CROATIAN VICTIMOLOGY SOCIETY CLAIMS ICTY TRIES TO IMPOSE DICTATE

ZAGREB, Dec 6 (Hina) - The Croatian Victimology Society on Wednesday expressed concern with the prohibition issued by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) to the Slobodna Dalmacija daily and Globus weekly to publish the testimony of Croatian President Stipe Mesic before the Tribunal. The society said The Hague was trying to impose direct dictate to the Croatian public by issuing orders about what can be published in Croatia. The Croatian Victimology Society said in a statement "the most recent sharpening of the Tribunal's policy against Croatia" has especially become evident "in their assessment that conflicts in the former Yugoslavia had been conflicts among Balkan tribes which need to be punished". The Society concludes the ICTY is "carrying out a policy of equalising the criminal and victim, negating Croatian as the victim and jeopardy against the Croatian state". The request of the Hague Tribunal to Slobodna Dalmacija and Globus is described in the statement as "against all democratic principles of modern democratic states -- the freedom of the media and the freedom of public opinion". (hina) lml jn