Bush at St. Mark's Square – press release

Zagreb, April 2nd, 2008

To whom it may concern:

We are addressing you regarding press information announcing public assembly – meeting of the President of the United States of America Mr. George Bush with Croatian citizens at St. Mark's Square that will be organized in behalf of Croatian Government.

We express our deep discontent over the decision of PM Mr. Sanader in behalf of Croatian Government to organize meeting with the President of the United States of America, whose Government is responsible for number of violations of human rights. The meeting will be held at the St. Mark's Square where the public assembly is prohibited by the Act on Amendments and Changes of the Public Assembly Act.

Such action is illegal and gives clear message to the public that provisions prohibiting public assembly at St. Mark's Square have no other purpose than to deny right of citizens to express political opinion in front of public institutions.

In order to emphasize clear intention of the Government to violate its own legal documents, the Croatian Women's Network, Anti-Imperialist Action and Team for Legal Changes of Iskorak and Kontra will bring misdemeanour charge against PM Mr. Ivo Sanader for holding illegal public assembly at public square.
It is shameful that human rights activists face misdemeanour charges and are afraid of gross fines for expressing political opinion, while the Government consciously violates its own legislation and face no responsibility.

We urge the Croatian Parliament to abrogate Act on Amendments and Changes of Public Assembly Act at next parliamentary session.

With best regards,

Sanja Juras,
coordinator of Lesbian Group Kontra

Kristijan Grđan,
coordinator of Iskorak – Sexual and Gender Minorities' Rights Center

Bojana Genov,
coordinator of Croatian Women's Network

Mate Kapović,
Anti-Imperialist Action