Zagreb, November 24th (Hina) - The spokesman of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Slavko Rako denied the claims by the members of the Main Headquarters for the Protection of the Dignity of the Homeland Defence War that the police had
side-tracked the buses with protesters on their way to Zagreb, thus preventing them from participating in the protest organised against the arrival of the Yugoslav President Vojislav Koštunica to the Zagreb Summit. Rako stated for Hina that the police had not side-tracked any buses with the protesters headed for Zagreb, emphasising that the public transport to the centre of Zagreb where the protest was held was provided for all protesters. Rako added that although some buses had been announced, they had not arrived. Marinko Liović, the head of disabled war veterans' association HVIDRA, explained that the number of participants in the protest against the arrival of the Yugoslav Pres
Zagreb, November 24th (Hina) - The spokesman of the Ministry of
Internal Affairs Slavko Rako denied the claims by the members of the
Main Headquarters for the Protection of the Dignity of the Homeland
Defence War that the police had side-tracked the buses with
protesters on their way to Zagreb, thus preventing them from
participating in the protest organised against the arrival of the
Yugoslav President Vojislav Koštunica to the Zagreb Summit.
Rako stated for Hina that the police had not side-tracked any buses
with the protesters headed for Zagreb, emphasising that the public
transport to the centre of Zagreb where the protest was held was
provided for all protesters.
Rako added that although some buses had been announced, they had not
arrived.
Marinko Liović, the head of disabled war veterans' association
HVIDRA, explained that the number of participants in the protest
against the arrival of the Yugoslav President to the Zagreb Summit
was lower than expected because the police had side-tracked the
buses with protesters headed for Zagreb on purpose.
Instead of the expected seven to ten thousand protesters, only 500
were present.
According to Liović, the people were frightened by "the threats of
President Mesić and the statements by Prime Minister Račan and the
relevant ministries, stating that the veterans will be deprived of
their rights if they organise a public protest".
After the rally, the Headquarters sent a demand to the Croatian
participants in the Summit, urging that no negotiations with
Yugoslavia should be held without prior apology for the aggression,
the payment of war indemnity and the accounting for the imprisoned
and missing persons.