ZAGREB, Oct 4 (Hina) - The Croatian Movement for Democracy and Social Justice believes the public statements of 12 generals and the leadership of the strongest opposition party, backed by ultra-rightist little groups, indicate that
the totalitarian legacy has not been entirely overcome. The movement, which is led by Ivan Supek, physicist, philosopher, and writer, appeals to the democratic government and parliament to pass, as soon as possible, laws which will establish an independent judiciary, modern education, the autonomy of universities, ensure the acknowledgement of skills, and incite economic recovery. "The statement of the twelve generals tries to elevate the Homeland Defence War to something sacred or a taboo, so as to cover up side-tracks and war crimes, such as the Milosevic-Tudjman agreement on the division of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the allegedly humane resettlement but in
ZAGREB, Oct 4 (Hina) - The Croatian Movement for Democracy and
Social Justice believes the public statements of 12 generals and
the leadership of the strongest opposition party, backed by ultra-
rightist little groups, indicate that the totalitarian legacy has
not been entirely overcome.
The movement, which is led by Ivan Supek, physicist, philosopher,
and writer, appeals to the democratic government and parliament to
pass, as soon as possible, laws which will establish an independent
judiciary, modern education, the autonomy of universities, ensure
the acknowledgement of skills, and incite economic recovery.
"The statement of the twelve generals tries to elevate the Homeland
Defence War to something sacred or a taboo, so as to cover up side-
tracks and war crimes, such as the Milosevic-Tudjman agreement on
the division of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the allegedly humane
resettlement but in truth ethnic cleansing with Croats as the worst
victims of that insanity, the arson of more than ten thousand Serb
houses, the pillage of others' property, the killing of civilians,"
the movement says in a statement.
"The incumbent authorities, as well as the entire public, has the
duty to purify the sincerity and rapture of defence patriotism from
political fallacies and war crimes," it adds.
The movement believes it is inadmissible that the judiciary and
media, like television, continue to hold, in education, science and
culture, the leading positions of "court sycophant and zero."
The generals' letter was released a fortnight after the arrest of a
dozen persons, among whom were Homeland Defence War veterans,
suspected of having committed war and other crimes. The
proclamation by the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), the formerly
ruling and now strongest opposition party, objected to the
retirement of active generals who signed the letter.
In their letter, the generals accused the authorities and the media
of speaking of those who took part in the Homeland Defence War only
in the context of a group which broke the law. They concluded this
led to the criminalisation of Croatia's war of independence from
the former Yugoslav federation.
The HDZ in its proclamation accused the authorities of dangerously
radicalising the situation in the country and of authoritarianism,
demanding early elections.
(hina) ha jn