VETERANS CLAIM MEDIA DOWNPLAYING EXHUMATIONS AND WAR VICTIMS

( Editorial: --> 3418 ) ZAGREB, June 24 (Hina) - War veterans, invalids and widows have expressed their dissatisfaction with media coverage of the exhumation of victims in the eastern Croatian city of Vukovar, and with general public and media attitudes towards the Homeland War. Representatives of seven associations told a press conference in Zagreb on Wednesday that they were particularly disappointed with Croatian Television, announcing various forms of protest against Croatian Radio Television (HRT) if the situation did not improve. The very process of exhumation, identification and burial was totally neglected by the media until a week ago, Homeland War Widows Association president Nada Balog claimed. Assessing that state officials were also ignoring the exhumations and burials, Balog added that these were not only family tragedies but confirmed the crimes committed against the Croat people. Vukovar was defended in media silence and now its defenders are also being buried in media silence, said Association of Homeland War Volunteer Defenders president Branko Borkovic, also known as the legendary "Young Hawk". Balog said Croatian media were obligated to record these crimes and warn the international community about who was the victim and who was the aggressor. Croatian Homeland War Invalids Association vice-president Zeljko Soldo claimed war criminals were sitting on the Vukovar City Council, adding that it was therefore necessary to investigate the implementation of the Amnesty Law and Law Adjustment Act. (Hina) mbr jn /rml 241840 MET jun 98