BANJA LUKA BISHOP PROTESTS OVER INHUMANE TREATEMENT

ZAGREB, Feb 10 (Hina) - The Roman Catholic Bishop of Banja Luka, Franjo Komarica, has issued a sharp protest to the head of the Banja Luka municipality, Predrag Radic, over the fact that the extremely inhumane treatment of Catholics in the region was being tolerated by local authorities. "On behalf of all my endangered believers, fellow countrymen, and all others citizens deprived of their rights, I expect from you and other competent politicians, to begin guaranteeing us our basic human rights - the right to life, to our property, to our homes and our native land," Bishop Komarica said. He cited several cases involving severe physical and psychological abuse and horrible examples of sadism over elderly residents of the villages of Abrici, Kozar, Ivanjska and Dragocaj. "Armed gangs are committing crimes and sowing panic and fear in the presence of police so that it can be concluded that they have a tacit support from the current authorities," the protest read. (hina) jn sd vm 102024 MET feb 95