BOSNIAN HDZ DENOUNCES ASSAULT ON BOSNIAK RETURNEES

( Editorial: --> 5448 ) MOSTAR, Oct 3 (Hina) - The Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia- Herzegovina (HDZ BiH) has strongly denounced Friday night's violent assault on Bosniak (Muslim) returnees to the village of Tasovcici, near Capljina (southern BH). In a statement released on Saturday night, the party also expressed its condolences to the family of Adem Muminagic, who was killed in the incident. Unidentified persons threw three hand-grenades on the homes where Muslim refugees have recently returned. As a result one person was killed and three others injured. Expressing regret over the tragic incident, the HDZ BiH insists that cantonal authorities prosecute the perpetrators of this act. The return of Bosniaks to the village of Tasovcici, and the SFOR Italian carabinieri's forceful removal of protesters who had blocked the Mostar-Ploce road on Thursday, have "upset the Croat residents of the Capljina municipality and Croat displaced people exiled by Muslims from central Bosnia". The incident in Capljina also proves the correctness of HDZ BiH's stance that concrete plans of return of displaced people should be adopted in line with Annex 7 of the Dayton peace agreement, the Sarajevo and Banja Luka Declarations, and cantonal return plans, according to which all exiled persons should return to their homes. This would ensure safety and all other necessary preconditions for a dignified and safe return of displaced people, the HDZ BiH statement said. The party expressed its readiness to consistently implement Annex 7 according to criteria equally applied to all three constituent peoples in Bosnia. It also condemns all violent acts and force used on unarmed Croat displaced people, mainly women, children and war invalids, by SFOR special units, the HDZ BiH concluded. (Hina) mbr /lml 040007 MET oct 98