PEACEFUL PROTEST AGAINST FASCISM IN ZAGREB ANNOUNCED

ZAGREB, Nov 7 (Hina) - On the international day of the struggle against fascism, Nov. 9, a peaceful protest called "Fascism?, No, Thanks!" will be organised by the Defascisation Committee in downtown Zagreb, representatives of several non-governmental and citizens' organisations announced on Thursday. #L# A representative of the Centre for Peace Studies, Vesna Terselic, told a press conference the Defascisation Committee would support a bill banning the use of Nazi, fascist and Ustasha symbols, and demand the adoption of a law on equality or against discrimination on the basis of ethnic or national belonging, gender, sexual orientation, race, disability, or political affiliation. A representative of the Citizens' Committee on Human Rights, Srdjan Dvornik, stressed that the lack of political culture was a hurdle on Croatia's path to a civil society. "Exclusiveness still exists and the responsibility for this is always with the majority, Croats," he emphasised. Dvornik assessed that violent forces, once integrated in the politics of the government, are uncontrolled at the moment. International Day of the Struggle Against Fascism, Intolerance and Antisemitism is a reminder of the so-called Crystal Night, 9 November 1938, when massive persecution of the Jews began in Germany as did the killing of anyone who was different. (hina) sp/ha sb