ZAGREB, Feb 13 (Hina) - The recent rallies and statements in the wake of the issuing of an arrest warrant for Mirko Norac, a retired general suspected of war crimes against civilians, either support Norac and Croatia's war veterans or
condemn the manipulation with veterans' associations to attain specific political goals. Mato Arlovic, parliamentary bench president of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the strongest in the ruling coalition, at Tuesday's press conference condemned the provoking of conflicts among veterans' associations. Arlovic said the SDP was receiving numerous letters from the associations voicing support to the government and demanding a functioning rule-of-law. He rebuked the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), the strongest opposition party, for its attempts to use associations and the citizens in its struggle for power. A rally in support of general Norac was held today in the eastern town of Vinkovci, gat
ZAGREB, Feb 13 (Hina) - The recent rallies and statements in the
wake of the issuing of an arrest warrant for Mirko Norac, a retired
general suspected of war crimes against civilians, either support
Norac and Croatia's war veterans or condemn the manipulation with
veterans' associations to attain specific political goals.
Mato Arlovic, parliamentary bench president of the Social
Democratic Party (SDP), the strongest in the ruling coalition, at
Tuesday's press conference condemned the provoking of conflicts
among veterans' associations.
Arlovic said the SDP was receiving numerous letters from the
associations voicing support to the government and demanding a
functioning rule-of-law. He rebuked the Croatian Democratic Union
(HDZ), the strongest opposition party, for its attempts to use
associations and the citizens in its struggle for power.
A rally in support of general Norac was held today in the eastern
town of Vinkovci, gathering about 500 who requested prosecuting
paramilitary units which took part in the early 1990s aggression on
Croatia, severing cooperation with UN's war crimes tribunal in The
Hague, and abiding by laws on veterans' rights.
The Federation of Independent Trade Unions (SSSH) urged all who
initiated and took part in the latest Norac-related events to
contribute with their conduct to a peaceful and civilised
settlement of the issue. SSSH president Davor Juric called on the
ruling coalition and the opposition to get to work and "start
solving the amassed economic and social problems."
The Croatian People's Party (HNS), one of the ruling six, said today
it would head a civic Croatia which it believes is in the majority
and in conflict with the part of the political elite which is led by
the HDZ and demands shutting down the judiciary, subverting the
government and the head of state, and sets deadlines for early
elections.
HNS president Vesna Pusic told reporters Croatia was in the midst of
a struggle to preserve the institutional integrity of the state.
Radimir Cacic, chairman of the HNS Head Committee, said that open
calls to a coup d'etat at protests attended by active military
officers and police heads could only entail suspension.
The HNS called on the presidents of the ruling six parties not to
attend a protest rally announced for Thursday in front of the
government building.
The Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) agrees to peaceful
protests but objects to using them as political means and believes
that not one general can be an excuse for causing chaos, the vice
president of the second strongest party in the ruling coalition,
Vilim Herman, said in the eastern town of Osijek today.
He told reporters that last weekend's road blocks and undermining
of the next tourist season had caused enormous political and
economic damage. Herman added the HDZ supported war cries of high
treason and calling for a change of government, and that it was
creating tension to score political points.
(hina) ha sb