BJELOVAR, Feb 11 (Hina) - The president of Croatia's Association of Judges (UHS), Vladimir Gredelj, on Sunday forwarded a letter to the Headquarters for the Protection of the Dignity of the Homeland War, "strongly appealing for
respect for the principles of the law-based state - judicial independence and the rule of law as the basic values of Croatia's constitutional order." The Headquarters organised today in Split a rally of support for retired general Mirko Norac, a war-time commander of the defence of Gospic and war crimes suspect. "Court decisions must be respected without exception, regardless of what someone may think about them," says Gredelj in the letter. "Seeking temporary suspension of the basic principles of the law-based state, even if the person in question is a charismatic general, 'Alka' duke and Homeland War hero," negates the democratic and civilisation essence of Croatia's fre
BJELOVAR, Feb 11 (Hina) - The president of Croatia's Association of
Judges (UHS), Vladimir Gredelj, on Sunday forwarded a letter to the
Headquarters for the Protection of the Dignity of the Homeland War,
"strongly appealing for respect for the principles of the law-based
state - judicial independence and the rule of law as the basic
values of Croatia's constitutional order."
The Headquarters organised today in Split a rally of support for
retired general Mirko Norac, a war-time commander of the defence of
Gospic and war crimes suspect.
"Court decisions must be respected without exception, regardless
of what someone may think about them," says Gredelj in the letter.
"Seeking temporary suspension of the basic principles of the law-
based state, even if the person in question is a charismatic
general, 'Alka' duke and Homeland War hero," negates the democratic
and civilisation essence of Croatia's freedom and sovereignty.
"Respecting the court decision, in the procedure during which
evidence on facts from the investigation request will be gathered,
is not the denigration of a general," but "the only legitimate way
to establish the truth and respect the dignity of institutions of
the state."
The UHS strongly supports Prime Minister Ivica Racan's insistence
on strict respect for the principle of tripartition of authority
and the independence of the court authority and calls on other
government members to follow the premier's principled stand.
The association also condemns any attempt to prevent - through
manipulation, non-democratic methods, harsh words or political
accusations - citizens from exercising their right to peaceful
gatherings and freedom of expression, the letter said, among else.
(hina) rml