BANKRUPT ZAGREB COMPANIES' WORKERS PROTEST DOWNTOWN

ZAGREB, Sept 2 (Hina) - Several hundred workers of six bankrupt Croatian companies on Thursday held a warning protest rally in front of the buildings of the Croatian National Bank, the Commercial Court, and the Ministry of Justice in downtown Zagreb. The rally was organised by the Zagreb branch office of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Croatia (SSSH) in protest against the bankruptcy policy which, workers claim, falls on their backs alone. The protesters first headed for the central bank building, where SSSH representative Mario Ivekovic read out a protest letter addressed to central bank governor Marko Skreb. Skreb was reprimanded for rehabilitating some banks several times, for political reasons, and was urged to instead okay a plan for the rehabilitation of Komercijalna bank. Ivekovic forwarded the letter to Skreb's cabinet, where he was told the governor would take a position relative to the letter soon. The protest continued in front of the Commercial Court building, where a letter addressed to court president Vesna Buljan was first read and then presented. The letter criticises the Commercial Court for the Komercijalna bank case, and assesses the court's biggest problem is "the inability of judges and bankruptcy commissioners to restructure, namely save Croatian companies." Today's protest ended in front of the Justice Ministry building, where a protest letter was forwarded to Justice Minister Zvonimir Separovic. In the letter, the minister is requested to re- investigate the work of the Commercial Court and to ensure the functioning of the rule of law. A response from Separovic's cabinet said an appointment when the minister will receive a union delegation will be agreed on Monday. (hina) ha jn