ZAGREB, Aug 2 (Hina) - The Croatian Helsinki Committee for Human Rights (HHO), on Monday forwarded an open letter to Croatia's Premier Zlatko Matesa, expressing concern about an increasing number of violations of human rights in the
areas liberated by the 1995 Storm and intolerance displayed toward Serb returnees particularly in the area of Knin. HHO maintains that as an increasing number of younger Serbs are coming back, this is creating the feeling of insecurity and fear in settlers who have arrived from Bosnia-Herzegovina and Janjevo, Kosovo. That's why, newcomers are beginning to behave aggressively toward owners of the property they have occupied, the HHO wrote in the letter adding that this has led toward the deterioration of the situation. Crops, planted by returnees, are being destroyed in fields, recently repaired installations in their houses are being broken, cattle is being pus
ZAGREB, Aug 2 (Hina) - The Croatian Helsinki Committee for Human
Rights (HHO), on Monday forwarded an open letter to Croatia's
Premier Zlatko Matesa, expressing concern about an increasing
number of violations of human rights in the areas liberated by the
1995 Storm and intolerance displayed toward Serb returnees
particularly in the area of Knin.
HHO maintains that as an increasing number of younger Serbs are
coming back, this is creating the feeling of insecurity and fear in
settlers who have arrived from Bosnia-Herzegovina and Janjevo,
Kosovo. That's why, newcomers are beginning to behave aggressively
toward owners of the property they have occupied, the HHO wrote in
the letter adding that this has led toward the deterioration of the
situation.
Crops, planted by returnees, are being destroyed in fields,
recently repaired installations in their houses are being broken,
cattle is being pushed into their vineyards and it is not seldom
that returnees are victims of physical abuse, the HHO claimed in the
letter.
Writing that it had warned previously of similar tensions, the
committee maintains the national intolerance has been stirred up by
"inflammatory articles imbued with hatred" recently published by
Vecernji List, Slobodna Dalmacija and Nedjeljna Dalmacija
newspapers and accuses the Croatian Party of Rights (HSP) of
inciting such a situation by manipulating discontented individuals
for whom the ruling party (HDZ) failed to fulfil promises.
The HHO cited several incidents when returnees were physically
harassed, to sustain its allegations in the letter.
The HHO urged responsible bodies in authority to take urgent
measures to help normalise the situation in the area of Knin and
prevent further incidents.
"Our intention is to point, by this letter, to the seriousness of
developments on the ground and stimulate a process of two-way
return of refugees and returnees, Serbs and Croats, to their
homes," the letter read adding that it was more important as the
Croatian Government committed itself to conducting the programme
of return of displaced persons, refugees and dislocated persons.
The letter was also forwarded to the Interior and Foreign
Ministries, the Croatian ombudsman, embassies of the United
States, Germany, Great Britain, Sweden, Norway, and the
Netherlands as well as to the UNHCR, the OSCE and the European
Commission.
(hina) ms