STRIKE COMMITTEE OF 'NAMA' BEGINS HUNGER STRIKE

ZAGREB, April 27 (Hina) - Members of the strike committee of NAMA, a chain of stores, on Tuesday went on hunger strike and said they would be carrying out this action as long as a decision on the launching the rehabilitation of NAMA was not made and the contract was not signed on re-scheduling NAMA'a debt to the Privredna Banka Zagreb. The committee's nine members used chains to shackle themselves to the stairways in front of the main offices of the Privredna Banka in Zagreb where they intend to remain until their demands are fulfilled. Unionists regard this bank, which used to be the majority owner of NAMA, as most responsible for the current financial difficulties of the company, since the stores chain has been burdened with unfavourable loans. In the last four year NAMA had to pay 42 million marks for interest rate, whereas its debts still total 47 million marks. That's why the strikers insist on the debt rescheduling. They also demand the paying of salaries and that privatisation investment funds "Expandia" and "Velebit" be immediately enrolled at the book of NAMA'a shareholders, since these funds have become majority owners of the company during the voucher privatisation. (hina) jn ms