The movement "Stop the Persecution of Croatian War Veterans" which gathers several war veteran associations, on Friday sent letters to the government, parliament and the president of the republic, asking, among other things, that the persecution of Croatia war veterans end immediately and unconditionally.
Presenting its demands at a news conference, the movement said it asked the state leadership to protect the Homeland Defence War and the dignity of members of the Croatian Armed Forces and victims of the war by the criminal legislation. The movement also demands the discontinuation of funding for associations and publishing material which criminalise and ridicule the Homeland War and insists on the abolishment of the pardon Act.
It also advocates the publication of secret agreement with Serbia and Montenegro, adding that if their demands are not met, large-scale protest would be organised.
The movement criticised the the government and the president of the republic's attitude towards war veterans.
The coordinating body for homeland war associations from Osijek Baranja County on Friday expressed their bitterness over the persecutions and arrests of Croatian war veterans, adding that it was an obligation of all Croatian patriotic citizens not to allow the criminalisation of the Homeland Defence War and those who participated in it.
War veterans are to stage a protest rally in Vukovar on Saturday and express their support to veteran Tihomir Purda who is held in extradition custody in Bosnia and Herzegovina after he was arrested on an international warrant issued by Serbia. Serbia accuses him of alleged war crimes in Vukovar in 1991. Croatia's prosecutorial authorities say there are no grounds for criminal proceedings against this Croatian war veteran.
