CRO. HELSINKI COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS PRESENTS ANNUAL AWARDS

ZAGREB, Dec 8 (Hina) - The vice president of the Istrian Democratic Assembly, Damir Kajin, was presented on Friday with the "Miko Tripalo" annual award of the Croatian Helsinki Committee on Human Rights (HHO) for advocating human rights, while Leon Levar, the son of the assassinated Milan Levar was presented with the "Aleksandra Zec" award to victims of violence. Attending the award ceremony at the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb were President Stipe Mesic, numerous public and political figures, representatives of the diplomatic corps and non- governmental organisations. HHO chairman Zarko Puhovski called on the present to pay homage with a minute of silence to Vlado Gotovac, a Croatian MP and honorary president of the Liberal Party who passed away yesterday. HHO's basic idea is that all people have rights, regardless of who they are, said Puhovski. He pointed out the state was the one breaching human rights the most, as well as the only one capable of guaranteeing and protecting them. The award to victims of violence "Aleksandra Zec" was named after a 12-year-old girl murdered with her family in Zagreb in 1991, said HHO Executive Board member Cedo Prodanovic, who reminded the murderers had never been prosecuted. After the August murder of his father, a Hague war crimes tribunal witness, Leon Levar became a victim of killers' pressure and threats, Prodanovic said, adding he was confident the Milan Levar assassins would not remain unpunished as the Zec family killers. Kajin was presented with the "Miko Tripalo" award for his efforts in the realisation of the rights of the Italian minority in Istria. (hina) ha jn