$ SAL TO REARRANGE JASENOVAC MEMORIAL AREA ZAGREB, Feb 7 (Hina) - The Union of Croatian Anti-Fascist Veterans of the World War Two on Wednesday sent a 'Letter to the Croatian Public' expressing their dissatisfaction with a proposal on
the rearrangement of the Jasenovac Memorial Area, presented by Croatian President Franjo Tudjman in his 'Address on the State of the Nation in 1995' at the joint session of both chambers of Parliament on January 15, 1996.
PROPO
$ SAL TO REARRANGE JASENOVAC MEMORIAL AREA
ZAGREB, Feb 7 (Hina) - The Union of Croatian Anti-Fascist Veterans
of the World War Two on Wednesday sent a 'Letter to the Croatian
Public' expressing their dissatisfaction with a proposal on the
rearrangement of the Jasenovac Memorial Area, presented by Croatian
President Franjo Tudjman in his 'Address on the State of the Nation
in 1995' at the joint session of both chambers of Parliament on
January 15, 1996. #L#
'For historical, but also for current political reasons, I
believe that the Jasenovac Memorial Area should be rearranged into
a Memorial Area of Croatian War Victims. It would commemorate, in
addition to the museum exhibits and monuments commemorating all the
victims of fascisms, all the victims of communism (through the
transfer of remains and bones discovered in the pits) and, in
particular, all the victims of the Homeland War by putting up a
memorial slab (or cross) with the name for every person fallen for
free Croatia', Tudjman said in his address.
The Union of Croatian Anti-Fascist Veterans of World War Two
hold that the Jasenovac Memorial Area, built in memory of the
victims of the Jasenovac concentration camp in the time of the
Independent State of Croatia (NDH, 1941-1945), should not be
changed, that is, that it be given back its old form.
The memorial area was devastated during the Serb occupation
(1991-1995). The monument was untouched but the museum was emptied.
The Union further holds that the reconciliation of all Croats
would be a long and hard process.
'All other victims of these wars, in which our children and
children of our friends gave their lives, should have their
memorial site on some other adequate place. Unfortunately, we do
not lack such places, starting from Vukovar to Prevlaka. We will
cherish the memory of those victims permanently in our minds and
visit their monuments with respect', said the letter, signed by the
President of the Union Ivan Fumic.
(hina) rm jn
071723 MET feb 96