INMATES IN LEPOGLAVA END HUNGER STRIKE

LEPOGLAVA, June 2 (Hina) - Inmates in the prison of Lepoglava ceased their hunger strike late Thursday evening. One hundred and three (103) prisoners had started a hunger strike on Tuesday, protesting against the small number of amnestied veterans. "Today's talks showed that there is confidence in the Amnesty Commission and its treatment of the problem of lessening sentences in relation to Croatian war veterans and other convicts," Croatian Justice Minister told reporters on Thursday evening following the six-hour-long negotiations with representatives of the convicted Croatian veterans who are serving their sentences in the penitentiary centre of Lepoglava. They had gone on hunger strike to express their dissatisfaction with the work of the Amnesty Commission. Of 103 hunger strikers, 34 were convicted war veterans. Justice Minister Ivanisevic said he had promised to the protesters that the Amnesty Commission would continue to work according to its schedule. It will consider requests for amnesty by 20 June and the rest of applications should be solved by 15 July this year. Present at the talks were also the chairman of the Amnesty Commission of the President of the Republic, Josip Boljkovac, a commission member, Ivan Zvonimir Cicak, and an assistant to Justice Minister, Vjekoslav Jazbec. (hina) ms