ZAGREB, Feb 9 (Hina) - Protest rallies against the case of retired general Mirko Norac, who is under investigation on suspicion of war crimes and for whom an arrest warrant has been issued, continued spreading throughout Croatia on
Friday. The gatherings, organised by war veterans' associations, have been supported by the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ). Several protest rallies were organised today, while the Zagreb-Split highway near Sinj and some local roads have been blocked. The HDZ branch in Dubrovnik County supported its deputies in parliament who demand a debate on the new situation, relations with the Hague tribunal and all circumstances of the Norac case. The government's conduct gives rise to suspicion regarding the "safety of all Homeland War participants," the party branch said in a statement. The party's Vukovar County branch believes that by issuing an arrest warrant and launching an investigation against Norac
ZAGREB, Feb 9 (Hina) - Protest rallies against the case of retired
general Mirko Norac, who is under investigation on suspicion of war
crimes and for whom an arrest warrant has been issued, continued
spreading throughout Croatia on Friday. The gatherings, organised
by war veterans' associations, have been supported by the Croatian
Democratic Union (HDZ). Several protest rallies were organised
today, while the Zagreb-Split highway near Sinj and some local
roads have been blocked.
The HDZ branch in Dubrovnik County supported its deputies in
parliament who demand a debate on the new situation, relations with
the Hague tribunal and all circumstances of the Norac case. The
government's conduct gives rise to suspicion regarding the "safety
of all Homeland War participants," the party branch said in a
statement.
The party's Vukovar County branch believes that by issuing an
arrest warrant and launching an investigation against Norac, the
six-party coalition "has been tendentiously trying to criminalise
the Homeland War while keeping silent about the tragedy of Croat
victims, and creating an opportunity for a possible revision of
Croatia's more recent history." "General Mirko Norac is one of the
symbols of the Homeland War, the credit for the defence of Gospic
and the entire Lika (region) goes to him, whose proven courage and
sacrifice, as well as the courage and sacrifice of his fellow
soldiers, have secured peace and freedom and the country's
democratic development," the party branch said.
War veterans' associations from Makarska condemn the investigation
into "the Homeland War hero" and accuse the government of "high
treason," calling on the public to put up resistance and gather for
a rally in the central port of Split on Sunday.
The "Croatian Woman" association has voiced support for Norac too.
The Lika-Senj County headquarters for the protection of the dignity
of the Homeland War today sent the Supreme Court a request that
Milan Canic, Norac's war-time deputy who is in custody at a Rijeka
investigating centre, be released on bail. In case their request is
not met, the association said it would stage protest rallies.
The committee "We Are All Mirko Norac" from Osijek County today
organised a gathering against Norac's arrest, asking that the
vilification of the Homeland War be stopped. They voiced support
for protest rallies in Sinj. The committee believes that "the
government's policy of high treason is the result of a blind
cooperation of the Croatian government with The Hague and other
European offices, which even today cannot accept the independent
Croatian state."
The committee further expresses "determination to apply
institutional and other forms of civil disobedience."
As a sign of support for Norac, several hundred residents of
Benkovac in the Zadar hinterland at noon blocked a road leading to
Zagreb with cars and trucks.
The president of the Croatian Social Liberal Party, Drazen Budisa,
voiced his stand on the Norac case today. Speaking in a local radio
broadcast in Gospic, Budisa said Croatia must not become hostage to
crimes or attempt to achieve political aims by condemning the
innocent.
"One should keep peace and common sense in these moments - the unity
of the Croat people, and allow those people to give their
testimonies before investigative bodies. We have committed
ourselves to processing those who have committed possible war
crimes. This does not jeopardise the dignity of the Homeland War.
This way, Croatia can say clearly that it is functioning as a law-
based state," the HSLS leader said.
(hina) sb rml