist symbols.
Serb People's Council president Milorad Pupovac warned that the
past which the world and Europe had done away with long ago was
glorified at the concerts of some singers. He believes that "those
abusing the fragile tolerance in Croatia" will soon face growing
resistance.
The head of the Civil Committee for Human Rights, Zoran Pusic,
believes that the most important problem is the silent majority
which tolerates negative occurrences in Croatian society. He
believes today's meeting contributes to preventing such
occurrences from developing in an unwanted direction.
The gathered were also addressed by a representative of the UN
Mission to Croatia, Kishore Mondyan, who said that an attack on any
member of the community was an attack on all and that one must not
allow differences to lead to the horrors of persecution known from
the past, when the Nazi regime persecuted Jews and those with
different political views.
The meeting was also addressed by the head of the Croatian
Association of Anti-Fascist Fighters, Ivan Fumic.
Vesna Terselic of the Peace Studies Centre from Zagreb spoke about
the importance of overcoming intolerance and building a culture of
non-violence and tolerance. She welcomed HIV positive girl Ela
attending classes with other children in a school in Kasteli.
At today's meeting funds were raised for the treatment of a little
Iranian girl suffering from hydrocephalus, who has not been able to
undergo surgery in Croatia because her family cannot pay for it. The
girl and her mother were stopped in Croatia while they were trying
to reach Italy in search of a better life.
(hina) rml