ORGANISERS OF ZAGREB PROTEST FORWARD DECLARATION TO AUTHORITIES

ZAGREB, Dec 5 (Hina) - A committee preparing a protest rally called "For a Social Croatia, not a Croatia of Welfare Cases" in front of the government building in Zagreb on Dec. 12 has forwarded a declaration to the authorities, demanding the passing of measures for economic development and social responsibility. The "protest of awakening" intends to point to the discontent with the dire economic and social situation. It is organised by the Association of Workers Trade Unions (URSH), the Association of Farmers of Slavonia and Baranja, the Alliance of Associations of the Unemployed of Croatia, the coordinating body of student corps, and the Association of Croatian Homeland War Volunteer Veterans. The Preporod school union will not participate in the protest. It maintains some organisers are abusing joint rallies to send messages to the effect that they will realise their interests by force if necessary. Preporod refers to volunteer veterans president Ante Roso who said when the protest was announced he would fight for the amnesty of war veterans "by hook or by crook." The rally is expected to draw up to 20,000 protesters. Invitations have been sent to President Stipe Mesic, Prime Minister Ivica Racan, and parliamentary speaker Zlatko Tomcic, said URSH president Boris Kunst. (hina) ha sb