Centre for Peace Studies Condemns Attacks on Lukac-Koritnik and Milju�

04 June 2008

Zagreb Police Department reports that it apprehended all three perpetrators of yesterday`s (June 2) attack on Gordana Lukač Koritnik, Gender Equality Ombudsperson.

Yesterday afternoon, on her way back from office, Lukač Koritnik noticed three alcoholised youths who were bullying the passers-by. She warned them to leave them alone when they attacked her, threw her to the ground and kicked her around.

The Gender Equality Committee of the Croatian Sabor (the Parliament) condemned the attack and demanded from the competent institutions to determine the motives for the attack and sanction the perpetrators accordingly.

In another incident yesterday, unknown assailants attacked and beat up Du�an Milju�, reporter with Jutarnji list daily who has covered organized crime in Croatia for years and has received many threats to his life from criminal groups.

Croatian Journalist Association HND, expressing their disbelief at the brazen nature of the attack, demanded from the Government to take urgent and decisive action against violence, or will be held responsible for violence turning into a fact of everyday life in Croatia.

The Centre for Peace Studies joined the condemnations of the attacks on Lukač - Koritinik and Milju�. Gordan Bosanac, CMS Programme Coordinator, says that any use of physical force and other forms of violence against persons who have dedicated their work to fight discrimination of vulnerable groups and individuals, or fight organized crime, are worrying developments.

-This attacks should be viewed in the wider context of rising public prominence of hate-speech, prejudice and stereotyping. We believe that it is the highest time for the relevant and competent institutions to start promoting non-violence and condemn strongly all violence, regardless of whether it takes place in public or private space, says Bosanac.

He adds that yesterday`s attacks are a blow for development of democracy in Croatia, noting that it is of crucial importance to find the perpetrators and bring them to justice as soon as possible.