ZAGREB, March 24 (Hina) - The Croatian National Parliament's House of Representatives on Wednesday concluded a debate on the proposal for the establishment of an investigative commission for determining circumstances under which the
arms of the then Territorial Defence (TO) of Croatia were seized in 1990. The proposal was motioned by representatives of the Croatian Party of Rights (HSP) and supported by signatures of another 18 MPs from seven political parties. According to the HSP, the Commission should establish all facts referring to the impounding of weaponry of the territorial defence in the period between two rounds of elections in 1990, and answer questions who made a decision on arms confiscation, who conducted it, how much weaponry was seized, who took the arms, and how much money Croatia lost by this act. On behalf of the HSP, its leader Anto Djapic reiterated several times t
ZAGREB, March 24 (Hina) - The Croatian National Parliament's House
of Representatives on Wednesday concluded a debate on the proposal
for the establishment of an investigative commission for
determining circumstances under which the arms of the then
Territorial Defence (TO) of Croatia were seized in 1990.
The proposal was motioned by representatives of the Croatian Party
of Rights (HSP) and supported by signatures of another 18 MPs from
seven political parties.
According to the HSP, the Commission should establish all facts
referring to the impounding of weaponry of the territorial defence
in the period between two rounds of elections in 1990, and answer
questions who made a decision on arms confiscation, who conducted
it, how much weaponry was seized, who took the arms, and how much
money Croatia lost by this act.
On behalf of the HSP, its leader Anto Djapic reiterated several
times that the intention to set-up the commission was not the trial
of any person. He said the Croatian people had the right to learn of
the truth and that it was "a shame that people who do not want it are
sitting in the Sabor."
He denied statements of the Croatian Social and Liberal Party
(HSLS) deputies that the initiative to set up the commission was
born in the coalition between his party and the ruling Croatian
Democratic Union (HDZ). Djapic disagreed with Antun Vujic of the
Social and Democratic Party (SDP) that the establishment of the
commission was in line with the division of the Croatian State.
Djapic refused a statement of Ivica Racan of the SDP who said that
motives of the HSP proposal in the run-up to election were clear and
that the motion of this party is "a showdown with the collective
memory of the nation."
Racan added that judging from a series of arguments, the
establishment of the truth was not so important for those who
motioned this issue on the Sabor's agenda. The SDP leader backed
this statement by saying that the HSP proposed an investigation
into the limited period until 30 May 1990 without asking for a
enquiry in the developments during the whole 1990 as well as 1991.
Mato Arlovic of the SDP informed the lower house that the decision
on impounding arms of the Territorial Defence was made by the
leadership of the then Yugoslav Army on 14 May. The presidency of
the then Republic of Croatia discussed the decision. Arlovic added
that the question posed itself why responsible bodies of the
democratically elected authorities had not initiated such question
in June 1990.
Boris Kandare of the HSP expressed his opinion that the TO arms loss
was a clear hurdle in the creation of the independent Croatia. He
warned that there had been nine years since the event and that the
next year would see the limitation for bringing possible legal
action in the case.
Antun Vujic of the SDP described the motion as a "cuckoo in the
nest". He expressed surprise that some members of the HDZ endorsed
the HSP initiative and warned them to think twice since they,
according to him, were hastening with the dissolution of the party
of which they are members.
(hina) ms