ZAGREB, Feb 23 (Hina) - Ten retired Croatian army generals on Friday signed a petition requesting a referendum for the passing of a constitutional law prohibiting criminal proceedings against Croatian Homeland Defence War soldiers.
Ten out of twelve generals who last year sent an open letter to the public demanding a cessation of negativistic writing about Croatia's 1990's war of independence signed the petition which was organised by the Centre for the Protection of the Dignity of the Homeland Defence War. Had we not done what we did, today our knight (General Mirko Norac) would have been in The Hague, Ivan Bobetko said on behalf of the ten retired generals. "We are for a democracy and law-based state, however, not merely formally but truly," he stressed. The petition is being signed by citizens on their own free will and the referendum will set the foundations for the adoption of a law which would secure equa
ZAGREB, Feb 23 (Hina) - Ten retired Croatian army generals on Friday
signed a petition requesting a referendum for the passing of a
constitutional law prohibiting criminal proceedings against
Croatian Homeland Defence War soldiers.
Ten out of twelve generals who last year sent an open letter to the
public demanding a cessation of negativistic writing about
Croatia's 1990's war of independence signed the petition which was
organised by the Centre for the Protection of the Dignity of the
Homeland Defence War.
Had we not done what we did, today our knight (General Mirko Norac)
would have been in The Hague, Ivan Bobetko said on behalf of the ten
retired generals.
"We are for a democracy and law-based state, however, not merely
formally but truly," he stressed.
The petition is being signed by citizens on their own free will and
the referendum will set the foundations for the adoption of a law
which would secure equal treatment regarding criminal prosecution
for Croatian soldiers as was enjoyed by members of all anti-fascist
movements in western countries as well as Croatia, Bobetko
asserted.
"We are not making threats or asking for anything extraordinary, we
are merely seeking for that for which thousands of people gave their
lives be ensured within democratic frameworks," Bobetko stressed.
He expressed satisfaction with the resolution of the "Norac case",
but added we now have to prove whether we are a democratic state or
not.
The ten generals, along with two others, last September wrote the
open letter to the public, calling institutions and the media to
resist negativistic stances concerning the Homeland Defence War.
As a consequence, President Stipe Mesic retired seven of the
generals who were at the time on active duty.
The petition today was signed by retired generals Ivan Bobetko,
Admiral Davor Domazet-Loso, Ivan Cermak, Ivan Basarac, Kresimir
Cosic, Ante Gotovina, Damir Krsticevic, Ivan Kapular, Ivan Korade
and Milenko Filipovic. They were also accompanied by retired
general, currently member of parliament in opposition, Ljubo
Cesic-Rojs.
(hina) lml