VOLUNTEERS & VETERANS PROTEST OVER B. MANASTIR POLICE COURT FINES

( Editorial: --> 0134 ) OSIJEK, Feb 7 (Hina) - The magistrates' court in Beli Manastir, eastern Croatia, Saturday fined about 100 people charged with disturbing public order and peace. On 16 January 1998 they drove from Osijek, via Darda, Meci, Beli Manastir and other villages with the intention of marking the completion of the UN mandate in eastern Croatia on 15 January and the establishment of full sovereignty over Croatia's whole territory. A protest was issued because of the fines by branch offices of associations of Croatian Homeland War Volunteers of the Darda municipality and branch offices of the Croatian Homeland War Veterans Association in the Baranja region, eastern Croatia. The branch offices said a group of displaced defenders, volunteers, veterans and invalids from Baranja had organised the passage of 80 vehicles through the mentioned towns and villages. Upon leaving Osijek they were accompanied by police in order to avoid any incidents the prominently hoisted Croatian flag at the head of the line might have provoked. The branch offices also complained about the behaviour of the police who, they said, identified and videotaped everyone. It was said the people returned to Osijek and dispersed without any further celebrations. (hina) ha 071400 MET feb 98