ZAGREB, Oct 29 (Hina) - A report on the activities of an Investigative Commission which dealt with the circumstances and guilt of state and political bodies of the Socialist Republic of Croatia for the confiscation of arms belonging
to Croatian Territorial Defence Forces until 30 May 1990, was considered as tendentious and a pre-election stunt.
ZAGREB, Oct 29 (Hina) - A report on the activities of an
Investigative Commission which dealt with the circumstances and
guilt of state and political bodies of the Socialist Republic of
Croatia for the confiscation of arms belonging to Croatian
Territorial Defence Forces until 30 May 1990, was considered as
tendentious and a pre-election stunt.#L#
This was the opinion of the party benches of the Social Democratic
Party (SDP), Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS), Croatian Social
Liberal Party (HSLS) and the Croatian People's Party (HNS) given
during Friday's discussion in the Sabor regarding the report.
Evaluating the report highly the Croatian Party of Rights (HSP)
party bench, the initiator of the said commission, rejected any
such claims while Anto Dapic speaking on behalf of the HSP
considered the leadership of the Socialist Republic of Croatia did
not react in the best manner it could have.
Mato Arlovic of the SDP bench claimed that the Croatian Democratic
Union (HDZ) was interested in this discussion at this particular
time because it served as a pre-election move and partially to
divert focus off current issues as well as hampering the strongest
opposition party.
He added that the period when arms were confiscated was after the
elections had been conducted.
HSLS's Jozo Rados believes that the entire saga was initiated to
turn attention away from foreign and internal debts, debts to
pensioners and away from a collapsing economy.
Similar criticism was forwarded by the HSS bench represented by
Luka Trconic who suggested that a serious historical-scientific
investigation be conducted into this matter and the entire Homeland
War, but during a calmer period.
Almost all opposition representatives objected to the fact that the
commission only dealt with the period up to May 30, 1990.
Rejecting claims about the tendentiousness of the report HSP's Anto
Dapic said that the current leadership of the Socialist Republic of
Croatia had not reacted as it might have. Commenting on the fact
that the commission only gave a moral evaluation, Dapic considers
that the commission should have proposed lustration.
Slavko Vuksic of the Party of Croatia's Plains and Slavko Linic of
the SDP noted examples within their communities where attempts were
made to prevent the confiscation of Territorial defence weapons.
Weapons held in Rijeka, the islands and Gorski Kotar did not depart
from Croatia.
Kazimir Sviben of the HDZ said that recognition should be given to
those who managed to salvage some weapons. Consfiscation of
territorial defence weapons represents the grandest robbery of the
century which should not be kept silent for this resulted in the
repercussions of the Serbian aggression, he said.
Ivica Racan of the SDP reminded that he was prepared to morally
answer for his actions at the time including the initial political
conflict against the greater Serbia ideology, the departure from
Belgrade and the first multi-party elections.
He was particularly concerned with the fact that some political
figures currently in trend, were prepared to decrease the Serbian
agressor's and Milosevic's responsibilities for the sake of daily
political purposes and to lay the blame with someone in Croatia.
(hina) jn sp