RALLY BREAKS POLICE CORDON BUT FAILS TO REACH MAIN SQUARE

( Editorial: --> 3573 ) ZAGREB, Feb 20 (Hina) - The union protest rally went ahead in Zagreb on Friday but was not held on the city's main square as organisers had intended. Zagreb police cordoned off Ban Jelacic Square which resulted in protesters heading to the nearby Marshal Tito Square and assembling outside the Croatian National Theatre building, where union leaders outlined their protests against the difficult social and economic situation in Croatia. One policeman was seriously wounded and four slightly injured when a group of protesters attempted to break through the police cordon. The rally was initially scheduled for 4pm. However, a large number of policemen blocked all access to Ban Jelacic Square shortly after 2.30pm. Tram traffic across the square was diverted. The streets accessing Ban Jelacic Square were crowded with protesters who, despite the strong presence of police forces, were trying to get to the square. Shortly before 4pm protesters broke through a police cordon on two spots. A hundred metres away, the crowd was stopped by another cordon which in addition to regular police included members of the special police. Among those who broke through the cordon were Croatian Peasants' Party president Zlatko Tomcic, Istrian Democratic Party president Ivan Jakovcic, and Croatian Helsinki Committee chairman Ivan Zvonimir Cicak. Only a small group of people reached the main square, as special police used physical obstacles and vehicles to block access. The Croatian Helsinki Committee (HHO) requested that Zagreb Mayor Marina Matulovic-Dropulic reconsider the decision banning the rally from taking place on Ban Jelacic Square. The Protest Committee also sent a last-minute request to Interior Minister Ivan Penic to allow the use of the main square. Penic replied that the rally could take place at the authorised location, i.e. in Maksimir park. The HHO claimed that its monitors noticed a large number of military police patrols in Zagreb. In a letter to Croatian President Franjo Tudjman, the HHO demanded that the President, in line with his competence, order that patrols be called back to the barracks. The Defence Ministry Public Relations Department said, however, that only two patrols of three officers each were on duty in the Zagreb area. They were performing their regular tasks which had nothing to do with the rally. According to Rally Preparation Committee chairman Boris Kunst, police redirected buses with protesters towards Maksimir Park in the east of the capital. Shortly after noon, many buses with policemen from other parts of Croatia were spotted in streets surrounding the main square, alongside jeeps and personnel carriers with regular and special police. Stronger police patrols were also sighted on roads entering Zagreb. After the failure of the attempt to break through the cordon, union leaders called on the protesters to move to the nearby Marshal Tito Square. However, a group of youths disregarded the call, preferring to throw coins and other hard-edged objects at police officers. Despite Interior Ministry disclaimers to the contrary, the police did use force against some 15 "punks" who threw eggs at officers manning the roadblock, Hina's reporter observed. Addressing the crowd outside the Croatian National Theatre, Kunst described the rally as "successful" and announced further protest rallies in other Croatian towns, should the Government fail to give in to the unions' demands - to reduce the value added tax (VAT) and review the whole transition and privatisation process. "We have shown this Government we are ready to fight for our salaries, our very existence and our rights, and that we fear nobody," Kunst said. The protesters dispersed at 6pm. (hina) jn ha as mb 202301 MET feb 98