HHO HUMAN RIGHTS SUMMER SCHOOL ENDS

ZAGREB, Sept 10 (Hina) - The forthcoming elections must be fair, equal and democratic, participants of the Croatian Helsinki Committee (HHO) summer school on human rights said on Friday. About one hundred representatives of non-government organisations advocating fair elections participated in the work of the school held in Opatija (south Croatia) last week. In their public statement the participants reiterated their request that besides party supervision, the new electoral law should include a Constitutional Court decision about the rights of citizens to follow the elections at all levels through civilian associations. The associations requested that the list of voters be registered before the elections, that all Croatian citizens be allowed to vote and that minorities and women be represented adequately. They held it was necessary to ensure a special electoral right to all Croatian citizens living abroad, notwithstanding their ethnic background how the reason for their absence from the country. In the statement, participants of the summer school requested that the Law on Croatian Radio and Television be amended, especially with regards to provisions about the membership of its Council. The associations suggested that the Council should consist less parliamentary party representatives and more citizens' representatives. They also requested that punitive measures be introduced for the violation of election campaign regulations and that paid advert time on Croatian Television be abolished. They hold especially important the issue of electoral abstinence. "Citizens must be aware of their responsibility for the future of Croatia," the statement said. (hina) lml jn