CRO HELSINKI COMMITTEE URGES BETTER POLICE WORK IN LIBERATED AREAS

ZAGREB, Feb 16 (Hina) - The Croatian Helsinki Committee (HHO) for human rights on Tuesday delivered to the media an open letter addressed to Premier Zlatko Matesa on February 11 in which the HHO expresses surprise at and dissatisfaction with Interior Minister Ivan Penic's statements about security and police performance in Lika-Senj County. The HHO letter enumerates the cases of mine-planting and lists the names of persons killed or dead in unclear circumstances in the said county. The cited cases refer to the period of time between the liberation of the area from Serbian occupation in 1995 and the beginning of February 1999. According to the HHO, 18 persons were killed in unclear circumstances. Thirty-one persons were the victims of 24 registered planting of mines, including ten persons who succumbed to the wounds. Several dozen other incidents were also registered. The HHO claims all cases have been reported to the police, but adds none has been resolved, apart from four murders whose perpetrators turned themselves in of their own will. The HHO is dissatisfied with Minister Penic's statement of February 9 in which he claimed police performance in such cases was resolute and energetic. The HHO demands the government shed light on all cases and incidents which, it says in the letter, are aimed at intimidating those wishing to return to Lika-Senj County, and at the expulsion of returnees and those who never left the area. (hina) ha jn