HERZEGOVINA POLITICAL PRISONERS SEE PETRITSCH AS STALIN

MOSTAR, Aug 24 (Hina) - A Bosnian Croat society of political prisoners, Herzegovina, has described the situation in Bosnia- Herzegovina as a return to "the age of communist-Stalinist darkness" and compared the international community's High Representative in Bosnia to Stalin. Such accusations have been spurred by the charges the Sarajevo cantonal prosecutor's office has pressed against seven prominent Bosnian Croat officials accused of undermining Bosnia's territorial integrity. "The difference is that instead of Stalin and similar dictators, the role of supreme judge has been assumed by Austrian 'democrat' (Wolfgang) Petritsch who, Great Protector-style, passes and changes laws as he pleases, appoints and replaces judges as beys their cadi," the Herzegovina society said in a statement on Friday. The society has requested the High Representative to leave Bosnia, claiming he has lost all credibility and is no longer welcome among Bosnia's Croats. The political prisoners accuse Petritsch of punishing and persecuting those who have been elected by the Croat people, awarding his faithful servants, and falsely informing the United Nations Security Council and other superiors. The society said it would inform their colleagues around the world about this disgraceful political process, as well as all institutions dealing in the protection of human rights and the right to a different opinion. (hina) ha sb