INTERIOR MINISTRY: STONING OF PEACE TRAIN WAS ATTACK, NOT INCIDENT

ZAGREB, June 13 (Hina) - The Croatian Interior Ministry issued a statement on Friday in response to allegations and formulations in Thursday's UNTAES statement on the June 8 stoning of the "Peace Train." The stoning of the "Peace Train" on its return from Vukovar, which occurred at a level crossing in the suburb of Borovo Naselje, "was no incident (as UNTAES described it) but a brazen and gross, vandalic attack." The attempt by the UNTAES public relations office to downplay the stoning attack on the train and portray it as a mere incident, and particularly its allegation that it had fully cooperated in the preparation of the security plan, again shows UNTAES's persistence to put the blame on someone else. It is clear that the stoning was not just a spontaneous response to "provocations by some elements on the train." Bystanders could not have seen any provocative gestures because the windows on that train could not be opened, the statement said. Besides, the stones were piled up and the stoning was organised because 16 damaged carriages show that there was no spontaneity to it but that it was a premeditated and organised attack. Foreign ambassadors accredited to Croatia were also shocked by that organised, vandal-like act. The UNTAES office claims that the Transitional Police Force and the Croatian police have initiated disciplinary proceedings against four TPF policemen of Croatian nationality. The truth is, however, that the Minister of the Interior has decided to start proceedings against all Croatian police officers on the TPF who were maintaining security on the northern side of the level crossing, the statement said. The statement concluded by saying that UNTAES had failed to fully comply with security arrangements during the journey of the Peace Train. Under an agreement, bystanders were allowed to stand between 80 and 100 metres from the railway line during the passage of the train, which was not the case at the stoning site. (hina) vm jn 131803 MET jun 97