DISPLACED PEOPLE HOLD PROTEST RALLY IN OSIJEK

OSIJEK, Sept 13 (Hina) - Several thousand displaced people from Serb-held eastern Croatia held a protest rally in Osijek's main square on Friday evening, under the motto "Gentlemen, it's the eleventh hour, time is running out!" In a letter forwarded to Croatian President Franjo Tudjman, Prime Minister Zlatko Matesa and Parliament Speaker Vlatko Pavletic, the displaced people reiterated their demands that the UN mandate be terminated on January 15 next year and that Speaker Pavletic receive a delegation of displaced persons before the September Parliament session. The letter opposed general amnesty being granted to the Serbs who had taken part in the armed rebellion against Croatia. The letter also protested over the fact that the exhumation of the Ovcara mass grave was being covered only by foreign television stations. The gathering was addressed by the chairman of the Association of Displaced Persons, Mato Simic, the president of the Osijek branch, Simo Povreslo and Osijek County Prefect Branimir Glavas. Simic called on President Franjo Tudjman to lead the displaced people to Vukovar on January 15 "as he led Croatia to Knin aboard the Freedom Train." "I assure you that the day of return is drawing near and that you will return to your homes in dignity," Glavas said, thanking the displaced people for their patience. (hina) as 132141 MET sep 96