ZAGREB, Feb 12 (Hina) - The GONG non-governmental organisation and some 30 activists from other NGOs said in a statement on Tuesday the protest rallies held last week in support of retired general Mirko Norac, a war crimes suspect,
were unacceptable. Reminding that the Constitution guarantees the right of citizens to express their dissatisfaction with peaceful protests, GONG believes the message coming from the Norac protests questioned the division of authority and democratic order the citizens agreed to at the first multiparty elections in 1990. The parliamentary and presidential elections held early last year were free and fair, and questioning the authority formed by the winners disrespects and insults the voting majority, said the statement. GONG believes the Homeland Defence War, the victims and suffering experienced by all should be respected, but that any founded suspicion in connection with war crimes ag
ZAGREB, Feb 12 (Hina) - The GONG non-governmental organisation and
some 30 activists from other NGOs said in a statement on Tuesday the
protest rallies held last week in support of retired general Mirko
Norac, a war crimes suspect, were unacceptable.
Reminding that the Constitution guarantees the right of citizens to
express their dissatisfaction with peaceful protests, GONG
believes the message coming from the Norac protests questioned the
division of authority and democratic order the citizens agreed to
at the first multiparty elections in 1990.
The parliamentary and presidential elections held early last year
were free and fair, and questioning the authority formed by the
winners disrespects and insults the voting majority, said the
statement.
GONG believes the Homeland Defence War, the victims and suffering
experienced by all should be respected, but that any founded
suspicion in connection with war crimes against civilians has to be
investigated.
An arrest warrant was issued for Norac last week for war crimes
committed against Croatian Serb civilians in the central town of
Gospic in 1991.
The other NGO activists condemn all calls to violence and support
the independence of the judiciary. They demand that crimes be
individualised and perpetrators prosecuted.
The activists support the civic right to express own's opinion but
object to any statement instigating hatred and exclusiveness.
They call on every citizen to not support conflicts among political
elites but the judiciary, to ensure unbiased trials for suspects.
(hina) ha