PHOTO: Reporters Boo Croatian President At Rally

Reporters rallied to express dissatisfaction with police work in the cases of Luka Ritz, Igor Radjenovic, Galinac and Miljus.

ZAGREB, CROATIA –

- Don`t be a part of the quiet majority, raise your voice – recently beaten up chairman of the Industrogradnja group Josip Galinec addressed the protestors in front of the Stone Gate in Zagreb.

As he said, it was time for the authorities to renew the citizens` trust in the country`s safety.

- I told the police everything I knew. I warned them of certain irregularities for years, I filed charges, and it is only now when I was beaten up that they decided to deal with my case. I am not afraid, but I can hardly wait to get back to my job and I expect the police to decently do their job – Galinec said.

Reporters, who gathered near the Stone Gate in large numbers, expect nothing less from the police as well. They rallied to express dissatisfaction with police work in the cases of Luka Ritz, Igor Radjenovic, Josip Galinac and Dusan Miljus.

Freedom of expression

Actress Ursa Raukar read a part of the Croatian Constitution and the Declaration on Human Rights, reminding of every man`s birth-guaranteed freedom.

- One of the freedoms, freedom of expression, is attempted to be denied to Dusan Miljus by unknown perpetrators – Zdenko Duka said, president of the Croatian Journalists` Association, adding that this protest was not only for Miljus, but because of the police`s inefficiency and many unsolved cases of beaten up citizens.

- If the police had shown determination, there would not have been so many attacks. The attackers are getting more and more arrogant, which is evident from the attack on Galinec in broad daylight, despite security cameras, while the killer of young Luka Ritz is still at large. It has been 120 days since reporter Dusan Miljus was beaten up and the police have not even traced his attackers. Our colleague Miljus has been living in fear ever since and is seriously considering moving out of Croatia. When he was beaten, [Croatian Prime Minister Ivo] Sanader warned “security” [Interior] Minister Berislav Roncevic that this state was inadmissible. Roncevic is now where he is and Miljus is considering leaving – Duka told the gathered colleagues.

President welcomed by loud disapproval

Croatian President Stjepan Mesic went down to the protestors, which has caused loud disapproval of the gathered journalists. Despite this, the president addressed them.

- I congratulate the police their day and hope the perpetrators and those who ordered these felonies will be brought to the face of justice soon – Mesic pointed out.

However, the reporters fenced themselves from politics and political addresses, saying they do not want to politicise this rally.