Croats in Bolivia face accusations of extremism
Posted : Mon, 20 Apr 2009 09:29:56 GMT
Belgrade - Croatian officials were assessing reports of Croats living in Bolivia being accused of being "extremists" and trying to break up Bolivia after a failed attempt to kill Bolivian President Evo Morales, Serbian media reported Monday. Last week, an elite Bolivian police squad killed three members of an alleged terrorist group suspected of planning attacks on Morales. One of those killed was a Hungarian nationalist who had fought as a mercenary for the Croats in the 1992-95 war in the then Yugoslavia.
Bolivians have since alleged that Croats living in Bolivia of trying to break up Bolivia in the same way they have broke up Yugoslavia in the 1990s, according to the Belgrade daily Blic.
"We are going to assess the situation in Bolivia and consider sending a diplomatic note. The Croatian government cannot be responsible for what its former fighters are doing now," Croatian Vice Premier Jadranka Kosor was quoted as saying in the report.
Blic reported that authorities in Bolivia had linked alleged terrorists to a rich Bolivian businessman of Croat descent who is advocating for the autonomy of rich provinces.
The businessman, whose father is a Croat and mother is Montenegrin, allegedly organized the terrorists and brought in Montenegrin mercenaries, according to Blic.
Bolivian police in the raid on Thursday also arrested two suspects, including a Croatian veteran of the 1992-95 war.
