CRO HELSINKI COMMITTEE ISSUES STATEMENT ON LATEST EXTREMIST EVENTS IN CRO

ZAGREB, May 9 (Hina) - The Croatian Helsinki Committee for Human Rights (HHO), expressed concern about the latest events in Croatia "which aim at the destabilisation of the state and blocking of all positive democratic changes", and demanded an urgent action from the Government, which would prevent "extremist savagery across Croatia". Events outside of the United States Embassy in Zagreb, which took place after the passing of a sentence to Tihomir Blaskic, were spiced up with a recognisable fascist symbolism. A protest in Gospic against the presence of International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) investigators, and statements of president of the Croatian Homeland War Invalids association (HVIDR) Marinko Liovic and president of the Croatian Party of Rights (HSP) Anto Djapic, bring fear and restlessness into Croatian citizens, read the HHO statement. Also, rabble-rousing speeches charged with hatred against Serb returnees result in incidents which are on the edge of bloodshed. Incidents at soccer stadiums, announcements of new Croatian Homeland War volunteers protests and the possibility of a collective escalation of violence in areas where the mass return of Serb returnees is expected are obviously a part of the scenario which aims at provoking a general chaos in Croatia, the HHO said. If this violent wave of black right-wing threats is not stopped as soon as possible, consequences, which could occur due to the hesitation of authorised bodies, could be disastrous for Croatia and its democratic and European direction, read the HHO statement. (hina) it mm