ZAGREB/JERUSALEM, May 11 (Hina) - The Simon Wiesenthal Center on Tuesday called upon the Croatian Government "to take measures against fascist demonstrators who physically attacked a peaceful demonstration held in Zagreb on Sunday by
the Committee for Victims of Fascism Square and other Croatian human rights organisations," read a statement issued by the Jerusalem-based centre's director Efraim Zuroff. "No self-respecting democracy can condone violence against peaceful demonstrations expressing legitimate concerns. Given Croatia's fascist past during World War II and the identity of the perpetrators of the violence, their ideology and program, the Croatian government must take especially stringent measures to ensure that those guilty will be punished severely and that such acts of violence will not recur," the statement read. According to it, "such outbursts are the product of the tol
ZAGREB/JERUSALEM, May 11 (Hina) - The Simon Wiesenthal Center on
Tuesday called upon the Croatian Government "to take measures
against fascist demonstrators who physically attacked a peaceful
demonstration held in Zagreb on Sunday by the Committee for Victims
of Fascism Square and other Croatian human rights organisations,"
read a statement issued by the Jerusalem-based centre's director
Efraim Zuroff.
"No self-respecting democracy can condone violence against
peaceful demonstrations expressing legitimate concerns. Given
Croatia's fascist past during World War II and the identity of the
perpetrators of the violence, their ideology and program, the
Croatian government must take especially stringent measures to
ensure that those guilty will be punished severely and that such
acts of violence will not recur," the statement read.
According to it, "such outbursts are the product of the tolerance
exhibited by the Croatian government toward right-wing extremists
who glorify the country's Ustasha past and dream of a fascist
future."
The Center in the past "urged the government to take legal measures
to ban the use of Ustasha symbols, songs, and salutes but such
suggestions have been ignored. Sunday's violence is one of the
results of this policy," the statement concluded.
(hina) ms