ZAGREB, June 29 (Hina) - The spokesman of Croatia's ruling party, the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), on Tuesday said the current protest organised by the Croatian Farmers' Association was politically motivated. That association does
not represent the Croatian village and the Croatian farmer, but is the Croatian Peasants' Party's (HSS) interest pressure group and political branch, HDZ spokesman Ivica Ropus told reporters in Zagreb. He said the protest was an obvious beginning of HSS' pre-electoral campaign, as well as an abuse of open issues oppressing Croatian farmers. "Those who have planned this action wish to provoke Croatia's authorities, i.e. Croatia's police into using force to clear the blocked roads and border crossings, which should allegedly serve as good evidence and justification indicating that repression, force, and dictatorship rule in Croatia," Ropus said. Even tho
ZAGREB, June 29 (Hina) - The spokesman of Croatia's ruling party,
the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), on Tuesday said the current
protest organised by the Croatian Farmers' Association was
politically motivated.
That association does not represent the Croatian village and the
Croatian farmer, but is the Croatian Peasants' Party's (HSS)
interest pressure group and political branch, HDZ spokesman Ivica
Ropus told reporters in Zagreb.
He said the protest was an obvious beginning of HSS' pre-electoral
campaign, as well as an abuse of open issues oppressing Croatian
farmers.
"Those who have planned this action wish to provoke Croatia's
authorities, i.e. Croatia's police into using force to clear the
blocked roads and border crossings, which should allegedly serve as
good evidence and justification indicating that repression, force,
and dictatorship rule in Croatia," Ropus said.
Even though the Interior Ministry has been making great efforts and
redirecting traffic onto other roads, Croatian economy is
suffering huge damage, the ruling party's spokesman said,
mentioning transit and truck transport and tourism in particular.
Some 36 obstacles have been set up on border crossings and roads.
Ropus said nobody was bringing into question the legitimate right
to protest, but pointed out it has to be harmonised with the law, and
that the state will act according to the law.
In a statement issued today, the HSS refuted as unfounded the
accusations that it is politicising the farmers' protests. The
statement says the HSS "holds the Croatian government and competent
ministries responsible for the situation in agriculture, primarily
on account of a long-standing wrong agrarian policy."
(hina) ha jn