House Resolution 529 (IV)
12/4/05
Dear Croatians and Friends of Croatia,
The moment is before us and we must unite together again by Tuesday evening and ensure a successful lobbying campaign in regards to House Resolution 529 involving language against our General Ante Gotovina, Croatia's hero. We must tell Congress:
"We do not support indictments issued by The Hague against any Croatians. We demand the United States Congress investigate and hold hearings regarding The Hague and Carla Del Ponte. We demand the indictment against Croatian General Ante Gotovina be immediately dropped because he is innocent. We demand the indictments against the Croatian journalists be immediately dropped because they are innocent. We will not stop our campaign until this is achieved. Therefore, House Resolution 529 must not be placed to a vote before the U.S. House of Representatives before language involving extradition of General Gotovina is removed. General Gotovina is the man with whom NATO should discuss Croatia?s membership, and not with the neo-communists who consistently spread lies against him. These neo-communists are ruining his name, reputation and life."
Please refer to the updated Congressional Staff contact list at the end of this message.
Continue to call, fax, or send emails no matter where you live in the world because this is a matter of urgency. Forward this email to as many people you know could help. If you know of individuals who do not have internet access, call them, let know what is happening and ask them to help. Please begin contacting immediately these offices listed below, at the very minimum by email, so that this resolution is revised, and if not, then completely discarded as detrimental for the Homeland war defense efforts. Remember, we have truth on our side.
We realize what injustice is against us. We know that a number of Congressmen said they were confused by our previous lobbying campaign because the Croatian government actively lobbied for the passage of this resolution. We are aware this resolution will not bring Croatia into NATO, instead, the resolution is devised so that it only supports the false indictments issued by The Hague against Croatians.
The Croatian government is now directly responsible for urging House Resolution 529 to pass as it is currently written. The Croatian government supports The Hague and they are not defending Croatian generals and journalists falsely accused and indicted. We also learned that Croatian government officials were very displeased with our efforts. Instead of working with us and thanking us for our intense lobbying efforts on behalf of the best interests of Croatia, they are trying to demonize the Croatian Worldwide Association (CWA) by spreading ridiculous myths and falsehoods--both about us and the resolution.
We also need to ask current Croatian government officials where were they and what were they doing during the Homeland war. Were these government officials defending the country and reporting the truth? No -- they were not. They are misleading and mishandling the truth throughout the international community all in the name of Croatia. Instead of doing their jobs as real and honest government representatives elected by the people: they are representing the Croatian state as a wine-tasting party. The Croatian government is a sham - plain and simple.
Further, we demand the Croatian government once and for all cease and desist from their hostility towards the General and begin an official campaign to secure General Gotovina's freedom. If they won't do anything, we will as Croatians who are proud of our heritage and homeland. We have a dignity.
The truth of the matter is that Croatia can never truly be a part of NATO without our General, who built the military power based on Western principles that defeated Milosevic, Karadzic and Mladic and made the prospects of Croatia joining NATO even possible. Croatia?s membership in NATO with our hero and Homeland War criminalized would never materialize and would be simply a farce.
The indictment against General Gotovina threatens the international legitimacy of the Croatian state. If the General is handed over to The Hague, in which he has already been convicted by the tribunal for "command responsibility" over Operation Storm, Croatia's national borders will no longer be secure and can be challenged by revanchist Serbs in the courts of international law.
This is not simply the warning of the CWA, our members and numerous international experts. It is the aim of the Serbian parliament and former "Krajina" Serb officials, such as Savo Strbac, who have been driving this indictment for the past several years. The Gotovina indictment establishes the legal and moral basis for a new Greater Serbia. This is why it is imperative for all Croatians around the world, especially the government in Zagreb, to demand that the indictment be dropped and that General Gotovina not stand trial either in The Hague or Croatia because he is not a Slobodan Milosevic or a Saddam Hussein.
We cannot and must not wait a minute longer for others to rewrite our proud history. It has been well over 4 years since the General's indictment and we must join together and defeat the bogus policies implemented by the U.S. State Department, the European Union and the United Nations.
The Hague's indictments against the Croatian journalists must be dropped. These indictments are absurd because they are an assault on basic press freedoms and Croatia?s democratic institutions. They also clearly show how corrupt The Hague court has become, and how hostile it is to Croatia's basic interests and values.
Therefore, please continue your efforts to call Congress. If they ask you, "Do you live in the Congressman?s district?" Let them know, "Croatian General Ante Gotovina does not live in your district, but the Congressman is supporting his false indictment. General Gotovina is innocent and the indictment must be dropped. The indictments against the Croatian journalists must be dropped as well."
Finally, please remember that we have the truth and moral right on our side. Any Croatian that is indicted by The Hague is simply unacceptable. Croatians around the world will not allow this mockery of justice to continue. We must and can make a difference.
This week, especially on Monday and Tuesday, let your voice be heard throughout the halls of the United States Congress. Please contact the following:
Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Congressman Hastert:
Scott Palmer - Chief of Staff
(202) 225-2976
(202) 225-0967 Fax
scott.palmer@mail.house.gov
Anthony Reed - Legislative Director
(202) 225-2976
(202) 225-0967 Fax
anthony.reed@mail.house.gov
House International Relations Committee Chairman Congressman Hyde:
Judy Wolverton - Chief of Staff
(202) 225-4561
(202) 225-1166 Fax
judy.wolverton@mail.house.gov
Blaine Aaron - Legislative Director
(202) 225-4561
(202) 225-1166 Fax
blaine.aaron@mail.house.gov
Tom Mooney - Chief of Staff House International Relations Committee
(202) 225-5021
(202) 226-2831
tom.mooney@mail.house.gov
Republican Majority Whip Congressman Blunt:
Amy Steinmann - Floor Director
(202) 225-0197
(202) 226-1115 Fax
amy.steinmann@mail.house.gov
Congressman Gallegly (Sponsor of House Resolution 529 & Chairman European Subcommittee:
Michelle Grossman - Legislative Director
(202) 225-5543
(202) 225-1100 Fax
michelle.grossman@mail.house.gov