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The events of last week highlight that the Croat people in Bosnia and Herzegovina now face a very important choice with two very clear options: One, they can take their rightful place in a democratic and stable BiH where their rights are protected by the Constitution and the international community. Two, they can live in a criminal para-state where they will face increasing political and economic isolation. It is time for the honest and hardworking Bosnian-Croats to seize the initiative and help stop the demented and ultimately doomed charade carried out by Jelavic, Sopta and others who have proven over and over again that they are willing to milk their people to the last pfennig. Last Fridayšs orchestrated mob actions throughout Herzegovina, including looting the bank in Mostar, were just the latest moves by a corrupt, self-serving, flawed and failed political leadership. It is outrageous that this group of thugs clearly had the blessing of the HDZ to rob from the very people it alleges to support - the BiH Croats and their saving accounts at the Herzegovacka Banka. I strongly condemn the officials, including police officers, who went as far as to aid and abet the very criminals robbing the Croat people of their hard earned savings. Instead of supporting the thugs attacking the international officials sent to stabilize the bank and protect the peoplešs money, the police should have done their jobs and upheld the law. Unfortunately the police were apparently too busy orchestrating the mob violence to arrest a suspect in the Leutar assassination who was participating. This latest theft should have come as no surprise to the Croat people since senior HDZ officials were also seen loading bags of money into a van last week in Orasje. The Croat people have to start asking where their money is going? Will they be able to provide for their families if these crooks continue to steal it for their own purposes? It is time for the Croat people of BiH to demand accountability of their leadership and further call for the prosecution of criminals who shamelessly steal from them. Last month the people of Yugoslavia finally stood up to Milosevic who had manipulated and robbed them for years. The once powerful strongman is now behind bars and will be held accountable for his misdeeds. I believe strongly that the BiH Croats have the courage and wisdom to do the same. These self-serving acts by the failed political leaders and their associated criminal elements are not only a threat to BiH Croats but also to neighboring Croatia. Few European tourists will be interested in taking their families to the Croatian coast - regardless of how magnificent it is -- if they think for one moment that nearby instability and violence could pose a threat to their loved ones. They will simply take their families and money elsewhere, as was the case during the crisis of far away Kosovo. Croatia will always take care of its kin in BiH, but will the HDZ-BiH ever consider supporting the aspirations of the people of Croatia? The fact is that you, the Croat population of Bosnia and Herzegovina, are being manipulated by a leadership that is afraid of losing power and credibility and seeks to play the nationalist card to mask its own interests. The attempt to unilaterally create a separatist Croat administration in BiH is a dead end street. Those who tell you otherwise are lying to you. I trust that you will see through this deception and make the right decision to put the real needs and interests of your families ahead of the greed of those who seek to deceive you.
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