Editor of tacno.net portal Štefica Galić Brutally Attacked in Ljubuški

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Štefica Galić, editor of tacno.net portal and widow of Nedeljko Neđo Galić was brutally attacked and severely beaten in Ljubuški yesterday, July 18, 2012, 48 hours after the premiere of the "Neđo od Ljubuškog" (Neđo of Ljubuški) documentary film. Over the past several days, Galić was target to repeated threats published on several internet portals.

The premiere of "Neđo of Ljubuški" documentary caused different reactions by individuals and associations in Ljubuški

Štefica Galić, winner of the Duško Kondor Award for Civil Courage for 2012, was attacked in front of the Franciscan monastery of Humac, in Ljubuški. She was having her evening walk with a friend. During the attacks, Vera Dedić, participant in the protests that tried to prevent the premiere of the documentary about Galić’s late husband, yelled constant threats and insults.

The threats against Štefica Galić first appeared on several web portals before the first screening of the film, and continued after July 17, the day of the premiere.

The team of Gariwo NGO reacted, in a statement for the public, to the horrific nature of the fact that Galić was attacked because she dedicated the last twelve years to the fight for justice, truth, tolerance and understanding.

In view of the fact that threats and public calls to lynch Štefica Galić, as well as the hate-speech and incitement to ethnic hatred continue to spread over the internet even after the attack last night, the Gariwo NGO calls on the competent local, cantonal, federal and national authorities in Bosnia and Heryegovina to take urgent measures to protect Galić from attacks by groups and individuals and to ensure 24 hour a day protection from the attempts on her elementary human rights and physical integrity.

The protection, Gariwo NGO says, should stay in place until those issueing the threats and announcing new demonstrations and protests are stopped and sanctioned.

Gariwo NGO calls on all citizens of Ljubuški to show their solidarity with Štefica Galić and to oppose any future attempt on her wellbeing and integrity by a handful of extremists, demonstrating thus their own civil courage in opposition to negative phenomena in their own community.

The statement for the public, signed by Svetlana Broz, Gariwo director, calls on human rights organisations to get actively involved in the efforts to organize support for Galić, who has become a victim of persecution by people who would refrain from using any means in their attempts to prevent the process of dealing with the past. (Source: Gariwo NGO)