ZAGREB, May 11 (Hina) - Numerous Croatian associations and parties condemned and expressed concern over an incident which occurred at a rally organised on Sunday by the Committee for returning the Square of Croatian Great Men its
former name of Victims of Fascism. Many of them hold the police had not performed their duty correctly, and some that the events should not be dramatised. A group for women's human rights, B.a.B.e., said the "conduct of the police who regarded the very loud verbal provocations and physical assaults with peace and a lack of interest, is more than surprising and causes extreme fear". The Association of Anti-fascist fighters of Zagreb, held the police had not performed their duty too well. "The police who were supposed to keep the rally safe from riots and provocation, announced and caused by pro-fascist groups, did not do their duty, while the young bouncers of the ASH and other organisati
ZAGREB, May 11 (Hina) - Numerous Croatian associations and parties
condemned and expressed concern over an incident which occurred at
a rally organised on Sunday by the Committee for returning the
Square of Croatian Great Men its former name of Victims of Fascism.
Many of them hold the police had not performed their duty correctly,
and some that the events should not be dramatised.
A group for women's human rights, B.a.B.e., said the "conduct of the
police who regarded the very loud verbal provocations and physical
assaults with peace and a lack of interest, is more than surprising
and causes extreme fear".
The Association of Anti-fascist fighters of Zagreb, held the police
had not performed their duty too well. "The police who were supposed
to keep the rally safe from riots and provocation, announced and
caused by pro-fascist groups, did not do their duty, while the young
bouncers of the ASH and other organisations, took over the role of
peace-keepers expeditiously, and without their protection there
would have been many more injured," the association said.
It added this was proof that there were young anti-fascist in
Croatia - the fighters for a true, democratic Croatia.
The Croatian Christian Democratic Party expressed concern over the
event, advocating oblivion to the 'ghosts of the past' and the
development of new democratic relations which lead to the well-
being of the Croatian people.
The Croatian Society for the protection and promotion of human
rights condemned the incident, but held there was no reason for it
to be dramatised.
The society deems physical attacks on the organisers of the rally as
"a question of democratic habits, and the culture of every
person".
"The physical protection of persons invited by the organisers could
have been better, but this is an issue of creating habits and
standards of police conduct," the society stressed in a statement.
A group of supporters of the New Croatian Right Wing arrived at the
square on Sunday, where a rally was being held to change the
square's name into its former name of the Victims of Fascism.
The organisers had 11 bouncers. Police said Monday they had put up
fences to close off the location of the rally, but the group of
newly-arriveds managed to force their way in and cause a fight.
Three people were lightly injured, including the committee
president, Zoran Pusic. Thirteen participants from both sides were
apprehended.
Police said they know who threw stones at the protesters, and were
close to uncovering who threw tear-gas among the crowd.
(hina) lml jn