BUNGLED EVICTION PUTS FAMILY IN HOUSING LIMBO

ZAGREB, Oct 7, (Hina) - The second attempt to evict the Ristic family from their home in Zaqreb, was interrupted today because of legal complications, postponing the family's eviction for ten days. The family had originally lived in the region of Petrinja, now occupied, in a former JNA flat. Forced to leave Petrinja, the family exchanged the apartment for a home in Zagreb. Now they are once again being ousted out of their home. During today's attempt to evict the family from their flat, 40 people, including political party representatives and human rights activists staged a peaceful protest in the lounge room. According to information from the city housing and construction secretariat, the eviction was postponed because the Ristic family hadn't received an official letter on where they would be 'sheltered' after the eviction. Their new home would be in a dorm on the remote Zlarin island, 250 kms by air from the city of Zagreb. But the letter confirming their new accommodation failed to arrive well- before today's eviction attempt . Adding to the problems, Mr Ristic, a pensioner, and his wife are both in poor health. The president of the Croatian Helsinki Committee for Human Rights (HHO), Ivan Zvonimir Cicak said that much more 'progress' was being made with evictions compared to earlier times. Despite political elements to evictions, the Helsinki Committee would insist that they be conducted exclusively within a moral, legal and ethical framework. Cicak said that in two weeks, the HHO would organise a round table conference on the eviction problem, inviting relevant ministers, legal experts from all Croatian Universities and non- government association representatives. "The difficulties of the families of killed Croat soldiers, war invalids and displaced people are a problem for all of Croatia and institutions, not just the Defence Ministry," Cicak said. "Social problems can not be resolved simply by being swept under other social problems." HHO member, Jovan Nikolic, a retired Orthodox arch priest thanked the Catholic Church and supported its position on evictions. Head of the Home Association Danijel Ivin said that the Association deputy Vesna Bernardic, had started an international fund raising project to collect money to build flats for families of dead Croat defenders and war invalids. (Hina) jas sd ks 071812 MET oct 94