Authorities Must Stand Down Over Police Repression

ZAGREB, CROATIA – Croatian People`s Party (HNS) most seriously condemn the latest cases of bookings and police repression against those who express dissatisfaction with the authorities on public forums or in any way use their right to free expression of opinion, the party`s press release reads.

The party stresses that the announced depoliticisation and professionalization of the police is now questioned if their actions remind of authoritative 90s at the same time.

- With all the support in the fight against crime and thus better qualifications and better material conditions of police officials, freedom of the public word and the option of criticism must remain guaranteed, regardless of the circumstances. The police must prove their efficiency in dealing with crime and find answers to recent murders, beatings, robbery and other crimes. Booking a young activist and detaining him all night long, because of putting up posters which invite people for a protest against the authorities, is a dangerous reaction which is not suitable for professional and depolitised police – the HNS point out.

The announcement ends in the party`s view that incompetent authorities which find justification for their poor policy in the world crisis and then propose it to be solved by revoking Christmas bonuses, must be aware that the criticism will only get louder.

- It is not the first time that authorities without the knowledge or ability for the right steps are subject to police repression, but this has always been the last signal that it was high time for such authorities to stand down – the press release ends.