COMMERCE TRADE UNION TO PRESS CHARGES AGAINST INTERIOR MINISTRY

ZAGREB, May 21 (Hina) - The organisers of a protest staged in Zagreb on Thursday by the workers of the NAMA store-chain and the Buducnost footwear factory on Friday announced they would press charges against the Croatian Interior Ministry given that the police prevented the protesters from reaching the government building. The Commerce Trade Union of Croatia (STH), which organised the protest, claims the police acted illegally since the ban on the rally arrived too late, less than the by law proscribed 24 hours. The STH announced it will request the replacement of Interior Minister Ivan Penic. STH president Ana Knezevic on Friday refuted the Interior Ministry argument for stopping the rally. The ministry stated the protesters would block traffic and requested additional permission from the city traffic bureau. The Zagreb city traffic bureau however told the STH the permit would be necessary only if traffic was prohibited on a road. According to Amalija Jelic, a union commissioner at NAMA, two women protesters had to seek medical help, one after being hit in the stomach by the police, and the other because she was being strangled. There were also instances of hair-pulling, and one woman protester took a policeman's gun. It was returned after he stopped strangling the woman, Jelic said. The protesters dispersed after their delegations informed them about the outcome of negotiations with the government; it was agreed salaries would be paid out in both companies. Also agreed were government activities for the financial rehabilitation of the two companies. (hina) ha jn