COMMITTEE FOR 'FERAL TRIBUNE' WRITES TO PRESIDENT TUDJMAN

( Editorial: --> 9127 ) ZAGREB, 17 Dec (Hina) - The Committee for 'Feral Tribune' on Wednesday published a letter it had sent to Croatian President Franjo Tudjman concerning the continued trial of two journalists from the Croatian weekly. The trial of editor-in-chief Viktor Ivancic and journalist Marinko Culic respectively continues on 22 December at the Zagreb Municipal Court. The Committee asked Tudjman to withdraw his approval given for the continuation of the trial. According to the regulations of the amended Penal Law, the trial of the two journalists could not be renewed without the President's approval, following their acquittal in September 1996. Members of the Committee - 23 Croatian human rights associations and eight international organisations for freedom of the press - stressed that the trial was 'a politically motivated process which continues the prevention of freedom of expression in Croatia'. The Committee recalled that the two journalists were accused of defaming President Tudjman in a 'Feral Tribune' article on the remodelling of the memorial centre of Jasenovac, which was the location of a World War II concentration camp. Jasenovac is some 100 km south-east of Zagreb. The Committee for 'Feral Tribune' described the decision of the County Court to renew the trial as 'an announcement by the political leadership saying this time it will go all the way in persecuting those who think differently'. (hina) mm rm 171945 MET dec 97