CROATIAN ENGINE DRIVERS' UNION CONDEMNS ATTACK ON UNION LEADER

ZAGREB, April 27 (Hina) - The Union of Croatian Engine Drivers (SSH) believes that the attack on the SSH vice president Ivan Tolic, which occurred on Monday evening, was a homicide attempt aimed at thwarting the activities of Croatian Railways (HZ) union members. SSH president Nenad Mrgan told reporters on Tuesday that he was not surprised by the incident. Tolic has often presented arguments and warned of the financial abuse in the HZ. In late March, during a meeting with Premier Zlatko Matesa, Tolic told Matesa his safety was threatened because of his views, Mrgan said. Mrgan said that the attack would not prevent Tolic to continue fighting for the rights of union members. As a sign of their protest against the attack on Tolic, HZ engine drivers today stopped traffic in all directions between 12.30 and 1 pm. Speaking at the news conference, HZ director Marijan Klaric condemned the attack and expressed hope that the perpetrators would be found and punished. The HZ management is in no way connected with the attack and allegations saying the HZ management had ordered the attack are extremely unfair, Klaric said. Tolic was beaten up with iron bars by two unidentified men at 8.30 pm on Monday, in front of his apartment in Zagreb. (hina) jn rml