CRO HELSINKI COMMITTEE CONDEMNS POLICE SEARCH OF WEEKLY'S OFFICES

ZAGREB, June 8 (Hina) - The Croatian Helsinki Committee (HHO), which deals with human rights, on Tuesday condemned a search of "Nacional" weekly's offices in Zagreb which the Interior Ministry carried out on Monday. The HHO is of the opinion the search was a "serious threat to the freedom of the press, and another attempt to intimidate independent media and reporters with the aim to silence the for the authorities unpalatable critical word." The Interior Ministry announced a search of "Nacional's" offices after refuting allegations made by the weekly in a last week article headlined "SZUP (Service for the Protection of the Constitutional Order) Rigs Soccer Championship on Tudjman Orders". The investigation should establish who gave the reporters documents from, thus the Interior Ministry, previous operative processing. In today's statement, the HHO warns that such actions jeopardise the reporters' and editors' right, guaranteed by law, to not disclose their sources. The HHO mentioned Article 234 of the penal law, which exempts reporters from the obligation to testify, and Article 12 of the public information law. The HHO voiced its full support to editors and reporters in protecting their sources of information. (hina) ha jn