09/03/1998 - 2116

Hare Krishna followers admit they live in Serbs' houses in Croatia

Croatia (VNN) - from Agence France Presse
September 01, 1998 11:52 GMT
SECTION: International news
LENGTH: 210 words
HEADLINE: Hare Krishna followers admit they live in Serbs' houses in Croatia
DATELINE: ZAGREB, Sept 1
A Croatian mayor who is a member of Hare Krishna sect admitted he and hisfollowers were living in houses belonging to Serb refugees who want to returnto their pre-war homes, as a human rights group charged last week, the dailyJutarnji List reported Tuesday.
Luka Hodak, mayor of Licka Jasenica, south of Zagreb - where before theSerbo-Croat war almost the entire population of 444 was of Serb ethnicorigin - was accused by the Croatian branch of the Helsinki Committee (HHO) to haveallowed members of his sect to take over 27 Serbs' homes, and to live in oneofthem himself.
Hodak's Hare Krishna followers "have made threats and predicted that blood will flow and that they will never leave the houses that they took over byforce", HHO said, adding that they were planning to seize another 10 houses.
 "There are some 25 young members of the sect in this valley of tears, andthey are living in only 11 houses that they themselves managed to makesuitablefor a modest life", Hodak told Jutarnji List.
 Hodak did not however mention any threats against Serb owners: "Serbs,against whom I don't have anything, just as I don't have anything against anyother living creature, can come back (to their houses) if they want".
Copyright 1998 Agence France Presse